Decision details

By Councillor Scully

It is resolved that 

(A)      Council note:

(i)         on average, one child a week is killed or seriously injured on the roads in NSW;

(ii)        in August 2019, 40km/h speed zones in the Sydney CBD were expanded to include additional areas around Ultimo, Barangaroo, Dawes Point, Millers Point to improve safety for pedestrians and bicycle riders and has resulted in a steep reduction in the number of crashes in Sydney CBD;

(iii)      in June 2021, the previous Minister for Transport, Andrew Constance, made a commitment to the Lord Mayor that all local and regional roads and the majority of state roads in our Local Government Area would have a maximum speed limit of 40km/h by the end of that year supported by clear road markings;

(iv)      in many locations where there is now a 40km/h speed limit, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has not yet installed large roundel signage or other road markings to make this more visible to motorists;

(v)       currently 75 per cent of all roads in the City of Sydney Local Government Area have a speed limit of 40km/h or lower, and Transport for NSW provided the City with a program for approval and installation of the remaining 40km/h speed limits by June 2022 which has been delayed by Transport for NSW indefinitely;

(vi)      towards the end of last year, the Lord Mayor wrote to the Minister for Metropolitan Roads calling for Transport for NSW to work with the City to convert the remaining roads in the City to 40km/h without further delay;

(vii)     there are 143 registered childcare centres in the City of Sydney local government area; 117 of which are in a 40km/h speed zone and 26 which are in a 50km/h or higher speed zone;

(viii)    that the NSW Government has road safety requirements and considerations in place for primary schools across NSW, including 40 km/h school zones established on a section of one or more roads adjacent to a school with a part–time speed limit;

(ix)      however, there are no similar legislative requirements for traffic calming or speed reduction around childcare centres; 

(x)       where childcare centres are attached to primary schools, school speeding zone rules generally lapse before childcare drop-off and pick-up times;

(xi)      City staff are in regular contact with childcare centres to advocate for safe pedestrian behaviours, particularly focused on young children around cars, and where possible, have implemented P15 drop-off and pick-up areas as well as Children may be crossing ahead signage;

(xii)     that Mitchell Street, Glebe, which is currently 50km/h, is of particular concern for residents, being a residential area with a childcare centre, Glebe Street Playground and MJ Doherty Reserve;

(xiii)    in December 2021, a three-year-old boy was tragically killed after being hit by a car on Glebe Street near the intersection at Mitchell Street;

(xiv)    the installation of two new raised pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Mitchell Street and Glebe Street is programmed in the City’s 2024/25 capital works program, which will reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety and connectivity for people walking; and

(xv)     according to Transport for NSW, in a crash between a car and a pedestrian, there is a 10 per cent risk that a pedestrian will be killed at 30 km/h, 40 per cent risk at 40 km/h, and a 90 per cent risk at 50 km/h;

(B)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Premier and the Leader of the Opposition:

(i)         restating the urgency and necessity of implementing 40km/h speed limits on all streets in the City of Sydney Local Government Area, with consideration to 30km/h in our villages, to support safety for people walking and cycling; and

(ii)        requesting the implementation of legislative requirements for traffic calming or speed reduction around childcare centres similar to what currently exists for schools; and

(C)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         write to the Secretary of Transport for NSW to get a status update on commitments made by the previous Minister for Transport to reduce the speed limit to 40km/h on all local and most state roads in the City of Sydney Local Government Area to be supported by clear road markings; and

(ii)        develop a plan in consultation with the community that identifies priority locations for installing traffic calming treatments with a focus on areas with high levels of walking with children including Mitchell Street in Glebe.

Note – at the meeting of Council, the content of the original Notice of Motion was varied by Councillor Scully. Subsequently it was –

Moved by Councillor Scully, seconded by the Chair (the Lord Mayor) –

It is resolved that 

(A)      Council note:

(i)         on average, one child a week is killed or seriously injured on the roads in NSW;

(ii)        in August 2019, 40km/h speed zones in the Sydney CBD were expanded to include additional areas around Ultimo, Barangaroo, Dawes Point, Millers Point to improve safety for pedestrians and bicycle riders and has resulted in a steep reduction in the number of crashes in Sydney CBD;

(iii)      in June 2021, the previous Minister for Transport, Andrew Constance, made a commitment to the Lord Mayor that all local and regional roads and the majority of state roads in our Local Government Area would have a maximum speed limit of 40km/h by the end of that year supported by clear road markings;

(iv)      in many locations where there is now a 40km/h speed limit, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has not yet installed large roundel signage or other road markings to make this more visible to motorists;

(v)       currently 75 per cent of all roads in the City of Sydney Local Government Area have a speed limit of 40km/h or lower, and Transport for NSW provided the City with a program for approval and installation of the remaining 40km/h speed limits by June 2022 which has been delayed by Transport for NSW indefinitely;

