A new bylaw which could prevent heavy trucks from using a gravel road in the Catlins has hit its first speed bump.
Three members of the public turned up to the Clutha District Council this week to express their displeasure at the council’s proposal, which would prevent heavy trucks from using a section of Tahakopa Valley Rd in the Catlins during adverse weather conditions or over winter months, to prevent road damage.
In a public forum on Thursday, Martin Stott, Alastair Perrin and Mike Hurring all opposed the road-use restrictions. Instead of restricting access to heavy vehicles, Mr Stott said, the council should upgrade the road so it was to a standard which could handle heavy traffic.
"The road should be upgraded so people can carry on with their business."
Mr Hurring said the road should be able to handle the traffic "and more".
"There’s no guts to it ... This one is going to get a kick in the pants."
Council chief executive Steve Hill said upgrading the road had been discussed with the local community at earlier meetings.
However, locals appeared to be unwilling to pay for the upgrade in rates and heavy vehicle industry users did not want to contribute to the cost of damage or upgrades, either.
Because of this, the council was likely to introduce a policy bylaw.
The road had been closed in the past, for which the council had taken a "stab in the neck", he said.If something was not done about the road, it was likely it would be closed again.
A report to the council said the council had limited options for dealing with issues which might arise on the road.
The proposed bylaw would give the council the power to "prevent damage" instead of needing to pay for repairs afterwards, it said.
Cr John Cochrane said he needed more information and would be unable to make an informed decision on the bylaw until he had that information.
He proposed the council delay adopting the bylaw until extra information was provided. The move was supported by nine votes to six.
The section of the road the council is consider restricting access to starts 13km from the Papatowai Highway and finishes where it becomes the Mokoreta Tahakopa Rd, 29.5km from Papatowai Highway.
