Next round of speed limit review

In this second week of a new series – which explores planning: our future – we look at traffic and parking.

Phillip Island – and to a lesser extent San Remo – are natural bottlenecks and with the resident and tourist population growing annually, pinch points are quickly seen in congestion on roads and towns. Here we explore the pressures and possible solutions.

The second stage of the Phillip Island speed limit review should include dusk-to-dawn variable speed signs to protect wildlife, which would be a Victorian-first, according to the peak conservation group.

At the end of last year, Regional Roads Victoria rolled out new speed limits across the island. Just under 10 roads previously zoned 100km/hr are now reduced to 80km, including Berrys Beach, Ventnor Beach and Back Beach roads.

In addition, three roads previously zoned 80km/hr were reduced to 60km: Coghlan Road (between Settlement Road and Cowes-Rhyll Road), Grossard Point Road and Ventnor Beach Road.

RRV said stage two of the speed review was yet to be funded but technical reviews had begun. This stage will focus on high-speed unsealed roads managed by Bass Coast Shire, who will lead the review.

Phillip Island Conservation Society president Jeff Nottle said the second stage should include dusk-to-dawn speed differentials displayed on flashing signs.

“Key wildlife corridor roads should have dynamic speed signs and sunset to sunrise speed differentials while temporary speed limits should operate during Shearwater migration,” Jeff said.

“PICS firmly believes our recommended speed limits should be strongly supported with creative signage that includes a very prominent gateway sign in Newhaven, and elsewhere on high-risk corridors, with a simple message to Drive Carefully for Wildlife.

“Nowhere in Victoria has it ever been accepted to have speed differentials for wildlife, although they do operate for schools and weather conditions such as fog.”

Cowes-Rhyll

Jeff said the flashing signs and varying speed limits should particularly be introduced on the Cowes-Rhyll Road.

The road is a major roadkill hotspot and conservationists were disappointed it was not among the zones to drop from 80km to 60km, after the head of Phillip Island’s peak transport company Michael Wright voiced concern a speed reduction there would harm his taxi and bus company.

“In the case of the Cowes-Rhyll Road, which is one of the most notorious road-kill routes on the island, we acknowledge that a 60km/hr limit during daylight hours is unlikely to be observed, given the traffic volumes and length of the link.

“We have therefore proposed a limit of 70km/hr in daylight hours and 50km/hr during the period of highest risk to wildlife, between sunset and sunrise. We strongly recommend that dynamic speed signs be used on this road to highlight the high risk and the time dependent nature of that risk.”

Jeff said while RRV typically preferred speed limits to be in 20km increments (40, 60, 80 etc) “we also believe the speed limits should not be that rigid”.

Michael Wright said he supported varying limits. “Dynamic signage may be the best solution for Cowes-Rhyll Road in the future. I will continue to advocate for Coghlan Road not to be reclassified,” Michael said.

Safer, not faster

Department of Transport Gippsland Acting Director Henry Lam acknowledged Coghlan and Cowes-Rhyll roads were “important routes for freight and industry”, but they were still under consideration.

“Phillip Island is unlike any other part of Victoria. Despite the introduction of various treatments over the years which aimed to reduce crashes with wildlife, we haven’t had enough of a reduction of crashes with animals.

“Getting there faster does not mean getting there safer. As a community, we should never value shaving a couple of minutes off our journey over potentially losing a life or causing a life-changing injury.”