Speed humps and roundabout approved for dangerous section of North West Arm Road

In the five years from July 2013 to June 2018, seven people were injured in six casualty crashes on the 800-metre length of road, which has sharp curves and grades down to the Savilles Creek bridge.

All of the crashes involved excessive speed.

Two resulted in serious injuries, three involved moderate injuries and one involved multiple injuries.

Sutherland Shire Council has endorsed a recommendation of staff and the traffic committee to install four speed humps before and after the curved section, along with a roundabout at the corner of North West Arm Road and Serpentine Road.

A staff report said the council successfully applied for federal government funding for mitigation measures based on crash data.

Many residents were unhappy with the proposed measures when the council undertook community consultation.

Most of the complaints were that additional road noise would be generated by vehicles going over the speed humps.

The council response was that some inconvenience was necessary to greatly improve public safety.

In response to suggestions that a chicane or speed camera be used instead of speed humps, the staff report said alternative devices were considered, but not found to be appropriate.

"An oval threshold cannot be located in the limited road space and would result in the displacement of a bus stop and associated parking," the report said.

"Council does not approve, install or operate speed cameras in NSW. The location of speed cameras is determined by Transport for NSW."

Comments about the roundabout included that it might encourage "hoon" driving in wet road surface conditions.

The council acknowledged that "some drivers see traffic calming devices as a challenge, which may lead to increased incidences of 'hoon' driving".

"Traffic calming devices are not designed to deter 'hoon' driving," the report said.

"This is primarily an enforcement issue. The roundabout is being constructed to act as a speed limiting device impacting on all traffic.

A further 24 unsolicited submissions were received from residents who do not live in the immediate vicinity of the proposed works.

Five respondents supported the proposed measures, four were opposed to the speed humps and supported the roundabout, 12 opposed all proposed measures and three suggested other works were a greater priority.

A group of residents have an online petition seeking a review of the works:

https://www.change.org/p/living-in-grays-point-speed-humps-along-north-west-arm-road-grays-point?fbclid=IwAR1JoobvCZGgg0YGS3gGT91MXkByhdUPDDQ5jmamSgVed1a99Cik8w74n2g