Charlotte Varcoe
KINGSTON District Council will not seek an exemption from the state government’s beach speed limit.
The change in the speed limit was implemented last year with those driving on the beach having to adhere to a 40km per hour limit unless within 50 metres of a person when it is 25km per hour.
Elected members decided to commence a separate approval process with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport for a range of variances in October 2023.
This included a 100km per hour speed limit from Blackford Drain Outlet to council boundary, along Butchers Gap Drain Outlet to Cape Jaffa Beach access and from Cape Jaffa Lighthouse cottages beach access to council boundary.
It also included the default speed of 25km per hour would apply within 50m of people.
Elected members opted to rescind the resolution due to possible financial implications.
According to a staff report, the fee proposal to undertake an assessment and traffic impact statement would cost about $15,000 with council chief executive officer Ian Hart claiming further costs could have incurred up to $40,000.
“We have done a bit of work in looking into that and the work involved and the cost involved was going to be quite significant,” Mr Hart said.
“If it would have happened there would be a lot of mitigating work done by council and then even if we were successful – which was very much unknown – they would have to obtain speed signage across all parts of the beach area we look after.”
He said it could have cost more than the original pricing and believed the decision made by council was “sensible”.
“The reality is most people are very sensible and will drive to the conditions and although there was a bit of frustration from our locals which regularly go between Cape Jaffa and Kingston they know how to drive to the conditions,” Mr Hart said.
“I think there was a lot of emotion around when the state first announced this in September last year and there was a bit of concern from locals but everyone is now comfortable with it.”
