FOUR YEARS after a Russell Island teenager died a review has found most speed limits on the island are appropriate but road signs need moving, street lighting is insufficient and pathways need completing.
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Ethan Stephenson, 14, died of head injuries after being hit by a drunk driver while walking or riding his skateboard along the edge of Centre Road, Russell Island in June 2014.
Following an inquest, Coroner John Hutton recommended a speed limit review of Russell Island roads and an assessment of street lighting and pathways along major traffic routes.
In response to the review, council agreed at last week’s general meeting to reduce the speed limit from 60km/h to 50km/h on Crescent Drive, between Glendale Road and 50 metres north of The Boulevard.
Other speed limits on the 396 roads reviewed were found to be appropriate, including the 60km/h speed zone where Ethan died.
Street lighting was found to be insufficient and pathways needed completion but council will need to consider how to fund those recommendations.
Speed signs on High and Canaipa streets will also be moved and and repeater speed signs in 60km/h zones installed.
The report says street lighting was found to be non-compliant mainly because space between lights was greater than the required 120 metres.
The missing pathway sections are on Centre Road, Canaipa Point Drive and Glendale Road.
The lighting upgrade could cost up to $1.26 million and the pathways $1.17 million.
Cr Mark Edwards said supporting the lighting and pathway recommendations would not mean funding would be transferred for the work to be done.
Resolving in October to conduct the review, council also decided to write to state departments regarding other recommendations by the coroner.
In the letter, included in last week’s council agenda, Mayor Karen Williams asked the premier to consider other recommendations made by the coroner, including introducing a public bus service to Russell Island, increase police presence and facilities on the island and a road safety campaign for children.
The premier’s deputy chief of staff Denise Spinks says in a response, also written in October last year, that the state government would set up a Safe School Travel Committee on Russell Island and was considering other recommendations including providing a public bus service.
