Council hears submissions on the Interim Speed Management Plan

Published on 04 May 2023

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At a Waitaki District Council hearing on 2 May, Elected Members considered verbal and written submissions received in response to the public consultation on the ‘Safer speeds around schools’ Interim Speed Management Plan. 

A total of 76 written submissions were received to the Interim Speed Management Plan Consultation which ran from 3 – 31 March 2023. Speakers at the hearing included eight Students from Oamaru Intermediate School, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education and CCS Disability Action. 

Mayor for Waitaki Gary Kircher was pleased to see such a wide-ranging community interest in the safety of our streets. “It’s particularly encouraging to get the input of school pupils who are directly affected by the speeds of drivers around them as they walk and cycle to school. Council has a responsibility to do everything we can to ensure Waitaki is a place where we can all share the roads as safely as possible.” 

Prior to the hearings and deliberations, Council officers analysed the submissions and presented them to Council. The results were 79% in favour to introduce safer speed limits around schools within our district, with 77% in favour of the proposal as outlined in the draft Interim Speed Management Plan.  

Common themes raised in the responses were:  

  1. Requests that traffic calming devices, such as speed bumps and kerb crossings, are constructed in conjunction with the 30kmh speed limit.
  2. Preferences for some schools to have Electronic Variable speed limits at certain times of day (ie start and end of school day) instead of Permanent speed limits
  3. Implementing the 30kmh speed limit around Ōamaru Intermediate School as soon as possible.
  4. Requests for the introduction of ‘no parking’ areas outside schools in conjunction with the 30kmh speed limit.
  5. Concerns held around compliance of the new speed limit(s) by drivers and enforcement by Police 

Council’s Network Infrastructure Engineer Rodger McGaw was happy with the number and quality of submissions. “We got good engagement on the consultation and well considered responses from a broad section of our community and stakeholders”  

The Interim Speed Management Plan will be considered for adoption by Council in a Decision Report at a Council Meeting on 30 May, for approval to submit to Waka Kotahi for certification. 

The first Full Speed Management Plan will go out to consultation in the second half of 2023 and there will be a further Hearings process and decision report to a future Council Meeting for consideration, adoption and approval to submit to the 2024- 27 National Land Transport Plan. 

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