Shire of Broome endorses speed limit reduction in Chinatown

The speed limit in Chinatown is set to change from 50km/h to 30km/h, after the Shire of Broome endorsed a request from Main Roads to change the limits at the November ordinary council meeting.

Gray Street, Carnarvon Street, Napier Terrace, Dampier Terrace and Frederick Street within Chinatown will be subject to the change.

The council also asked Main Roads to extend the speed limit decrease to before the slip lane into the Paspaley Plaza carpark and through to Dampier Terrace.

According to the shire there were 78 crashes in Chinatown between 2020 and 2025 including seven crashes where people required medical attention.

Some 41 of the collisions were head-on, making up the majority of the crashes at 58 per cent. Pedestrians were hit in two of the crashes.

A Shire of Broome spokesperson said they expect the changes would be made in the coming months.

“Traffic data has shown us that the current average speed of vehicles in that area is 28km/h,” they said.

“The current 50 km/h speed limit doesn’t match State guidelines for areas with lots of pedestrians.

“This change will enhance safety in the area and reduce the risk of crashes and near misses.”

It comes after a woman was taken to Broome Hospital with serious injuries after an alleged hit-and-run in Chinatown earlier this year.

The shire requested to change the speed limit to 40km/h all the way back in 2018 and 2019 during the Chinatown redevelopment but the request was rejected by Main Roads.

However, after Main Roads’ internal 2025 Kimberley Speed Zone audit and Road Safety Management assessment, a request was submitted to the shire proposing a speed zoning of 30km/h in Chinatown.