Boosting safety through newham

The Andrews Labor Government is boosting safety for people walking and driving through Newham after receiving strong community feedback and expert advice.

An extended 60km/h speed limit zone will come into force in Newham this Friday and additional improvements will be installed at the southern and eastern town entrances to further increase safety.

The new speed zone on Rochford Road (Lancefield-Woodend Road) followed community calls for a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in the area. In a further boost to safety, new road markings and eye-catching signage will be installed at Newham’s two key entrances to ensure drivers are aware they are entering a township.

Similar "community gateway" measures have already been proven to reduce crashes by 26 to 35 percent in New Zealand.

The new 60km/h speed zone applies to an additional 390 metre section of Rochford Road south of Newham, with the 100km/h kilometre speed zone remaining north of Koala Drive.

Crews will also install new speed zone signs with line-marking works to follow in the coming weeks, weather permitting. Traffic management will be in place with speed reduced to 40 km/h while works are undertaken.

The safety upgrades are part of the Labor Government’s $1.4 billion Towards Zero Action Plan, delivered in partnership between the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and VicRoads.

The Towards Zero Action Plan aims to ensure no one is seriously injured or killed on Victorian roads.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"We’ve listened to the community and the advice of experts – that’s why we’ve taken action to improve safety for people travelling through Newham."

"We’re making sure the thousand drivers travelling through Newham every day are more aware they’re entering a town and need to slow down."