Subcommittee chairwoman Cr Kate Wilson said the exercise of hearing submissions on proposed reductions to speed limits on the peninsula to a maximum of 80kmh was refreshing, as many submitters remarked how happy they were with the consultation council transportation staff had undertaken in drafting their proposals.
The commendations from the community were so impressive that the subcommittee, of Crs Wilson, Fliss Butcher and Jinty MacTavish, suggested the consultation example be shared with other departments and with staff undertaking the council's consultation review, as a model that worked well.
The councillors heard from 12 of 54 submitters at a hearing yesterday, after which they deliberated and made their recommendations.
From the original proposed speed limits on 30 sections of the peninsula's roads, announced in June, only four changes would be made in the subcommittee's recommendations to council.
They were that speed limits be reduced to 70kmh on Camp and Castlewood Rds, to 50kmh on Tomahawk Rd (from Centre Rd to the end) and Southdale Rd, and from 30kmh to 20kmh on John Wilson Ocean Dr.
The latter decision followed some "very good" submissions that suggested the speed limit be lowered, Cr Wilson said.
A 20kmh limit would be better suited to sightseeing and was in line with travelling speeds in reserves, but would not result in too many cyclists exceeding speed limits along the stretch of road.
She said "30kmh is what they have on George St".
"Did we want John Wilson Ocean Dr being like George St? No."
The council decided last year, after the road was closed in 2006 for the construction of the Tahuna outfall pipe, to reopen it between 11am and 2pm on weekdays with a 30kmh speed limit.
Cr Wilson said the decision to introduce a 30kmh limit was "just an off-the-cuff decision" on the day, with no information to back it up.
The subcommittee recommended the changes take effect by March 1.
It also recommended further liaison with the community and Otago Peninsula Community Board and a report be provided, with information on signage and budget implications, on a staff suggestion that the council consider participation in a safer speeds demonstration trial.
Being part of the trial would mean the effect of the speed limit changes would be monitored and reviewed and the findings used to assist in developing national guidelines under the Government's safer journeys action plan.
The council will be asked to ratify the new speed limits and other recommendations next month.
