Reducing speed limits on the Oxley Highway will cause more accidents and could directly affect business at the Gingers Creek Bush Resort.
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Gary Hartas has owned and operated the Gingers Creek business – the halfway point up the Walcha mountain – for 12 years and says the reduction in speed limits doesn't make sense.
“Dropping the speed limit will cause more accidents,” he says.
“Anyone who has driven on this road will know how frustrating it is if you are caught behind a cattle truck or larger vehicles.
“By dropping the limits, the patience of drivers will be tested thoroughly and you won’t be able to overtake without breaking the law.
“And that’s if you can actually overtake someone because of the road.
“Drivers get frustrated (driving) on this mountain. This is only making it worse.”
Mr Hartas was taking a ‘time will tell’ attitude to the changes but he has already been informed that several, regular interstate biker groups will not be returning.
“We rely heavily on the out-ot-town groups to survive in the business,” he said.
“I think this will do my business a lot of damage, particularly because this is the best ride in Australia. This is the last place where bikers can have a decent ride.”
Mr Hartas said a petition started in the shop on Friday had already received hundreds of signatures and he was aware of the online petition as well.
He also questioned the statistics used to authentic the reduced speed limits.
Emergency satellite phones will be placed at various points along the highway with one each at the gap and at Gingers Creek and one 10 kilometres east of the business and a further three west toward Walcha.
But, Mr Hartas says, we don’t know how good they are at this stage.
The new speed zone changes are:
Long Flat to Walcha – Mountain section - reduce from 100km/h to 70km/h for 27km; Next section - reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h for 4km; Reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h for 8.3km starting 75km east of Walcha township.
Walcha – Reduce from 110km/h to 100km/h for 2km starting east of Hartford Road to west of Hartford Road. This is a transition zone leading into Walcha township.
Wauchope – Reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h on a 2.5 kilometre section of the highway, west of Beechwood Road to the Wauchope cemetery; Reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h on a three kilometre section of the highway, west of Bagnoo Road to Long Flat village; Reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h through Long Flat village.
Speed zone changes in coming months
John Oxley Drive and Wrights Road – Increase from 90km/h to 100km/h between Wrights Road and John Oxley Drive (western occurrence). This will be implemented following the completion of road upgrade work on this section expected late this year.
Gunnedah – Reduced from 80km/h to 50km/h for about 700 metres west of Alford Street on the Oxley Highway.