KANIVA school crossing supervisors have won a long-standing battle with VicRoads after the authority announced it would reduce the speed limit at the town's school crossing.
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Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said the speed limit at the school crossing would change to 40kmh following VicRoad's Victorian Speed Limit Review.
The crossing in Commercial Street is used by students at Kaniva P-12 College, who cross to get to the school in Farmers Street.
Commercial Street becomes the Western Highway.
"The decision was made following community consultation and a review by VicRoads to ensure the speed limit is appropriate for safety and traffic flow," Mr Delahunty said.
"The speed limit at the school crossing will be reduced to 40 kilometres an hour during peak pedestrian activity times."
Kaniva crossing supervisors and the Kaniva Neighbourhood Watch group had been fighting for the change for more than three years.
Group secretary and crossing supervisor Joanne Sullivan said VicRoads had always told her that because the school was not on the highway, only the crossing was, the speed limit did not need to change.
Miss Sullivan said she was 'over the moon' with the announcement.
"It is about time," she said.
She said there had been a few 'near misses' at the crossing.
"At the town centre the speed is 50kmh then after that it goes to 60kmh and then there is the school crossing," she said.
"People approach the crossing as they are accelerating."
She said there used to be an 80kmh speed sign after the crossing, which VicRoads had now removed, meaning the next speed limit change after the crossing was 100kmh.
"We get quite a few cars coming through speeding up to 80 or 100kmh," she said.
Miss Sullivan said the crossing extended across a service lane on either side of the highway, which also added to her safety concerns.
"When traffic is stopped on the highway, other cars then try overtaking the highway traffic by using the service lanes," she said. "It is so dangerous."
Miss Sullivan said about 50 children used the crossing every morning and afternoon.
"A 40kmh sign will do a lot to help - I am stoked," she said.
"Flashing lights will do even more, but this is a step in the right direction."
The reduced speed limit will be from 8am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm on school days.
Mr Delahunty said the signs were due to be installed in time for the start of term three.
West Wimmera Mayor Ron Hawkins said the change was great news for the town.
