Current situation
- Lewisham Scenic Drive is one of the key roads connecting residents, visitors and local businesses within Lewisham.
- The road is also popular with people walking, cycling and accessing nearby homes and recreational areas.
- Many residents have raised concerns about speeding, hooning and unsafe driver behaviour along sections of the road.
- While traffic data has been collected, there is an opportunity to work more closely with the community to identify practical solutions that improve safety.
The issue
- Excessive speed increases the risk and severity of crashes for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
- Many sections of Lewisham Scenic Drive have limited or no dedicated walking infrastructure, making speeding an even greater safety concern.
- Residents have also reported that some vehicles are using Lewisham Scenic Drive as a shortcut to avoid congestion and delays on Old Forcett Road, increasing traffic volumes and safety concerns for the local community.
- A one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to address local issues, with different sections of the road requiring different treatments.
- Residents and local businesses have valuable local knowledge but are not always involved early enough in developing traffic safety solutions.
My plan
- Establish a Lewisham Scenic Drive Road Safety Working Group comprising local residents, businesses, Council officers and relevant State Government representatives.
- Work closely with residents and local businesses to identify speeding hotspots and develop locally supported traffic calming solutions. This could include:
- Traffic islands.
- Chicanes.
- Speed cushions or other suitable traffic calming devices.
- Improved road markings and signage.
- Intersection upgrades at entry points to Lewisham.
- Additional street lighting where required.
- Purchase a portable "Smiley Face" speed radar sign for Council to deploy at speeding hotspots across the municipality, including Lewisham Scenic Drive. The sign would:
- Provide drivers with immediate feedback on their speed.
- Collect valuable traffic and speed data.
- Be relocated between communities experiencing speeding concerns.
- Use speed and traffic data, together with resident feedback, to guide future infrastructure investment.
- Regularly report back to the community on progress, findings and planned improvements.
The benefits
- Creates a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
- Reduces speeding and discourages dangerous driving behaviour.
- Ensures traffic calming measures are informed by local knowledge and community priorities.
- Makes better use of Council resources by investing in evidence-based solutions.
- Provides Council with a flexible speed monitoring tool that can be used throughout the municipality.
- Builds trust by involving residents and local businesses in decisions that directly affect their neighbourhood.
- Supports a safer, more liveable Lewisham for current and future residents.