Sydney CBD speed limits could be slashed to 30km/h under proposed plans by Lord Mayor Clover Moore's council Sydney CBD's speed limit could be reduce Council wants a 30km/h limit By Ashley Nickel For Daily Mail Australia Published: 23:30 EDT, 16 August 2023 | Updated: 23:30 EDT, 16 August 2023 e-mail 3 View comments A major city in Australia could have its speed limits slashed to as slow as 30km/h in a proposal that is likely to infuriate thousands of drivers. The City of Sydney council is considering making the reduction across the CBD with Lord Mayor Clover Moore wishing to neutralise emissions and encourage cycling. The 30km/h limit, which could be reduced even lower, would be introduced in the city centre and other high-volume traffic areas across Sydney. A draft Access Strategy outlined details of the plan and it comes after 200 roads across NSW have already had their speed limits reduced since July last year. 'Lower speeds are important to enable better public realm outcomes, to encourage and facilitate walking and cycling, and to achieving Vision Zero,' the draft states. The City of Sydney council is pushing to reduce the speed limit in the CBD (above) to just 30km/h Public submissions for the proposal closed last week and a report for council assessing responses will be given 'later in the year'. Since last July, 199 roads around New South Wales have had their speed limits reduced - some down to 30km/h. Four roads at St Leonard's town centre, on Sydney's lower north shore, are among the streets that have been impacted with speeds cut from 50km/h to 40km/h. Part of Halcrows Road from Cattai to Glenorie was reduced from 100km/h to 60km/h while a section of Menangle Street in Picton was slashed from 60km/h to 50km/h. A NSW Transport spokeswoman told the Daily Telegraph it is testing the effectiveness of 30km/h speed zones and that it regularly reviews speed limits. 'Common reasons for speed zone changes across NSW since 1 July, 2022, are to improve safety at railway crossings, to address local community concerns, school zones and areas identified as a high pedestrian activity,' she said. Several of the reviews have targeted busy thoroughfares in Sydney. Business and road experts said if the speed limit was cut to 30km/h, 'Sydney would literally grind to a halt' The limit on four roads in St Leonards' centre were reduced from 50km/h to 40km/h to ensure a 'pedestrian friendly environment'. The main road connecting regional suburbs Cattai and Glenorie in the city's north, Halcrows Rd, was slowed from 100km/h to 60km/h. However, Business Sydney CEO Paul Nicolau is adamant a 30km/h speed limit will not work for the CBD. 'Businesses are struggling… the last thing they need is this on top of it,' she said. '[It] means that courier drivers, taxi drivers, Uber drivers, people will be slowed down even longer which is going to add further costs and burden to the economy.' Liberal Roads spokeswoman Natalie Ward added if the proposed reduction was adopted, 'Sydney would literally grind to a halt'. Share or comment on this article: Sydney CBD speed limits could be slashed to 30km/h under proposed plans by Lord Mayor Clover Moore's council e-mail Add comment Comments 3 Share what you think Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all The comments below have not been moderated. View all The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Add your comment Enter your comment By posting your comment you agree to our house rules . Submit Comment Clear Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. No Yes Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy .