FAQs

The Black Spot Program is an Australian Government program providing funding for road safety treatments along short sections of road that have a history of at least three casualty crashes over a five-year period.

Road crashes are a major cost to Australians every year.

Black Spot projects target those road locations where crashes are occurring or are at risk of occurring. 

By funding measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at dangerous locations, the program reduces the risk of crashes. 

Programs of this sort are very effective, saving the community many times the cost of the relatively minor road improvements that are implemented.  

Read more about the program here and site eligibility here.

“Traffic calming” measures are an effective way to improve road safety by helping to manage speeding and other adverse driver behaviour/s. 

A traffic calming scheme will often utilise several of the same or different devices to reduce speeds and change the look, performance and feel of a section of road.  

Devices should be at regular intervals and also be strategically located to address a particular point of concern. 

There are several different types of traffic calming devices that could be used along Loftus Avenue and Wheatley Road which are outlined below.

Raised thresholds (speed humps)

Example of typical device Increases motorist alertness and reduces speeds through change of road levels (vertical deflection) and visual encounter. Impacts include noise. 

Oval Thresholds

Example of typical device 

Increases motorist alertness and reduces speeds through change of direction (lateral deflection) and visual encounter. Impacts include loss of parking on approach and adjacent to device. 

Roundabouts

Example of typical device

Modified T intersections

Example of typical device

Edge line markings

Example of typical device 

Makes the road look narrower which increases the alertness of motorists and helps reduce speeds. 

The cost of each device may significantly differ depending on the type of device and its location, which may influence final decisions on the scheme.

Traffic calming devices should be at regular intervals and also be strategically located to address a particular point of concern. 

In this regard, and in order to improve safety, some of these devices will require changes to public on-street parking, such as reduced kerbside parking supply, that may directly impact on adjoining residents.

There will be further opportunity to comment on the recommended scheme resulting from this round of consultation and the independent review.

A review is now being carried out by a suitably qualified independent traffic engineer outside of the organisation that will:

• Receive existing and new written submissions from residents.
• Undertake a road safety assessment of existing road conditions including a review and analysis of traffic speed, volume and crash data within the study area.
• Evaluate the safety merits of Council’s three original traffic calming proposals and feedback and concerns raised by the local community in response to existing traffic conditions and the proposed scheme.
• Consider the need for traffic calming in Wheatley Road as well as Loftus Avenue. 
• Investigate alternate treatment options within the context of the concerns raised by the community, which would achieve a similar level of speed reduction, and in keeping with the Australian Government’s Black Spot Programme funding criteria. 
• Deliver a final report which Council staff would submit to Sutherland Traffic and Traffic safety Committee for consideration.