Call to cut speed for safer Beresford foreshore access

A Beresford resident is calling for a reduced speed limit on part of Chapman Road passing through his suburb to protect pedestrians and cyclists accessing the foreshore.

“Geraldton has a rich history of a great variety of sports and a plethora of sports stars,” John Love said.

“I think we can just improve on how we access the foreshore.

“It is time we make better utilisation of the wonderful asset that we have.”

John Love has gathered 75 signatures on a petition Agricultural Region member Colin De Grussa presented to Parliament on Wednesday.

• Horizon sculpture on the Beresford foreshore

It asks for a speed limit of 50km/h between the Phelps Street roundabout and Cecily Street in Bluff Point.

“Currently the speed and volume of vehicular traffic along this section of Chapman Road poses a safety threat to pedestrians attempting to access the foreshore pathway,” Mr Love wrote in the petition.

“Additionally, we request a pedestrian crossing be placed at the corner of Dean Street and Chapman Road Beresford to allow for a safe crossing of Chapman Road.”

In 2019, Mr Love attended public question time and wrote to the City of Greater Geraldton requesting support for the moves.

He received a letter from the City saying data collected on Chapman Road would be discussed with Main Roads at a “Traffic Environment Working Group” meeting to see if a speed limit reduction was warranted.

“The issue of crossing points will also be discussed, in the context of improved pedestrian and cyclist connectivity to the new Beresford foreshore,” the letter read.

Mr Love said he had received no further communication.

I thought we had waited two years with no apparent action, I had better take it up to the next level.

City of Greater Geraldton chief executive Ross McKim said traffic data showed average vehicle speeds on Chapman Road remained in line with the existing posted 60km/h speed limit.

He said Main Roads, which is responsible for all signs and line marking on local government roads, required a demonstrated average speed of 50km/h to reduce the posted speed limit.

“This requirement also extends to the installation of a pedestrian (zebra) crossing, with MRWA also stipulating that they can only be installed on roads up to a maximum posted speed of 50km/h,” Mr McKim said.

He said the number of “formalised pedestrian crossing points” between Mabel and Phelps streets had grown from three to 11 during the Beresford Foreshore redevelopment.

“These crossing points were included in the project scope in anticipation of the increased utilisation of the site and to make more regular, safe foreshore access points for pedestrians,” Mr McKim said.

Main Roads WA was contacted for comment.