Wānaka Fire Brigade is the latest group to raise concerns over the placement of a crossing and traffic lights on Ardmore Street, between the Ballantyne Road/SH84 intersection and the Caltex roundabout.

The traffic lights were installed in August to provide a safe crossing for school students as part of the Schools to Pools route connecting schools to the Wānaka Recreation Centre at Three Parks. The project was a joint initiative of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Some locals raised concerns in June that the lights and traffic crossing - which are about 100m from the busy roundabout - are too close, questioning their practicality and safety.

Wānaka fire chief Tony Wellman told the Wānaka App this week that the brigade is monitoring the impact of the signalled crossing, which has already delayed a fire truck.

“Within five minutes a house fire is getting to the stage where it’s not survivable. Every minute counts,” he said.

Wānaka Fire chief Tony Wellman; Councillor Barry Bruce PHOTOS: Supplied

The fire brigade also does a lot of medical call outs, he said, providing backup to Hato Hone St John Ambulance.

“Every second counts in those sorts of calls.”

Community board faced with choice this week

The issue of the traffic lights is going to the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) on Thursday (October 10) to retrospectively approve removal of the right turn movement from State Highway 84 into Ardmore Street (where the Alpine Motel, Bottle-O and a vape shop are situated).

The council report said the primary considerations were “a safe and efficient transport system”, and the effect of the proposed change on members of the public, including users of the Schools to Pool project. It said the changes were proposed to ensure the continued safety of cyclists and pedestrians using the traffic network, and the only “likely inconvenience” was for residents and businesses located on Ardmore Street who would need to take a one minute detour via Ballantyne Road.

The board has been presented with two options: to leave the new layout and retrospectively approve the removal of the right hand turn; or “remove the new safe signalised crossing point and reinstate the previous refuge island crossing 50m east”.

Two members of the WUCCB have confirmed to the Wānaka App that they will vote to remove the new road crossing.

Council’s report to the community board said there would be “minor inconvenience” for business owners, but did not reference emergency services. PHOTO: Wānaka App

Councillor Barry Bruce said the new layout was “a disaster waiting to happen and we need to get rid of it, plain and simple”. 

Community board member Chris Hadfield agreed with Barry.

Barry, who owns rental company Inland Autos just off the Caltex roundabout on Brownston Street, said he has looked out on the intersection for 24 years, and believed there was potential for “a log-jam” during busy times of the year.

Barry has already expressed his frustration that elected members had not been consulted on the change, saying there had been “no discussion within council”.

Read more: Confusion, frustration over traffic signals

The issue will go to the WUCCB meeting, which will be held in Cardrona, on Thursday morning at 10am.

Fire response could be compromised

Wānaka’s fire station is situated on Ballantyne Road, not far from the new crossing on Ardmore Street. Tony Wellman said the fire brigade was not consulted about the new road layout, and he first heard about it when contractors Fulton Hogan left a flyer warning about delays while the traffic lights were being installed.

Tony immediately contacted his group manager in Queenstown, who contacted Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC). Council’s response was along the lines of ‘let’s see what happens’, Tony said.

Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) standards expect fire trucks to be out on the road within five minutes, Tony said. “That’s the standard we try to meet.”

With the new lights, there is potential for “a three minute delay just sitting there”, he said.

“Coming out of Ballantyne Road, there is no parking zone there, so cars can block straight across there if they’re waiting at the lights. They could block that whole road off.”

And this is not the brigade’s busy time of year, Tony said. “Christmas is going to be the big test. I think we’re going to see massive backlogs.”

Not only is the delay a concern for fire appliances making it quickly to incidents, Tony said a big issue was volunteers (most of whom live on the north side of town) getting to the station quickly.

“It’s an experiment for everyone, really. We’re going to see if it works or not.”

The Wānaka App approached St John for comment, and was told a response was expected from the area’s operation managers before the WUCCB meeting this week.

QLDC was also approached for comment.