Published on 15 August 2025
A key section of Howqua River Road will soon have a new, safer speed limit, with changes recently approved by the Department of Transport and Planning.
Residents approached Council to request a change from the default 100km/h to 50km/h on the 5.7-kilometre section of Howqua River Road starting from the intersection with Mansfield-Woods Point Road.
Council’s Manager Engineering Services Imad Khan said Council had listened to community members’ safety concerns and investigated risks on the road.
"We recognise that there are safety risks for traffic on Howqua River Road. It has several narrow sections with blind corners. It sees high seasonal traffic as well as a lot of activity near the schools. With these risks, the default 100km/h speed limit just isn’t appropriate for this part of the road,” he said.
“Our recent traffic data shows that 85% of vehicles are already travelling at 52km/h or slower, so for most drivers the change in speed limit will only have a small impact on travel times.
“However, the data also showed some drivers travelling at 100km/h or faster. The new 50km/h speed limit gives Victoria Police the ability to address this dangerous behaviour.
"We’re grateful to the community members who raised these risks with Council. We’ve listened and we’ve acted, and I’m pleased that our proposed change to the speed limit has now been approved," Mr Khan said.
Council is now seeking funding to install the new speed signs as well as additional signage for warnings and pull-over areas.