Support for reducing speed

Capel Shire Council will endorse an application to Main Roads WA to reduce the speed from 50km/h to 40km/h on the South Western Highway through Boynaup and on Forrest Road through Capel.

The report to council stated road and land use conflict had become an issue of contention, particularly in Boyanup, with the Boyanup Progress Association raising concerns in June 2017 about truck generated noise and speeding in the early hours.

In January, the council wrote to Main Roads, Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti and Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray requesting the speed reduction, but were advised a reduction was not supported.

The move echoed the sentiment of Donnybrook-Balingup shire president Brian Piesse, who in August called on Main Roads to decrease the speed on the town’s main road to increase the safety of residents and drivers.

The report to council claimed the speed limit reduction in Boyanup and Capel would contribute to “a safer main street environment”.

Cr Doug Kitchen said at the meeting that he has received numerous call and emails about the issue and was “happy to see council put this forward.”

“We have been talking about this for a very long time I hope they come back with good news,” he said.

Cr Michael Southwell voted against the motion, as he believed lowering the speed was a “simplistic way of approaching the issue” and other considerations should be “brought into the equation.”

“There are other ways we can keep vehicles and pedestrians safe,” he said. “50km/h is fairly safe, it’s not perfect but where do we stop?”