Jennifer Pittorino
The Footscray community has welcomed the reduction of the speed limit on Whitehall Street surrounding St Monica’s Catholic Primary School, to 40km/h.
The reduction will apply to the section between Bunbury and Hopkins streets 24-hours-a-day.
With the change expected to take place before the end of the financial year, principal Nathan Owen said this is long overdue.
“This reduced speed limit has been a two-year journey, we have fought long and hard,” he said.
“We have made this happen as a community with the help from Footscray MP Katie Hall and Williamstown MP Melissa Horne.”
Although Mr Owen said the school was not the first to advocate for the reduction, he believes the school’s efforts got the project under way.
“We definitely got it on the agenda, this has been a long standing dangerous road particularly for residents,” he said.
“It was first brought to my attention when I arrived here as principal in 2022.
“So I became pretty proactive with the community and petitions to bring it into the story line with our school advisory council.
“We are highly appreciative of the unwavering support from everyone to help this happen, without support I don’t believe we would have obtained this amazing result for the school community and the community of Footscray.”
Maribyrnong council has also welcomed the news, with mayor Cuc Lam saying this is a big step in addressing safety concerns for the community.
“This is a vital improvement for our community, and the permanent reduction is appropriate considering ongoing development in the area bringing additional pedestrian movements, including more school children, through the area,” she said.
“Council is committed to ensuring the precinct upgrade works deliver a high level of amenity, with a program of improvement works identified including road upgrades, installation of pedestrian footpaths and crossings, new traffic signals, bike lanes, landscaping and drainage upgrades.”
Council said it has been advocating for some time for the reduced speeds within the Joseph Road Precinct, along with Ms Hall, Ms Horne and the Department of Transport.
