Five crashes in six weeks on the gravel section of Ballantyne Rd led to a brief, fiery exchange during the public forum section of yesterday's Wanaka Community Board meeting.
The road links State Highway 6 near Wanaka Airport with the Cardrona Valley Rd, allowing traffic to bypass Wanaka.
Retired general practitioner Dr David Allen, who lives next to one of the road's gravel sections, outlined to the board his concerns about the road's safety and the dust problem.
He produced photographs of some of the vehicles damaged in crashes this year.
Dr Allen attempted to debate the board's roading priorities but was told to ‘‘sit down'' by board chairwoman Rachel Brown.
Ms Brown said Ballantyne Rd was one of many in the district that needed to be sealed but the Queenstown Lakes District Council had limited funds to do the work.
Board member Bryan Lloyd, responsible for liaison with the Mt Barker Residents Association, which takes in Ballantyne Rd, said he understood the association's priority was to firstly to have part of nearby Boundary Rd improved.
Board member Lyal Cocks suggested alternatives to sealing Ballantyne Rd could be looked at, such as a large sign warning of the gravel surface or even closing the road to through traffic.
