STAFF at the City of Greater Bendigo have recommended councillors reject a plea to change the speed limit on Crusoe Road in Kangaroo Flat.
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The decision is among the key items on the agenda for the city's December council meeting.
Residents in September formally petitioned the city to reduce the road's speed limit to 50 kilometres an hour. The current speed limit is 60 kilometres an hour.
Council engineers have assessed the speed limit on the road, taking into account traffic counts and a speed survey which was undertaken in February, 2019.
The road traffic data found the average speed of motorists on the road was 56 kilometres an hour, which was consistent with the city's expectations for the road.
A review of the crash history of Crusoe Road also showed there have been two crashes since 2014 that resulted in hospitalisation.
Staff outlined in the agenda that both crashes were where the Federal Black Spot project was undertaken.
"The wide road width and environment, crash history, and speed results all support that the current speed limit of 60 kilometres an hour is appropriate for this section of road," transport engineer Dumi Wewala said in the agenda.
"Reductions of the speed limit on Crusoe Road are not supported by the City of Greater Bendigo."
The city was in the process of applying for a TAC grant to purchase a speed advisory trailer which, it said, could help alert motorists to their speed and the speed at which they should be driving.
The city has also consulted with Victoria Police to increase patrols on the road.
DOCUMENT: City of Greater Bendigo December council meeting agenda. Story continues below.
The city will also deliver a progress report on the implementation of its 2017-2021 Youth Strategy at this month's council meeting.
Inclusive communities coordinator David Williamson said the majority of the youth strategy actions have already been implemented, with a number of initiatives being delivered throughout the municipality.
Some of those strategies included establishing the Greater Bendigo Youth Council and renewing the YO Bendigo Facility.
It comes after the city's All Ages, All Abilities report - released in May 2019 - showed Bendigo youths were still concerned about issues like increased services for mental health and access to employment opportunities.
Tara Cosoleto
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
