Residents and ratepayers in Arrowtown last week discussed ways the town could slow traffic in order to make it safer for pedestrians and drivers.
Council transport manager said more than 20 people who attended the meeting last Wednesday night helped them gain a better idea of what was needed.
"There was a lot of support to reduce the limit, but we are aware there are people who don't support it, as well."
One of the biggest problems for Arrowtown pedestrians was that the town did not have enough footpaths, Mr Mander said. Ninety percent of the streets did not have one.
He said the community had been positive about the process and the meeting raised a few other ideas for the council to take a look at.
Arrowtown resident and councillor Lex Perkins said that while the main aim was to reduce the entire town's speed limit to 40kmh, they would also be studying traffic-slowing mechanisms, such as speed bumps and narrowing the road, around Arrowtown Primary and Centennial Ave.
Mr Perkins said that while the speed limit was in the town's short-term plan, the council would look at introducing footpaths further in the future.
"The 10-year plan is to introduce footpaths."
One of the main concerns for him were dangers to mothers with prams, walkers, runners, children and the elderly, who often had to use the road.
Mr Perkins said he had been working on getting the speed limit in place for a while and the idea had gained momentum in the community.
"It will dramatically help the present situation and make Arrowtown a safer place to live."
The town's average speed sits between 45kmh and 50kmh, although speed surveys have found that 15% of drivers are driving over the 55kmh mark.
The fastest speed recorded during the council's research was 124kmh on Centennial Ave, coming off the 100kmh McDonnell Rd limit.
If the speed limit was introduced, Arrowtown would be the first town in New Zealand to have an "all-over" 40kmh limit, Mr Perkins said.
After the first round of public submissions closes on Friday, the council's infrastructure services committee - Lyal Cocks, Lex Perkins, John Mann, Jude Battson, Trevor Tattersfield and Mayor Vanessa van Uden - will vote whether or not they are in favour of the change.
