Residents can now weigh in on the council’s Speed Management Plan (SMP) 2024-2027.

The proposal to reduce speeds on some roads across the district has had a range of changes since Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillors asked to have their say on the proposal.

Councillors were asked to approve the SMP for consultation at a meeting in September and they resolved to review it jointly before public submissions opened.

The original proposal included speed reductions from 40kph to 30kph on Wānaka CBD streets including Ardmore, Dungarvon and Dunmore, and these are no longer part of the proposal. 

For others, like Golf Course Road, a recommendation to reduce the speed limit to 40kph has been changed to 60kph (a 10kph drop from its existing speed limit).

The recommendation for a 40kph speed limit for Aubrey Road has also been removed, among others.

Some of the proposed changes are still likely to receive opposition, like the proposed 80kph speed limit on the Crown Range Road. 

QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery encouraged the public to read through the proposed changes and make a submission.

“We recognise people have differing views on how lower speed limits will affect them so it’s important for us to capture as wide a range of views as possible,” he said. 

“Whether you’re a driver, pedestrian, cyclist or anyone else affected by the speeds different people travel on our local roads, now is the time to let us know what you think about these proposals.”

The council was required to create an SMP when Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) announced last year it was introducing the new Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022, which meant the council’s speed bylaw was revoked.

“Like other councils, QLDC is responsible for setting safe and appropriate speed limits on our local roads and we’ve responded to new national guidance by proposing a new speed management plan for the district,” Tony said. 

Tony said state highways are managed by Waka Kotahi NZTA and therefore they are not included in the current QLDC proposals.

“Our work on local roads is closely aligned with Waka Kotahi’s Road to Zero programme which sets a roadmap to achieve ‘Vision Zero’, a New Zealand where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads,” he said. “Waka Kotahi will begin consulting on their draft plan for state highways in February next year.”

Residents can find material on the SMP (including a consultation document, maps and tables showing proposed speed limit changes and how these will affect travel times) here.

This material is also available at the local council offices and library.

Submissions will close on November 5.

PHOTO: Wānaka App