(vi)      towards the end of last year, the Lord Mayor wrote to the Minister for Metropolitan Roads calling for Transport for NSW to work with the City to convert the remaining roads in the City to 40km/h without further delay;

(vii)     there are 143 registered childcare centres in the City of Sydney local government area; 117 of which are in a 40km/h speed zone and 26 which are in a 50km/h or higher speed zone;

(viii)    that the NSW Government has road safety requirements and considerations in place for primary schools across NSW, including 40 km/h school zones established on a section of one or more roads adjacent to a school with a part–time speed limit;

(ix)      however, there are no similar legislative requirements for traffic calming or speed reduction around childcare centres; 

(x)       where childcare centres are attached to primary schools, school speeding zone rules generally lapse before childcare drop-off and pick-up times;

(xi)      City staff are in regular contact with childcare centres to advocate for safe pedestrian behaviours, particularly focused on young children around cars, and where possible, have implemented P15 drop-off and pick-up areas as well as Children may be crossing ahead signage;

(xii)     that Mitchell Street, Glebe, which is currently 50km/h, is of particular concern for residents, being a residential area with a childcare centre, Glebe Street Playground and MJ Doherty Reserve;

(xiii)    in December 2021, a three-year-old boy was tragically killed after being hit by a car on Glebe Street near the intersection at Mitchell Street;

(xiv)    the installation of two new raised pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Mitchell Street and Glebe Street is programmed in the City’s 2024/25 capital works program, which will reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety and connectivity for people walking; and

(xv)     according to Transport for NSW, in a crash between a car and a pedestrian, there is a 10 per cent risk that a pedestrian will be killed at 30 km/h, 40 per cent risk at 40 km/h, and a 90 per cent risk at 50 km/h;

(B)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Premier and the Leader of the Opposition:

(i)         restating the urgency and necessity of implementing 40km/h speed limits on all streets in the City of Sydney Local Government Area, with consideration to 30km/h in our villages, to support safety for people walking and cycling; and

(ii)        requesting the implementation of legislative requirements for traffic calming or speed reduction around childcare centres similar to what currently exists for schools; and

(C)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         write to the Secretary of Transport for NSW to get a status update on commitments made by the previous Minister for Transport to reduce the speed limit to 40km/h on all local and most state roads in the City of Sydney Local Government Area to be supported by clear road markings;

(ii)        develop a plan in consultation with the community that identifies priority locations for installing traffic calming treatments with a focus on areas with high levels of walking with children including Mitchell Street in Glebe;

(iii)      noting the investigations already completed for Mitchell Street Glebe, prioritise traffic calming measures for Mitchell Street Glebe that can be implemented in the short term; and

(iv)      investigate whether the proposed raised pedestrian crossings design and implementation work for Mitchell Street Glebe can be completed earlier than the current proposed date of 2024/2025.

Amendment. Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Ellsmore –

It is resolved that 

(A)      Council note:

(i)         on average, one child a week is killed or seriously injured on the roads in NSW;

(ii)        in 2019, Transport for NSW reported:

(a)       nine total road deaths for those aged 16 and under, only one of those was a pedestrian; and

(b)       1,045 pedestrians were part of the 11,065 serious injuries;

(iii)      in 2021, Transport for NSW reported:

(a)       17 total road deaths for those aged 16 and under, seven of those were pedestrians;

(b)       72 children under 16 were seriously injured as pedestrians, making up 20 per cent of the total pedestrians seriously injured;

(iv)      in Australia:

(a)       of the annual hospitalised injuries in 2019, pedestrians made up seven per cent;

(b)       of that seven per cent (2,713), those aged under 16 made up 15 per cent; and

(c)       in 2018, of the children aged under 14 who died because of a road transport accident, 29 per cent were pedestrians;

(v)       in August 2019, 40km/h speed zones in the Sydney CBD were expanded to include additional areas around Ultimo, Barangaroo, Dawes Point, Millers Point to improve safety for pedestrians and bicycle riders and has resulted in a steep reduction in the number of crashes in Sydney CBD;

(vi)      in June 2021, the previous Minister for Transport, Andrew Constance, made a commitment to the Lord Mayor that all local and regional roads and the majority of state roads in our Local Government Area would have a maximum speed limit of 40km/h by the end of that year supported by clear road markings;

(vii)     in many locations where there is now a 40km/h speed limit, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has not yet installed large roundel signage or other road markings to make this more visible to motorists;

(viii)    currently 75 per cent of all roads in the City of Sydney Local Government Area have a speed limit of 40km/h or lower, and Transport for NSW provided the City with a program for approval and installation of the remaining 40km/h speed limits by June 2022 which has been delayed by Transport for NSW indefinitely;

