The speed limit in Walgett's main street will drop from 50 to 40km/h this coming Wednesday when the NSW government introduces a new High Pedestrian Activity Area (HPIA) in the town.

The limit will take effect on 26 June along Fox Street, which is part of the Castlereagh Highway, from Montkeila Street to 30 metres south past Euroka Street.

The HPAA will also include Euroka, Dundas, Wee Waa, Warrena and Keepit streets.

 Transport for NSW Regional Director West, Alistair Lunn, said the limit will improve safety in the town CBD.

“Transport for NSW carried out a speed limit review at the request of Walgett Shire Council, with speed and public amenity being the main recurring issues in the community,” Mr Lunn said.

“The town centre consists of a mixture of retail and business, the supermarket and cafes, the public library and council building, as well as the information centre and memorial park. The review length is also close to the school precinct and hotspot areas for students to congregate after school to socialise.

“Traffic consists of tourists and regular heavy vehicle movements and, as a walking community, there is a lot of ad hoc crossing areas in the CBD and a lot of pedestrians out and about in general.

“The introduction of the HPAA will improve safety in this busy part of Walgett and, by keeping traffic volumes to a constant 40 km/h, will also improve the amenity of the CBD.”

Anne Dennis has lived most her life in Walgett. IMAGE: supplied 

Anne Dennis is based in Fox Street as a councillor with the North Western section of the NSW Aboriginal Lands Council.

While Ms Dennis welcomed the limit, she said speed signage on the main street would help residents adjust.

"People need to slow down because there's also foot traffic with pedestrians walking across the street, so I think it's a good idea," Ms Dennis said.

"I think there will be some people who will probably take just that little bit of time to adjust.

"That signage is critical so that people are aware of it."

Further to the southern end of Fox Street, The Pink House Hotel owner Dale Bowden said the 50km limit wasn't an issue.

"I think the issue, when you're talking about the southern side of town, is more so the trucks that accelerate past."

"If they were trying to slow people down the main street, I think it was more people passing through town. There's a roundabout right in the centre of town. They hit that then fly down at a ridiculous rate."

He said he has seen a truck pass him going around 70-80km down the street.

"I don't know if making it 40km is going to stop that," he said

"I think most people cruze down there according to the foot traffic anyway. If the speed limit's already 50km and there's people everywhere, I think generally most people slow down a bit regardless.

"If we could petition to put a fixed speed camera on the southern part of town, I reckon that would fix a lot of problems."