LEETON Shire Council mayor Paul Maytom has expressed his frustration and anger at a change in speed zone that he said was done without consultation.
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Councillor Maytom said he was dismayed to find out the 100kmh speed zone on Regulator Road, just outside the Riverina Beef feedlot, had been rezoned to 60kmh by Transport NSW.
He said this was done without consultation with council, something he would have liked to have discussions on to explain why the intersection didn't need to change. He said open communication was needed on these matters.
It is understood Transport NSW is changing speed zones across the state nearby railway level crossings, which is why this 40kmh drop has occurred on Regulator Road.
However, Cr Maytom said the railway crossing on this road was already safe after council spent countless of amounts of money upgrading the road, placing numerous signs in the area, with the crossing also having a boom gate and flashing lights.
"As everyone would know, road safety is something I am extremely passionate about ... I never want to see lives lost on our road," he said.
"However, in this case, dropping the speed from 100kmh to 60kmh to me is just utter madness.
"It was done without consultation.
"One of the biggest concerns I have is for the people who work at the feedlot and have used this road for dozens of years.
"They are now working their long shifts and driving home, but their mindset is the road is 100kmh.
"That's not the case anymore. Yes, the 60kmh signs are there, but if you have been driving along a road for years and in your head it's 100kmh, it's going to take some time for that to sink into your mindset that it has changed."
Cr Maytom said he was aware of several workers already being fined after being found to be speeding in the new zone.
"I have had several workers come up to me and ask why council has changed the speed zone ... we haven't," he said.
"It's not something we as a council have done or something we were consulted on.
"You think about it - if you're used to it being 100kmh and now it's 60kmh, that's thousands of dollars in fines and could be your licence gone.
"That's people's livelihoods."
Transport for NSW said crashes at level crossings, although not frequent, were potentially catastrophic.
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The purpose of its policy in changing these speed zones was to help reduce the risk of crashes at level crossings between road vehicle and train by reducing road speeds on high speed approaches to actively controlled level crossings.
Another speed zone that has changed in Leeton shire near a railway crossing recently is on Irrigation Way at Boyer's Crossing.
"I look at it this way ... they (Transport NSW) did to change how they are doing this, not just a blanket rule," Cr Maytom said.
"They can't just sit in and office and look at maps and decide what should change.
"Come out and view the intersection, undertake an assessment and then see if a change is needed.
"That is all I would have wanted to have happen and I would have happily shown whoever was coming out around and given them an idea of the history of the road."
With the speed change now looking to be permanent, Cr Maytom said he would continue to lobby for safe driving on all roads, but said unnecessary measures should be removed.
"This is just utter madness to me," he said. "I know all about road safety, it is something I am very passionate about, but you can't go too far in one direction in an area that is already safe."
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