UPDATE: Residents of Rockbank are expressing frustration after the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) announced a new speed limit reduction on Leakes Road. The speed limit will drop from 60 km/h to 50 km/h along Leakes Road, impacting traffic near the Western Highway on and off ramps. This change, confirmed earlier today, has left many residents demanding more comprehensive safety measures, particularly the installation of traffic lights.
Community advocacy group Leakes Needs Lights, founded by Donna Southern, has long advocated for temporary traffic lights at the intersection. Southern voiced her disappointment over the speed limit change, stating, “We feel that dropping the speed limit … isn’t going to make any difference—especially during peak times when traffic is going to crawl anyway.” She highlighted that the lack of communication regarding safety upgrades and timelines for the larger Western Freeway upgrade is a growing concern.
Earlier in October 2023, local reports indicated there were seven accidents attended by emergency services at this intersection. Southern remarked, “Some people have reported being rear-ended when they’re stationary,” stressing the danger faced by residents trying to cross from Leakes Road to the freeway.
The DTP spokesperson assured that safety is the department’s top priority, but residents are left wondering about the timeline for the $1 billion federal commitment to upgrade the freeway, announced in March. “We are just in the dark about when [the Western Freeway upgrade] is even going to be,” Southern stated, further emphasizing the urgency for immediate action.
Residents are frustrated with the perceived lack of action from authorities, particularly given the limited alternative routes available. Southern added, “We want action … and we just feel like we’re continuing getting fobbed off by the DTP.”
As residents await further updates, the community remains vigilant, pushing for immediate safety improvements to ensure their well-being on Leakes Road. The situation is developing, and local advocates are calling on the DTP to prioritize traffic lights as a short-term solution while plans for the freeway upgrade progress.
