General News
14 May, 2026
Call to raise speed limit
A DRIVING instructor is leading a campaign to have a 40km/h speed limit between Cooya Beach and Mossman raised to 60km/h.
Stephen Lee, who is collecting petition signatures to support his argument with the Douglas Shire Council, believes there should be a change of speed limit on the Junction Road and Bonnie Doon Road route.
He said since the mill closure, local motorists had faced unnecessary frustration and speeding fines due to an outdated speed limit of 40km/h.
“This limit was initially put in place with the consideration of train operations in the area. However, there are currently no trains operational, making this speed limit, not only outdated, but excessively restrictive for the conditions of the road,” Mr Lee said.
“This is a Douglas Shire Council-controlled road and attempts to get council to change the speed limit have been fruitless,” he said.
“I have tried to work with council and our elected councillors to address this issue, without success.”
Mr Lee says the rail line will not be operational again and, if it is, the speed limit could be reduced again.
“The council have filled in the train tracks on their road on Junction Bridge for cyclists. The mayor is even talking about a bike path on the train tracks between Port and Mossman.”
Apart from the speed restriction, according to Mr Lee there has been a recent traffic blitz in Mossman and the 40km/h zone was targeted.
“It’s a pure revenue-raising and dumbing down motorists,” he said.
“Travelling from Cooya Beach, the speed drops from Cooya Beach 80km/h then 40km/h for no reason.”
Mr Lee believes that by increasing the speed limit to 60km/h from the location of number 30 Junction Road (opposite the 40km/h speed sign), it would significantly ease the daily journeys for residents who rely on this road.
“It’s important to emphasise that this change will not compromise safety.”
So far more than 300 signatures have been collected.
A representative of the Douglas Shire Council infrastructure support department has recently responded to Mr Lee by saying “council has reviewed the speed limit in question and has advised that no changes can be made until the rail infrastructure is officially deemed redundant and either removed or closed off”.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said, although the road was controlled by council, it was the decision of the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) as to when it was deemed appropriate to change the speed limit.
