Rendelsham resident Lyn Brooks is pleased Wattle Range Council will not proceed with a proposal to reduce the speed limit on the western approach to the Millicent township on the Southern Ports Highway.
Ms Brooks was one of 23 people to write to council to object to the speed cut after public comment was sought.
“It would have affected a lot of people,” Ms Brooks said.
“I felt there was not a lot to be gained by changing the speed limit.
“If travelling from Beachport to Mount Gambier with a medical problem, it would have been a hold-up.
“It takes us as long to travel through Millicent now as it does to get to Millicent from Rendelsham.”
Other objectors to the change came from Rendelsham, Southend, Beachport and Millicent and they had similar sentiments.
The Rendelsham Sport and Progress Association also objected to the change.
The sole supporters of the proposal to reduce the speed limit from 110kph to 80kph was a Millicent couple.
They cited safety concerns as children, pets and livestock were in the vicinity.
The correspondence as well as a 56-page staff support was tabled at the March monthly council meeting.
Staff recommended the speed limit reduction, but it was rejected after a brief debate.
Councillor Peter Dunnicliff pointed to the amount of negative feedback while Cr Moira Neagle said council should listen to the voices of the people.
The latest probe followed a request from a member of the public and a staff report was considered at the January monthly council meeting.
Council staff undertook a review of the existing speed limits on a three-kilometre approach to Millicent along the thoroughfare which is also commonly known as Rendelsham Road.
As a result of the review, it was found the existing speed limits applied are not consistent with the Transport Department guidelines for town limits.
“The published crash data from 2012-2016 indicates there have only been a very small number of vehicle crashes with minor injuries sustained and one crash with serious injuries sustained,” the staff report said.
“If a higher number of crashes had occurred, staff would be working to resolve the issues around such incidents through a different program, such as with the Blackspot Program.”
