Residents across Annandale and Leichhardt have started receiving letters from Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne confirming the next stage of the InnerWest@40 speed limit rollout, with changes taking effect from 18 May.
Local streets across both suburbs will drop from 50km/h to 40km/h, along with several key roads including Booth Street, Balmain Road, Moore Street and The Crescent. The changes are being delivered in partnership with Transport for NSW, which is responsible for those state and regional roads.
Part of a broader rollout
This isn't new policy — it's the next stage of a program that has been rolling out across the Inner West since 2025. More than half of local roads are already covered, with similar changes already in place across Marrickville, Stanmore, Petersham, Dulwich Hill, Enmore, Tempe and Sydenham.
The rollout is based on the InnerWest@40 study, commissioned by Inner West Council and prepared by engineering firm Beca in 2023. Key findings: more than 97% of all crashes in the Inner West occur within 400m of a commercial zone; reducing speeds from 50km/h to 40km/h could produce a 30% reduction in injuries; and the impact on travel times is minimal, adding a maximum of 26 seconds during peak hour on the worst-affected routes.
80% of respondents expressed support during community consultation in late 2023.
Mixed reactions
The letter has sparked debate in local Facebook groups, with some residents raising concerns about major roads like Booth Street and Balmain Road carrying the same limit as quiet side streets. Others have welcomed it, particularly for stretches with a history of accidents.
The Crescent near Trafalgar Street has been raised by residents as a spot where the change is long overdue. The corner has seen regular accidents, particularly in wet weather. Residents have previously pushed for safety improvements at the location without success. While a lower speed limit won't fix road design issues on its own, many believe it's a necessary step in reducing risk.
Mayor Darcy Byrne said in his letter to residents that if a car hits a pedestrian at 50km/h, the pedestrian has just a 10% chance of survival, rising to 60% at 40km/h.
Could limits go lower?
Balmain MP Kobi Shetty tabled a bill in 2025 to lower the default speed limit on local NSW streets to 30km/h. It was debated in parliament earlier this year, but did not pass. The InnerWest@40 study found that pedestrian fatality risk is only significantly reduced when travel speeds reach around 30km/h, which in practice tends to occur on roads posted at 40km/h.
The Annandale and Leichhardt rollout is part of a staged approach, with further suburbs expected to transition to 40km/h limits in the coming months.
