POLICE have launched patrols of one of Tamworth's biggest housing estate areas after new speed limits came into force earlier this week.
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The Forest Road and Moore Creek area now has a 60km per hour speed limit in place while the Forest Hills Estate has been reduced to 50km per hour.
Oxley Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Michael Buko told the Leader the "residential street speed limit exists because people are there".
"Residents need to understand that there are kids getting off school buses; these are residential streets, people live here and they are no different to any other street in the town," he said.
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"It used to be 100km per hour, even when houses were built, but that is not the case anymore."
The speeds changes came into force on Monday and flashing signboards as well as speed limit signs are already in place.
Now, officers started patrols of the area on Wednesday to warn motorists who haven't yet noticed the speed changes.
"The safety of children, pedestrians and other roads users is paramount," Sergeant Buko said.
"Highway patrol officers will be out patrolling the roads and they'll be up enforcing it because it is the law."
SPEED ZONE CHANGES
As part of the changes, the existing 60km per hour speed limit on Moore Creek Road will be extended from Verdelho Drive to just past Browns Lane. From there, to just south of the Davidsons Lane intersection it will be reduced to 80km an hour.
"On Forest Road itself, the existing 50km/h limit will be extended south past Flagstaff Road," an RMS spokesperson said.
"Speed limits on Browns Lane will be reduced to 60km/h between Manilla Road (Fossickers Way) to about 550 meters east of Bowdens Lane, and to 50km/h from there to Forest Road.
"A new rural residential 60km/h speed limit will be implemented in the Moore Creek area, taking in Kingfisher Drive, Songlark Place, Woodswallow Close, part of Thornbill Road, Rosewood Road, Tregarthen Road, Fiona Drive, Dunoon Road, The Albens Drive, Meadowbanks Drive, Manina Way, Anchor Road, Honeyeater Place, Horseshoe place, Austral Road, Mornington Crescent and Maysteers Lane."
The speed restrictions were announced in June after the continual rise in the number of cars, cyclists and pedestrians in the housing estates.
It came after a review by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), in conjunction with Tamworth council and local police.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
