Barrenjoey road Newport, 6.30am on a Sunday
On Thursday July 31 it was announced that the speed limit on Barrenjoey Road between Newport and Palm Beach will be reduced from 60 to 50 kilometres per hour from Thursday 7 August, following a safety review.
The Newport Road Safety Review, requested by the immediate former member for Pittwater, identified 46 crashes between July 2019 and June 2024 along Barrenjoey Road from Beaconsfield Street, Newport to Crane Lodge Place, Palm Beach. In response, Transport for NSW will reduce the speed limit to 50 kilometres per hour in both directions to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, and to align this section of road with NSW Speed Zoning Standards.
Independent Member for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby said that the reduction in speed was a response to both data and community concern.
“The former Member for Pittwater requested Transport for NSW undertake this review for lower speed limits, with some community groups calling for a drop in speed to reflect the similar drops in speed from Avalon to Palm Beach.”
Currently speed limits are 50km/hr from Etival Rd to Palm Beach with a 40km/hr stretch outside Barrenjoey house.
“Although not everyone in the community will be happy with a speed reduction, there is support for this change from older members of the community, residents’ groups, and local businesses and the Newport Chamber of Commerce.
“This was not a NSW State Government initiative, nor a Council initiative but was instead driven by community groups and business groups and requested by Rory Amon. It is, however, disappointing there was no broader community consultation or engagement.
“This change will put people before pace, which reflects our community values” Ms Scruby said.
Ms Scruby also noted benefits to local business. “Newport in particular is a shopping strip that is facing significant challenges, and this measure will help entice people to stop and shop, which will benefit local businesses and go some way to supporting a revitalisation of Newport.”
Data shows we have had accidents in this stretch and from Transport for NSW research clearly shows pedestrian safety benefits, with distance to stopping halving for each 10km less of speed. The drop to 50km/hr from 60km/hr will reduce the distance to stop by approximately 20m.
“This is particularly important in high pedestrian areas, including the Newport shopping precinct, and the stretch from Avalon to aptly named 'Kamikaze Corner', where there is no footpath and people risk their safety walking very close to the traffic. Most people who have walked that stretch will recollect a close call.” Ms Scruby said.
“Not everyone will welcome this decision, but it has clear evidence and the safety benefits and was requested by key groups in our community. Footpaths and better infrastructure are also needed which I will continue to advocate for, many have been promised for decades and never delivered,” Ms Scruby said.
Speed limit introductions
Updated Saturday August 2, 2025
Ms Scruby, having fully investigated the full details of the proposed speed limit changes, added: "I have written to the Minister to ask for an immediate hold, have asked for further information to critically analyse the decision. I will be challenging the decision, especially for Newport Hill, which is the most problematic stretch to maintain 50km hour and will likely become a speed trap.
"The gloves are on, but realistically we're the underdog. The former Member for Pittwater requested a speed limit review to reduce speed to benefit Newport businesses and we (including me) found out two days ago that we have a consistent 50km zone from top of Newport Hill to Palm Beach as early as next week.''
I have written to the Minister to ask for
(i) an immediate hold as signage is due to change as early as next week
(ii) further information and detailed justification for each change and full briefing
(iii) challenge the decision pending an analysis and listening properly to the community, particularly stretches of most concern (e.g. Newport Hill being a speed trap and not a high pedestrian area) - Survey will be up shortly.
This is the result, based on modernised standards that reflect the growing trend globally and in NSW to reduce speed. I will put together a survey to support my representations.'' Ms Scruby stated
At this stage, from 7 to 31 August, Transport for NSW will:
- Replace 60km/h signage and road markings with 50km/h signage between 845 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach and Beaconsfield Street, Newport
- Remove ‘End 50 Area’ signs from side streets within the affected zone
- Install additional 60km/h signage and markings southbound between Beaconsfield Street and The Avenue, Newport
The works will include one day shift for signage and up to two-night shifts for road markings, weather permitting. Work will take place between Thursday 7 August and Sunday 31 August 2025, weather permitting.
Further information and a map of the affected area is available in the Transport for NSW Community Notification - shown below:
Speed limit reviews are not common but are undertaken when requested, usually by Councils if a street away from a main road, or by the State when they related to a main road, all of which come under the jurisdiction of a state government.
The immediate prior MP for Pittwater had also called for Noise-activated cameras, also known as noise cameras or acoustic cameras, to be trialled along this section in a bid to cut down on 'hoon' behaviour by people driving at speed in very loud cars and on motorbikes to Palm Beach, and the dangers this would have put them under, as well as those living alongside this route.
Noise-activated cameras are being trialled in Bayside and Wollongong councils in NSW as part of a crackdown on vehicle noise pollution and "hoon" behaviour. These cameras are designed to identify and record excessively noisy vehicles, potentially leading to fines or other enforcement actions. The trial is a joint effort between the NSW EPA, Bayside Council, Transport for NSW, and NSW Police
Drive like kids’ lives depend on it!
In related news, on July 202 2025, with the return of children to school after the Winter break, the NSW Government released data on fines for speeding in school zones in a bid to get drivers to slow down in these safety priority areas.
School zones are active from 8am to 9:30am and 2:30pm to 4pm on school days.
The government’s plea followed the release of the new data that reveals more than 183,000 school zone speeding offences were recorded in NSW in the last financial year.
Alarmingly, nearly 70 per cent (125,000+) occurred during active school zone hours – that's more than 340 drivers every day choosing to speed past schools and young children.
Since 2019, 106 pedestrians aged 5 to 16 years have been hit by vehicles in active school zones. Two children have been killed and 38 seriously injured.
One camera at Woodville Road in Chester Hill recorded more than 8,600 fines alone. One reckless driver was even caught doing 110km/h at this location during school zone hours.
The top five school zone speeding hotspots for 2024–25 were all in Sydney:
- Woodville Road, Chester Hill (Southbound) – 8,615 fines
- Victoria Road, Ryde (Eastbound) – 7,313 fines
- Princes Highway, Kogarah (Southbound) – 5,866 fines
- Hume Highway, Yagoona (Westbound) – 5,691 fines
- Cleveland Street, Moore Park (Westbound) – 5,307 fines
However, drivers are regularly being fined speeding past local schools as well.
Regional NSW was not immune to the illegal and dangerous behaviour. The worst five locations:
- Pacific Highway, Gateshead (Southbound) – 3,288 fines
- Pacific Highway, Ourimbah (Northbound) – 2,970 fines
- Princes Highway, Wollongong (Northbound) – 1,636 fines
- Princes Highway, Wollongong (Southbound) – 1,299 fines
- Pacific Highway, Ourimbah (Southbound) – 929 fines
The Minns Government states it continues to prioritise safety outside schools. Measures include:
- More than 6,800 school zone flashing lights now installed across NSW, including a new state-of-the-art signage trial near Newcastle
- Around 1,500 school crossing supervisors supporting 980+ schools
- Ongoing commitment to ensure every school zone has at least one set of flashing lights
Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
“School is back, and so are school zones, but the data we release today shows too many drivers haven't been getting the message.
"Over 125,000 people made the decision to speed in an active school zone last year. That's 125,000 drivers who made the selfish decision to put children's lives at risk.
“We need motorists to be alert and to slow down. There's no excuse for speeding around schools.
"As we head into the second half of the school year, I'm calling on every motorist to put safety first. Any death on our roads is one too many, and being a good role model around kids is the first step in shaping safe drivers for the future."
For more information on school zones, visit: transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/community/schools/school-zones
