Khancoban residents fear impact of new Alpine Way speed limit

A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said crash barriers on Alpine Way, along with the new limit that began on June 30, would improve safety for all motorists.

"In the five years to 2018, there were 10 reported crashes on Alpine Way between Khancoban and Thredbo village which resulted in injuries, including one fatality," she said.

Community members last week said reducing parts of the road from 80km/h to 60km/h could actually harm safety and deter visitors, with member for Albury Justin Clancy continuing to advocate on their behalf.

The spokeswoman said the road's crash history led to a review of the 80km/h speed zone.

"The study found the existing 80 km/h speed limit was not supported by current speed zoning guidelines given the road is undulating with hairpin bends which lead to poor sight distances for motorists," she said.

EARLIER: Khancoban residents feel tourism and safety will be harmed by a "painfully slow" speed reduction introduced to the road between their town and Thredbo.

Transport for NSW has changed nearly 28 kilometres in total of Alpine Way from an 80km/h zone to 60km/h, saying it was a safety improvement that arose out of residents' concerns following some serious crashes.

But longtime Khancoban resident Terry Foxcroft said the new speed surprised community members and slowing down the straight stretches would actually make the road more dangerous.

"What's going to happen is people are just going to be a whole lot more aggravated when they're driving at 60km/h on a road where it's quite safe to do 80km/h," he said.

"Let's say you're stuck behind a driver who's a lot slower or towing a load or something, on those straight stretches that's where you'd overtake - now you're not going to be able to.

"RMS said they were requested this by locals, but we can't find one person who said it.

"We've had meetings, we've spoken amongst ourselves and nobody knows of anybody."

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Transport for NSW south west director Lindsay Tanner said the speed zone review assessed factors such as crash history, road usage and traffic volumes.

"The road can be steep and narrow in places and after heavy rain some sections can be affected by rock falls," he said.

"Conditions can change quickly in the region, particularly during winter, and the speed zone review supported a lower speed limit through these sections for the safety of all road users.

"The changes are expected to increase safety between the two villages while adding about six minutes to travel times."

The accident review found out of 41 crashes, 20 were interstate/overseas motorists, five were local and the rest from elsewhere in NSW.

Snowy Valleys Council was advised of the speed change but was not involved in the decision.

Councillor Julia Ham said the consultation took place last year, but residents did not believe it was adequate.

"They just feel like the consultation wasn't clear," she said.

"Not until it was put into place did they realise the impact of it."

Cr Ham agreed some straight sections of Alpine Way could be safely driven at 80km/h as before.

"It's a tricky one because not all that area is winding and should be so slow," she said.

"We can perfectly understand that there needs to be reductions in speed, but for the whole 22 kilometres?

"To go up to Geehi at 60 kilometres an hour, that's painfully slow and I really think it is going to turn people off going up that way."

Cr Ham noted Khancoban, like many communities, had already suffered greatly because of bushfires and the coronavirus pandemic this year.

"They really can't afford to lose much more business," she said.

"It's all about tourism, that's one of Khancoban's biggest income earners and it's not looking good."

Member for Albury Justin Clancy said he continued to pursue the issue with Transport for NSW and the Regional Transport Minister.

"Whilst I recognise the reduction in speed limit for the Alpine Way is a result of analysis performed into accidents on this road, I am concerned by the impact on the local community," he said.

"I am advocating that if the analysis indicates a need for a speed reduction on a particular stretch of the Alpine Way, that consideration be given to reassess other parts of the Alpine Way to help ameliorate any impact."