Balanced decision needed on speed

Port Otago is the lifeblood for exporters stretching from Southland through to parts of Canterbury. It provides some of the best container ship berthing in New Zealand and can handle large cruise ships during the peak of the tourist season, when other ports struggle.

Port Chalmers, as a town, has received the benefits of being close to the port. Jobs have been established and little businesses have spread through the town. Cafes, second-hand shops, clothing outlets and residents alike have felt the benefits of an expanding port.

Yet, there is discontent. The port has been long in the firing line of residents. There have been protests against its expansion, meaning lengthy court battles before some parts of the surrounding hillside could be shaved off for better port access for logs.

Noise at night has been a constant thorn in the side of residents, one resident even complaining at a consents hearing in the past how his sex life had been ruined by the night-time pile driving.

To put the port in perspective, Port Otago's 100% owner, the Otago Regional Council, has received more than $156million in dividends since 1988. The port has assets of $540million and debt of $70million. Staff numbers are about 320. The port generally handles about 180,000 containers a year; 89 cruise ships will visit this season.

Protesters want the current 50kmh speed limit for logging trucks travelling through the township reduced.

No-one can deny the sight of a fully-laden log ship going past the town is imposing. The port handles 700,000 to 900,000 cu m of logs a year, and has done so for the past couple of years.

Some Port Chalmers residents protested last week and plan to continue stalling trucks on the town's main street until the speed limit is lowered. Port Otago is trying to convince truck companies to impose their own limit.

This protest has the potential to became nasty and dangerous. Despite the protesters seen standing on a legitimately marked pedestrian crossing, interfering with a business using the rules legitimately has all the hallmarks of escalation.

Protesters say they have witnessed near misses and they also have support from some truck drivers. Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders says the company will contact trucking companies to see if they will enforce a 30kmh speed limit on their own fleets.

Safety is critical to the port within its own boundaries, but now the safety issue has spread to the streets.

Truck accidents on the streets of Port Chalmers are rare but there is always a risk accidents could happen in the future. The blame would then lie with the driver in the minds of the public, regardless of the circumstances.

NZTA says there have been no reported injury crashes on the road to trigger a review of the official speed limit. The route is a national strategic highway, one of the most important freight routes to Port Otago. The minimum expected speed limit for these national strategic routes is 50kmh. Operating speeds were measured in the 40kmh to 44kmh range.

Mr Winders says the port is critical to the region and no-one wants to see any delays through the supply chain.

Port residents need to be reasonable. Many of them have moved to Port Chalmers in the full knowledge it is home to a working port. In Christchurch, Ruapuna Speedway was once out in the country. Now it is surrounded by residents wanting the noise reduced and/or the raceway closed.

A moderate solution will be found but stopping trucks on the main street of Port Chalmers, and using young children in the protest, is not acceptable.

Comments

I am not sure which Port Chalmers protest the ODT editor was at but I can report that there were no burning barricades, heaps of bricks or angry shouts, rather truck drivers giving the thumbs up and the odd cheerful toot from passing motorists. I was also unaware that there is an age limit for peaceful public protest. I am sure we all agree that the Port is a necessary part of the fabric of Dunedin but the balancing that needs to take place is the relationship between a pedestrian's life and a load of logs arriving at the wharf 12 seconds late. At least one of the benefits of minor civil disobedience is now obvious but shame on the ODT for acting as the bully pulpit for commercial interests.