Council Unveils Local Voices to Promote Safe Speeds
The Local Voices competition gives Port Stephens residents the opportunity to get creative in sharing their perspectives, telling their stories and raising awareness of the importance of safe speeds on our local roads.
Mayor Leah Anderson said the competition is a true community driven project.
“Local ideas sparked this initiative during a community jury process late last year to champion road safety across Port Stephens – and what a fun one it is!” Mayor Anderson said.
Submissions are open to all ages across a variety of categories, inviting entrants to share a personal story or campaign for safe speeds, create a sign or slogan, or film a video expressing why the community should slow down.
“This is a chance to educate your community and share your message about the impact of speed, in a way that you feel comfortable with – plus there’s a chance to win a share of a massive $5,800 for your efforts,” Mayor Anderson said.
“I can’t wait to see the creative talent shine through from the Port Stephens community,” she added.
The Local Voices competition is the next phase of the Community Action for Safe Speeds (CASS) study, undertaken in partnership with The George Institute for Global Health. The community jury process formed the initial phase of this project.
Dr Judy Fleiter from The George Institute for Global Health explains that the CASS study aims to find innovative ways to reduce speeding-related road trauma in NSW through increasing public demand for safer speeds.
“Travelling at safe speeds reduces the possibility of harm and the level of harm to all road users in Port Stephens. We hope this project will help the community understand the importance of supporting safe travel speeds,” Dr Fleiter said.
The Local Voices competition is open to entries from Monday, 30 June until 8pm on Sunday, 14 September 2025.
The ‘Education and Awareness of Safe Speeds in Communities Project’ is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts.
Learn more about the Local Voices competition, find a drop in session to discuss your idea and view the full entry terms and conditions at pscouncil.info/local-voices-comp
https://www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/council/news/2025/council-launches-local-voices-competition-to-raise-awareness-of-safe-speeds