Old Tai Tapu Rd was one of 31 roads across Selwyn that district councillors voted to approve a speed limit change to during their final meeting of the election term on Wednesday.
The speed limit change was backed by Tai Tapu Hotel owner Murray Smith.
It will see Old Tai Tapu Rd from Golf Links Rd to Michaels Rd drop from 80km/h to 60km/h.
“I’ve been trying to back that for yonks and, with the cyclists going around, there is no room. And 80km/h is bloody quick going around those bends,” Smith said.
To encourage drivers to slow down, Smith has been putting cones out, which he says has been effective.
Of the 340 submissions on the proposed speed changes, 169 related to Old Tai Tapu Rd.
Nearly half (45.9%) of them “strongly opposed” the speed reduction, while 31.4% “strongly supported” it.
Smith called the opposition to the change “just dumb”.
Before district councillors voted, Rolleston Residents Association chair Mark Alexander spoke to district councillors and criticised the consultation process.
"Honestly, and I am going to be brutally honest, this isn’t council’s best example of consultation," Alexander said.
"Adopt the proposed 50km/h around urban areas. Initial 100-80km/h around developments when developments begin. Subsequent 80-60km/h reductions when the amount of development or traffic volume," Alexander said.
In a report to the council, school road safety advisor Sam Sharland and road safety engineer Ravi Venugopal questioned the relevance of the feedback.
"While it may seem clear that speed limits should be reduced where residential properties are now located on previously higher-speed roads, such as lowering limits from 100km/h to 50km/h, the consultation process has highlighted a key challenge," they said.
"A significant portion of the community has expressed opposition to the proposed changes, including many submitters who do not reside on the affected roads.
"This raises concerns about the relevance of their feedback in shaping decisions that primarily impact local residents."
District council head of operational delivery told councillors only 7% of submissions were from people who lived on the affected roads.
Initially, the changes were to be implemented between now and 2027. But the timing was adjusted so staff can implement the changes as areas are developed.
The changes still need final approval from the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
Confirmed speed limit changes in Selwyn
Rolleston
• About 1km of Burnham School Rd near the Dunns Crossing Rd intersection will drop from 100km/h to 60km/h.
• Brookside Rd from Dunns Crossing Rd to Edwards Rd will drop from 100km/h to 60km/h.
• About 1.2km of Edwards Rd from Brookside Rd will drop from 100km/h to 60km/h.
• Selwyn Rd between Lincoln Rolleston Rd and just past Dunns Crossing Rd will drop to 50km/h.
• Dunns Crossing Rd from Arbor Green Blvd to Selwyn Rd will drop from 80km/h to 50km/h.
• Springston Rolleston Rd between Selwyn Rd and Dynes Rd will drop from 60km/h to 50km/h.
• Goulds Rd between Selwyn Rd and East Maddsions Rd will drop from 80km/h to 50km/h.
• Lincoln Rolleston Rd between Selwyn Rd and Levi Rd will to 50km/h.
• A 175m section of Maddisons Rd near the intersection of Hoskyns Rd will be dropped from 80km/h to 50km/h.
• About 400m of Railway Rd at the intersection of Jones Rd will drop from 100km/h to 50km/h.
• 100m of Wards Rd at the intersection of Two Chain Rd will drop from 100km/h to 50km/h.
• Two Chain Rd between Jones Rd and Walkers Rd will be dropped from 100km/h to 60km/h.
• Walkers Rd between SH1 and Two Chain Rd will be dropped from 100km/h to 60km/h.
• Runners Rd will be dropped from 100km/h to 60km/h.
Lincoln
• The 50km/h limit will be extended on Birchs Rd to Tancreds Rd.
• The 50km/h limit will be extended on Boundary Rd about 300m.
• Gerald St between James St and West Belt will be dropped from 50km/h to 40km/h.
• The 50km/h limit will be extended on Edward St to the Ellesmere Rd intersection.
• About 700m of Ellesmere Rd will be dropped from 80km/h to 60km/h around the Edward St intersection.
• The 50km/h limit will be extended on Springs Rd to Collins Rd.
Prebbleton
• Hamptons Rd between Springs Rd and Shands Rd will be dropped from 80km/h to 60km/h.
• The 50km/h limit will be extended on Birchs Rd to just past Leadleys Rd.
Leeston
• The 50km/h limit will be extended on Leeston Dunsandel Rd past Ellesmere College.
• Station St between Cunningham St and Leeston Rd will be dropped from 60km/h to 50km/h.
Burnham
• Two Chain Rd between Telegraph Rd and Reynolds Rd will be dropped from 100km/h to 80km/h.
• Telegraph Rd between SH1 and Two Chain Rd will be dropped from 100km/h to 80km/h.
• Reynolds Rd between Two Chain Rd and Burdons Rd will be dropped from 100km/h to 80km/h.
• Burdons Rd between Reynolds Rd and Burnham will be dropped from 100km/h to 80km/h.
Darfield
• The 50km/h limit will be extended on Kimberley Rd.
West Melton
• The 60km/h limit will be extended on Halkett Rd.
• The 60km/h limit will be extended on Weedons Ross Rd.