(ix)      towards the end of last year, the Lord Mayor wrote to the Minister for Metropolitan Roads calling for Transport for NSW to work with the City to convert the remaining roads in the City to 40km/h without further delay;

(x)       there are 143 registered childcare centres in the City of Sydney local government area; 117 of which are in a 40km/h speed zone and 26 which are in a 50km/h or higher speed zone;

(xi)      that the NSW Government has road safety requirements and considerations in place for primary schools across NSW, including 40 km/h school zones established on a section of one or more roads adjacent to a school with a part–time speed limit;

(xii)     however, there are no similar legislative requirements for traffic calming or speed reduction around childcare centres; 

(xiii)    where childcare centres are attached to primary schools, school speeding zone rules generally lapse before childcare drop-off and pick-up times;

(xiv)    City staff are in regular contact with childcare centres to advocate for safe pedestrian behaviours, particularly focused on young children around cars, and where possible, have implemented P15 drop-off and pick-up areas as well as Children may be crossing ahead signage;

(xv)     that Mitchell Street, Glebe, which is currently 50km/h, is of particular concern for residents, being a residential area with a childcare centre, Glebe Street Playground and MJ Doherty Reserve;

(xvi)    in November 2012, Councillor Scott moved a motion for a Pedestrian Safety Audit of School Zones which was amended so that City staff did not have to undertake the audit;

(xvii)   in December 2021, a three-year-old boy was tragically killed after being hit by a car on Glebe Street near the intersection at Mitchell Street;

(xviii)  the installation of two new raised pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Mitchell Street and Glebe Street is programmed in the City’s 2024/25 capital works program, which will reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety and connectivity for people walking; and

(xix)    according to Transport for NSW, in a crash between a car and a pedestrian, there is a 10 per cent risk that a pedestrian will be killed at 30 km/h, 40 per cent risk at 40 km/h, and a 90 per cent risk at 50 km/h;

(B)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Premier and the Leader of the Opposition:

(i)         restating the urgency and necessity of implementing 40km/h speed limits on all streets in the City of Sydney Local Government Area, with consideration to 30km/h in our villages, to support safety for people walking and cycling; and

(ii)        requesting the implementation of legislative requirements for traffic calming or speed reduction around childcare centres similar to what currently exists for schools; and

(C)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         write to the Secretary of Transport for NSW to get a status update on commitments made by the previous Minister for Transport to reduce the speed limit to 40km/h on all local and most state roads in the City of Sydney Local Government Area to be supported by clear road markings;

(ii)        investigate conducting a pedestrian safety audit in City of Sydney school zones and report findings back to Council via the CEO Update;

(iii)      develop a plan in consultation with the community that identifies priority locations for installing traffic calming treatments with a focus on areas with high levels of walking with children including Mitchell Street in Glebe;

(iv)      noting the investigations already completed for Mitchell Street Glebe, prioritise traffic calming measures for Mitchell Street Glebe that can be implemented in the short term; and

(v)       investigate whether the proposed raised pedestrian crossings design and implementation work for Mitchell Street Glebe can be completed earlier than the current proposed date of 2024/2025.

The amendment was lost on the following show of hands –

Ayes (5)     Councillors Ellsmore, Gannon, Jarrett, Scott and Weldon

Noes (5)     The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Kok and Scully.

Amendment lost.

The substantive motion was carried unanimously.

X086654

Extension of Time

During discussion on this matter, pursuant to the provisions of clause 9.29 of the Code of Meeting Practice, it was –

Moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Gannon –

That Councillor Scully be granted an extension of time of one minute to speak on this matter.

Carried unanimously.

Points of Order

During discussion of Item 11.3, Councillor Scott raised a point of order, stating that it had been alleged that her statistics were not correct.

The Chair (the Lord Mayor) did not uphold the point of order.

Councillor Scott raised a further point of order to stating that she wished to correct a statement by another Councillor.

The Chair (the Lord Mayor) did not uphold the point of order.

Councillor Chan raised a point of order, stating that pursuant to clause 9.36 of the Code of Meeting Practice, all councillors must be heard without interruption and all other councillors must remain silent while another councillor is speaking.

The Chair (the Lord Mayor) upheld the point of order.

Adjournment

At this stage of the meeting, at 6.51pm, it was moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Kok –

That the meeting be adjourned for approximately 15 minutes.

The motion was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (7)     The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Gannon, Jarrett, Kok and Scully

Noes (3)     Councillors Ellsmore, Scott and Weldon.

Motion carried.

At the resumption of the meeting of Council at 7.07pm, all Councillors were present, except for Councillor Ellsmore, who returned to the meeting at 7.11pm, following the vote on Item 11.4.