The speed limit has been reduced to 40km/h in some areas of the Swan Hill CBD.
Swan Hill Rural City Council Director Engineering, Svetla Petkova said the reduction in speed followed recommendations from the Department of Transport in response to recently installed dining pods throughout areas of the Swan Hill CBD.
“The dining pod program is a way for us to extend outdoor dining options, while social distancing and COVID-19 restrictions on the hospitality industry continue to be in place,” she said.
Ms Petkova said dining pods are the re-purposing of parking bays outside a hospitality business, in the interest of increasing footpath trading and providing a safe, socially distanced environment for patrons.
“Our dining pods have increased trading in areas outside local hospitality businesses and in light of this we need to ensure the safety of both our diners and road users.
Ms Petkova said speed reduction signs have been installed in the CBD, in the vicinity of our dining pods.
“Lowering the speed limit in these areas that also have high pedestrian numbers and parking turnover will improve the safety of all of our road users.
“It’s an appropriate speed for a busy CBD environment,” she added.
Council is expecting a final delivery of dining pods in late January.
