A meeting to discuss road safety concerns in Albert Town earlier this week was a productive one, Albert Town Community Association (ATCA) chair Heather Thorne says.

Residents who attended on Tuesday night (August 8) raised a range of concerns, most around speeding, with the speed of motor vehicles travelling on Alison Avenue and Gunn Road a recurring theme.

While none of the 15 or so residents who took part asked for a reduction in the speed limit anywhere in Albert Town, many said they wanted to see more traffic calming measures and increased enforcement on those roads, and other busy ones like Sherwin Avenue.

Heather said chatter about road safety issues had increased on the ATCA Facebook page recently and the meeting had come about as a result.

“The best thing is to talk to people face-to-face and have accurate information shared by the people who have the knowledge,” she said. 

Heather thanked elected members - including deputy mayor Quentin Smith, councillor Lyal Cocks and Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) chair Simon Telfer, plus a Wānaka Police representative - for taking part in the meeting.

Key information shared included which channels road safety issues should be reported to, she said. 

The best police channel for urgent but not life-threatening driving incidents, poor driving or minor (non-injury) crashes is to call *555.

Elected members recommended using the Snap, Send, Solve App as a channel for non-urgent community issues, such as parking on verges, as well as using council’s Request for Service.

Using the proper channels means the council is aware of issues, and it also helps build data on areas and issues that need more attention or funding, the elected members said.

Simon told the Wānaka App after the meeting it was also “extremely helpful” to hear directly from residents about the safety issues they were concerned about.

“I have already shared the feedback with QLDC [Queenstown Lakes District Council] staff and asked them how we can prioritise safe streets investment into Albert Town,” he said.

Heather said while there was no quick fix for issues like speeding, she would pass on the information from the meeting to other community members via the ATCA’s monthly newsletter. 

“It’s a case of education and awareness combined with the things the council and the police can do,” she said.

PHOTO: Wānaka App