THE 80km/h speed zone on Florina Road outside the Rockhole community has repeatedly been identified as being too high, yet nothing has been done to change it.
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It has been more than 18 months since a joint Northern Territory Police and Neighbourhood Watch NT community engagement report identified the speed limit, bus stop sign and bus shelter serving the community as being inadequate.
However, that report was never sent to the Katherine Town Council – the body which administrates this section of Florina Road.
When the Katherine Times visited Rockhole on May 26, about 25 children were observed running across the 80km/h section of the road directly opposite the community to board their school bus.
Community member and grandmother of children who use the bus, June Woods, said she was worried a child would be hit by a vehicle.
“We need a bus sign for the kids, because when the cars come past, they don’t slow down and we’re just worried for the kids who run out and don’t look,” she explained.
“We’ve tried to tell Kalano [Association – the entity which manages Rockhole] but they didn’t do anything and they don’t care.”
Council chief executive officer Robert Jennings said the organisation believed the speed limit was appropriate for a rural environment, based on the road classification and zoning.
Yet, he said the original plan was to request the school bus to do a U-turn before inviting children to board the bus, however, this system had not been implemented.
He added that the Department of Infrastructure erected the WC-3 children’s sign that denoted the area was used as a community space.
“The best time to set appropriate speed limits is when the signs are erected,” Mr Jennings said.
As to what basis the speed limits were reviewed, Mr Jennings said they occurred sporadically, and were generally in response to complaints or queries from the community.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said that, while the council administered the road, it would carry out a road safety audit at the site “within six weeks”, in collaboration with the council and other stakeholders.
“The safety audit will identify any risks and propose a mitigation strategy at the site,” a department spokesperson said.
