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Dunedin city councillors have clashed about whether to request to take over management of state highways within the city limits from the NZ Transport Agency.
Councillors were discussing the council’s submission to a ministry discussion paper on switching transportation to zero emissions at a meeting of the council’s planning and environment committee on Tuesday.
However, councillors disagreed whether a paragraph that suggested councils should be enabled to "manage state highways within core urban areas" should be included as part of their submission. Cr Jules Radich introduced an amendment to remove the paragraph and said the council should be working with the Government to achieve their common goals.
Cr Steve Walker said he was very happy to see the request for the council control after experiencing the process for reducing the speed limit on a state highway.
Locals wanted the speed limit on a section of State Highway88 that ran through Port Chalmers to be reduced from 50kmh to 30kmh.
It took "eight to nine" years of lobbying NZTA to have the limit reduced to 40kmh.
"If we controlled that road, we can do something about it tomorrow and help the residents who live on that road have a better quality of life."
Cr Carmen Houlahan said Cr Walker’s story showed there was already a process in place for making changes through NZTA with which she was comfortable.
She said managing state highways would cost the council more money, and they would have to take responsibility for the complicated roading situation surrounding the new hospital.
Cr Radich’s amendment was defeated in a 11-3 vote, with Crs Houlahan and Lee Vandervis also voting for the unsuccessful change.
Councillors approved the overall submission as written except for amendments to emphasise regional freight, government funding of rail services, strengthen references to supporting active transport modes, and adding support for inter-regional cycle trails.
The submission was approved in a 10-4 vote, Crs Mike Lord, Andrew Whiley, Radich, and Vandervis voting against.