A PINE Gully Road crash victim has applauded new moves to boost safety on the northern Wagga road as a “great start” and the first major win for a community campaign led by the DA.

Speed limits on Pine Gully Road and Old Narrandera Road will on Tuesday be dropped from 100km/h to 70km/h. It adds to other safety measures including vegetation clearing and driver education initiatives at nearby Charles Sturt University (CSU), which were announced last month.

The road’s speed limit was a major sticking point for campaigners, who were propelled into action by a tragic fatal crash in June.

The accident brought back memories she would rather forget for Stephanie Smyth. Ms Smyth endured a similarly horrific car crash on Pine Gully Road in 2009 and is lucky to be alive.

Ms Smyth – who still lives with the medical repercussions of her accident – was “shocked” and “surprised” on hearing the speed limit news.

“I didn’t think this would actually happen,” she said.

“I’m so glad that something good has come out of something so bad. Hopefully people abide by it and when little things go wrong, it doesn’t go catastrophically wrong.

“I think it’s a great start.”

The road faces further pressure from nearby housing estates and an expanding CSU – a clear sign of the city’s “growing pains” and extension into outer rural areas.

Estella Rise selling agent Neville Chapple said the speed reduction was “long overdue” and pointed to future safety requirements for the growth area.

“I think as Estella Rise grows, the amount of traffic coming out of there will be a concern,” he said.

Wagga mayor Rod Kendall welcomed the current decision and said it was expected.