Chamber lobby group chairwoman Leanne O’Sullivan said the decision by Dubbo City Council was “sensible”.

“While we support pedestrian safety, our members thought (the motion) was unnecessary, not needed and the money could have been better spent elsewhere,” she said.

Dubbo councillors opted not to lower the speed limit at Monday night’s council meeting in a six to five decision.

Council had approved the 40km/h motion at its September meeting in a vote where the mayor used his casting vote, but Cr Ann Barnard was an apology at the meeting.

Cr Shields, one of the authors of the rescission motion, said major accidents were occurring outside the central business district, and the public was opposed to the 40km/h speed restriction.

He raised concerns about the number of speed zones within the city limits.

Cr Lyn Griffiths was strongly in favour of reducing the speed in an area bounded by Bligh, Cobra, Darling, Talbragar streets and part of the northern extension of Macquarie Street to Erskine Street.

Cr Greg Matthews had a “pragmatic approach”, which saw him support the 40km/h change in an attempt to make the RTA and not ratepayers pay for it. Crs Ben Shields, Tina Reynolds, Keith Harris, Mathew Dickerson, Peter Bartley and Ann Barnard supported the rescission motion.