Project Update - March 2025
We are pleased to announce that together with Transport for NSW, Waverley is unrolling 40 km/h speed limit changes. Stage 1 focuses on the area from Bondi Road and Syd Einfeld Drive to the southern boundary of the LGA. Please note Carrington Road, Council Street and Bondi Road are state roads managed by Transport and are not included in the proposed speed zone change.
Street signage will be installed in the coming months and will be unveiled as the new speed limit comes into effect by Transport.
Project Background
As part of Council’s commitment to Vision Zero, the National Road Safety Strategy to achieve zero road fatalities and minimal serious injuries and in alignment with Council's People, Movement, Places strategy, we are lowering speeds across the local government area (LGA) by introducing a contiguous 40 km/h speed limit. The speed limit change from 50 km/h to 40 km/h is coordinated with Transport for NSW and aims to improve safety for pedestrians and road users.
The project is being completed in stages. Stage 1 is commencing in 2025 and stretches from Bondi Road and Syd Einfeld Drive to the southern boundary of the LGA. It should be noted that Carrington Road, Council Street and Bondi Road are state roads managed by Transport for NSW and are not included in the proposed speed zone change.
Following the 40 km/h traffic study in 2019, community consultation in 2019–2020 and traffic calming installation in 2021-2022, Transport for NSW provided approval to implement the 40 km/h speed limit and signage plan.
Transport and Council are reviewing the northern areas of the LGA and proposals will be consulted on in due course.
Please be aware that Council does not enforce speed limits or earn any revenue from NSW Police enforcement of the road rules.
This project is proudly funded by Transport for NSW.
Lower Speed Limits create Safer Communities.
This project is proudly funded by Transport for NSW and will deliver the following benefits
- Alignment with Council’s People, Movement and Places Strategy The speed limit change aligns with the People, Movement and Places (2017) strategy which aims to make it easier for people to move around safely and actively by improving the quality of streetscapes and public places.
- A Safer LGA The most prominent advantage of lowering speed limits is improved safety for all road users. Slower speed limits increase driver reaction time, thereby significantly decreasing the likelihood of crashes and reducing severity of collisions.
- Slower streets are better for people and businesses Lowering speed limits substantially reduces noise pollution and emissions, offering residents a more peaceful living environment. In addition, quieter streets enable kids to walk and cycle safely to school. Businesses also thrive through increased footfall.
- Boosting Active Transport Reduced speed profoundly impacts active transportation, encouraging more people to choose sustainable modes of travel. When streets are perceived as safer, more people walk and use active modes of transport like bike riding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Following community consultation in November 2019 – January 2020, Council installed traffic calming treatments in 2021 and 2022. Roll out of remaining 40km speed limit signage in Waverley will be finalised in mid-2025.
In November 2021, we installed the first three traffic calming treatments on Bennett Street and Park Parade, Bondi and Ruthven Street, Bondi Junction. The treatments at Park Parade and Bennett Street were on trial for a period of 12 months.
From February 2022, we installed the remaining 33 treatments across the Waverley (LGA). Please access our maps for treatment locations and line marking locations.
In various community consultations, Waverley residents raised concerns around pedestrian safety and the overwhelming need for cars to travel slower in their neighbourhoods.
It also will help achieve ‘vision zero’, with zero fatalities and minimal serious injuries and reflects our People, Movement and Places (2017) policy which aims to make it easier for everyone to travel by improving the quality of streetscapes and public places.
The People, Movement and Places policy, endorsed by Council has 12 signature projects. #1 - Better Streetscapes included a short term action to - reduce road speeds throughout the LGA.
The project has been broken up into stages. Stage 1 spans from Bondi Road and Syd Einfeld Drive to the southern boundary of the Local Government Area (LGA). However, Carrington Road, Council Street or Bondi Road are state roads so are not included in the proposed speed zone change.
Depending on results and feedback from community awareness campaign review and Council's and Transport for NSW approval, indicative timeframes are:
| Indicative dates | Activities |
| Nov 2019 – Jan 2020 | Community awareness campaign - please check the 'Full list of traffic calming treatments and locations' |
| Nov 2021 – June 2022 | Installation of traffic calming devices. To see a map of traffic calming treatments, visit Have Your Say. |
| In progress | 40km signage plan development with TfNSW except Carrington Rd, Council St and Bondi Rd. |
Bondi Rd, Carrington Rd and Council St are all State Government roads under review in other projects through Transport for NSW.
The stopping distance at 50km/h it is 35m. At 40km/h it is 26m.
Council do not enforce speed limits or earn any revenue from any NSW Police enforcement of the road rules. Waverley has a lot of High Pedestrian Activity, this change will be a massive benefit to pedestrians, cyclists and the broader community's safety.
The introduction of a 50km/h default urban speed limit within Australia resulted in a 23% reduction in casualty crashes, with public support for speed changes increasing significantly after the introduction of the lower speed limit. The widespread introduction of 40km/h school zones resulted in a further 24% reduction in pedestrian and bicycle crashes surrounding school areas.
Even good drivers make mistakes and many crashes involve two or more parties.
By slowing everyone down just a little, this may mean you are able to avoid a driver who isn’t paying attention to the road or a child that hasn’t looked before running out onto the streets.
Traffic calming treatments or devices assist in creating a self-enforced 40km/h speed environment. Example: road hump, pedestrian crossing, refuge island, medium strip. Please see 'Full list of traffic calming treatments and locations' for more information.
There is no evidence of increased road rage incidents in areas designated by either 40 km/h or 50 km/h speed limits. Delays to drivers are generally caused at intersections, from congestion and from finding a car park. We always recommend to residents who are concerned with this to try the difference before the 40 km/h speed limit is brought in and see the change in driving time.
High pedestrian areas are areas of high pedestrian activity, near shopping strips, railway stations, bus interchanges, beach-sides and services such as medical centers.
An arterial road is a state road – managed by Transport for NSW. Carrington Rd, Bondi Rd and Council St are arterial roads.
Wherever possible, the proposed designs aim to reduce parking loss. Throughout the entire project (38 traffic calming treatments), we anticipate only losing three spots on the corner of Queens Park Rd and Bourke Rd.
Council conducted consultation in 2019/2020 to gather feedback from the community on proposed traffic calming treatments in the LGA. Please visit our Council Transport page to find out more about our vision and priorities.
INSTALLATIONS 2021-2022
Installation Updates
MAP OF TRAFFIC CALMING TREATMENTS
