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Serious concerns about a slew of proposed speed limit changes in Dunedin have been expressed by the Otago Peninsula Community Board.
The Dunedin City Council is proposing an amendment to its speed limits bylaw, setting new limits for some roads under its control and intending to bring them into force on November 1.
Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman Paul Pope said the proposed bylaw "tried to implement a blanket approach to road safety that is not in tune with changes in our roads or community needs".
Changes to the bylaw propose all settlements along the peninsula, including Macandrew Bay, Broad Bay and Portobello, have speed limits reduced from 50kmh to 40kmh.
Other roads on the peninsula, including Portobello Rd, would have speed limits cut to 60kmh.
The council says it is addressing a citywide issue of poor road safety statistics and people needlessly dying.
Mr Pope said the board conducted an online survey of community members when the changes were first suggested, attracting 450 responses.
The number of crashes and vehicles going into the harbour had dropped noticeably since various safety improvements were implemented, such as road widening, and further safety measures were unnecessary.
"Most of the people out here are commuters and are worried there would be a noticeable effect on their commute times."
More than 58% of those surveyed disagreed with cutting the speed limit to 40kmh on the main streets of the peninsula, and more than 73% disagreed the limit on all other roads be reduced to 60kmh.
"These changes are unenforceable and confusing ... That is particularly worrying given our reliance on foreign and out-of-town visitors to our area," Mr Pope said.
The speed limits should remain as they were instead of introducing a "blanket" approach to speed and other safety improvements, such as pedestrian crossings, would be of more benefit, he said.
The Saddle Hill Community Board also expressed some worry over the proposed bylaw.
A submission on the bylaw from board members Leanne Stenhouse and Keith McFadyen said reducing the speed limit between Green Island and Brighton from 80kmh to 60kmh would be "a step too far" and would have the opposite effect of what was intended, leading to frustration for residents and more overtaking.
A council spokesman said between 2015 and last year, 28 people were killed in crashes and 369 were seriously injured on Dunedin roads.
"These numbers are getting worse and speed is a key contributing factor, which can be addressed as part of this speed limit review process."
Since submissions had closed, it was not appropriate for staff to respond to individual submissions while the process was ongoing, he said.
Public hearings on the bylaw will be held on October 28 and 29.