Shire of Manjimup’s Innovative Road Hierarchy Policy: A Commitment to Best Practice

The Shire of Manjimup is transforming how it manages, builds and maintains its road network, proactively moving towards safer roads for their community.

Recently, the Shire undertook a comprehensive review of its Road Hierarchy Policy to align it with the Shire’s overarching Road Traffic Safety Policy. This review was not just about policy alignment but also about embedding best practices and the safe system approach into every aspect of road construction and maintenance.

Continuing their commitment to road safety, the Shire has been progressing through the adoption of international standard ISO 39001 Road Traffic Safety Management Systems. This work has established the Shire’s leadership in road safety through the development of an overarching Road Traffic Safety Policy. This policy ensures a robust approach to road traffic safety by embedding safe system methodology across organisational activities. It applies to all Shire managed roads, roadsides, footpaths and cycle paths, directly informing and influencing the systematic review process of policies to ensure alignment with this overarching policy.

Their Road Hierarchy Policy is a key document which identifies minimum standards for road construction and maintenance to Council, the Shire and the community. Review of the policy was highlighted as a priority for update to align with their Road Traffic Safety Policy and for embedding best practices and safe system. Endorsed by Council in April 2025, the updated Road Hierarchy Policy redefines road hierarchy levels to incorporate movement and place principles, setting clear design principles for construction and maintenance and incorporating safety interventions. It also outlines effective road safety treatments and establishes minimum safety standards for high-order roads.

The innovative policy demonstrates the Shire’s dedication to road safety, setting a new benchmark for practical application of best practice road safety in road management. It ensures that the Shire is implementing evidence-based interventions within its role of building, managing and maintaining a safer road network for its community.

The updated policy is available on the Shire of Manjimup’s website by following this link 9.1.14 Road Hierarchy.

Shire of Augusta Margaret River Speed Limit Reduction

In April 2023, a reduced speed limit of 70km/h was applied to rural residential roads which were not previously speed zoned and therefore were the default speed limit of 110km/h.

Following a fatal car crash on Kevill Road in 2019, the Shire of Augusta Margaret River applied to Main Roads WA to review and apply a posted speed limit to improve safety along the stretch of road.

The default speed limit of 110km/h is not considered a safe speed for Kevill Road due to it being a narrow seal, tree lined with short clear zones, a windy road with no line markings and having a number of intersections and rural property entries. Through consultation with Main Roads WA the Shire applied for an area-wide speed limit reduction on Kevill Road and all the adjoining rural residential roads, as the Main Roads WA policy would not allow a single speed limit to be imposed on an individual road within a network of similar roads.

After assessment, a speed limit of 70km/h was deemed appropriate through Main Roads WA’s speed zoning policy and guidelines, and the speed limit was lowered in April 2023.

Subsequently, under the Safer Speeds Trial, a further reduction to 60km/h was implemented in August 2025. This adjustment was based on a harm minimisation approach, taking into account the physical characteristics of the road environment, human tolerance of crash forces, the presence (or absence) of protective infrastructure and the community demand and road usage. The revised speed limit is aligned with contemporary road safety principles and evidence-based practice to reduce road trauma.

To inform the community, celebrate the success and support the road safety outcome, the Shire promoted the change through media communications. The communications celebrate the successful advocacy and result of the safer speed limit to improve safety on these roads; they also remind drivers to drive to conditions and that a speed limit is the safest speed to travel in ideal conditions.

Informing the community builds support and raises awareness of changes and new interventions also an opportunity to promote best practice road safety and share the effective road safety interventions the Shire is delivering.

Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes Local Roads Speed Monitoring Program

The Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes conducts a traffic counter and speed monitoring program which applies the traffic tubes to local roads based on an annual program working to assess all local roads.

The program ensures that all roads are assessed and monitored with the data being applied to asset management, planning and development, identifying road upgrade requirements and funding applications.

Through the program, the Shire captures data including vehicle speed, traffic volumes and types of vehicles using the road, aiming to monitor road capacity, speed and gain accurate and reliable data.

This data is used to monitor the local network and identify streets which have a speeding issue as these can be forwarded onto local police. The data is also used to determine if infrastructure interventions are required, identify roads where traffic volumes are exceeding limits and upgrades may be required or to assist in forward planning and budget allocation.

Reliable and accurate road safety data is essential in planning effective safety policy and treatments and monitoring performance. Collecting vehicle speed and volume data assists the Shire to correctly identify problem areas, risk factors and priority areas, formulate strategic plans, appropriate actions and monitor performance over time.^[1]

Through the application of this program the Shire captures vehicle travel speed data which is all sent to the local police who can use this to plan their enforcement program on streets identified with speeding issues. The Shire has built a strong partnership with the local station and the provision of this information can prompt quick and effective targeted speed enforcement.

Enforcement is a key element for reducing fatal and serious injuries. When implemented well, enforcement and the threat of fines and potential loss of licence act to deter road users from participating in risky behaviour.

^[1] Road Safety Toolkit, Road Safety Data. https://toolkit.irap.org/management/road-safety-data/, December 2024.

Shire of Augusta Margaret River Working to Connect Missing Pathway Links

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has been working to improve safety for people walking and wheeling and to encourage more active forms of travel. With missing links of the path network being completed to ensure a continuous and safe route for pedestrians and cyclists, separated from vehicles.

The Shire has recently completed a missing link of path network in Augusta, with a new 168m path being constructed along Hillview Road between Hart Road and Investigator Avenue. Previously the community would have either had to walk or cycle on the road or along the verge, where the speed limit is 60km/h and reduces to 50km/h as it heads east towards the Augusta townsite.

For vulnerable road users, when conflicts with vehicles occur, the speed the vehicle is travelling is important. Vulnerable road users have little to no protection and in the event of a crash the likelihood of survival greatly reduces when speeds increase above 30km/h.

The provision of a path network, separated from vehicles, provides pedestrians and cyclists with a facility which provides greater protection for them when using the network.

The project has been jointly funded by the Shire and the State Government, as part of the Western Australian Bicycle Network (WABN) Grants Program; a state funded initiative providing funding for planning, designing and constructing of active transport infrastructure.

Through the WABN Grants Program, the State Government is committed to investing in safe, attractive and connected infrastructure that supports increased safety for people who walk, wheel or ride, improves access to strategic destinations, and increases cycle tourism opportunities.

The Shire also highlighted this project to the community through their communications and via their website.

Find out more here; Connecting Our Pathways | Shire of Augusta Margaret River (amrshire.wa.gov.au)