Agenda of Hearings Committee Meeting - Wednesday, 3 April 2024

3 April 2024

24.1.3 Speed Limit Changes Hearing Report

Doc ID: 1475532

Report Author:

Quinton Penniall, Infrastructure Manager

Alix Crosbie, Senior Strategy Advisor

Reviewed and authorised by:

Louise van der Voort, Group Manager - Planning and Infrastructure

1. Purpose of Report

To provide the Hearings Committee with submissions to the Speed Management Plan, so the Committee can make a recommendation to Council regarding the final form of the Speed Management Plan.

Recommendations

That the Hearings Committee

A. Receives the report and accepts the level of significance.

B. Notes the submissions and thanks all submitters for their contribution.

C. Considers the submissions and decides on the action that should be taken.

D. Recommends to Council the final form of the Speed Management Plan which includes the proposed school and local speed changes.

2. Background

Council approved the Statement of Proposal for the proposed Speed Management Plan for consultation on 29 November 2023 (Resolution 23.11.6).

Consultation was open from 1 December 2023 to 11 February 2024. The ‘Let’s Talk - Kōrero Mai’ platform received a total 1,400 visitors across the consultation period.

3. Discussion

The consultation involved two distinct surveys:

· 84 responses were received relating to Survey 1: Extent of school speed zones

· 126 responses were received relating to Survey 2: Community speed limits

Full analysis of the consultation data, and full copies of all written submissions are attached.

During consultation the guidance from Central Government changed with a commitment to halt blanket reductions of speed limits.

Central Otago District Council’s consultation is consistent with the new guidance by focusing on a tailored approach to reviewing speed limits, implementing variable speed limits on roads approaching schools, where possible, rather than permanent speed reductions.

Our approach is consistent with the guidance from Government and the proposed changes consider economic impacts, travel times, views of road users, concerns of local communities, while keeping safety a priority.

School speed zones

The report reflects general support for the extent of the proposed school zones at all surveyed schools: Dunstan High School; The Terrace School; St Gerards School; Clyde School; Poolburn School; Omakau School; Cromwell College; Cromwell Primary School: Roxburgh Area School; Millers Flat School; Maniototo Area School; St John’s School.

117 comments were made relating to these proposals.

Key themes in those supporting a reduction in speed settings were:

· Safety increases

· Promoting walking and cycling to school from home

· Requests to extend parts of the school zones

· Requests for other traffic calming measures to increase safety

Key themes in those opposing a reduction in speed settings were:

· Insufficient evidence or no need for change

· Request to ensure school zones were clearly marked and were not used for revenue gathering

· Request to reduce school zones in particular streets

Community speed limits

Feedback resulted in general support for community speed limits at ten locations:

Location	Support	Oppose	Comments
Clyde	56	32	26
Clyde North	48	37	27
Alexandra	49	28	20
Lauder	52	19	15
St Bathans	31	20	16
Cambrians	30	21	14
Oturehua	31	19	11
Cromwell South	45	30	19
Pisa Moorings	44	26	12
Bannockburn	50	21	11

Results were split by just one or two submissions at three locations. In Tarras-Maori Point Road and Patearoa the submission numbers marginally favoured opposition to the reduction in speed setting.

Location	Support	Oppose	Comments
Cromwell North	39	38	22
Tarras-Maori Point Road	39	40	32
Patearoa	22	24	11

Key themes in those supporting a reduction in speed settings were:

· References to growth or changes in road use

· Increasing safety, particularly for cyclists, children, and people walking

· General support

· And requests for consideration of lower speeds at some areas

Key themes in those opposing a reduction in speed settings were:

· Insufficient evidence or no need for change

· Acceptance of change in part only

· Concern with the cost

· Concern the changes had been proposed by government sources

Feedback was also received in 44 comments on additional roads or as general commentary. These comments have been attached for consideration.

Attachments

Full details, including comments and demographic data, have been attached:

· Speed Limits 2023-24 Survey Report, including consultation detail, reach, and results.

· Full copies of all written submissions received.

To assist with decision making, the following items are also attached:

· The Draft Speed Management Plan

· The Statement of Proposal

· Speed Limit Maps

The panel can make recommendations on the following aspects:

· For school speed limits: the extent of the school speed zone only

o Poolburn is an exception, as a rural school. The panel may make recommendations as to the speed setting in this location.

· For local roads: the extent and speed setting.

4. Financial Considerations

All changes are considered under existing budgets or draft 2024/25 Annual Plan budgets.

5. Options

Option 1 – (Recommended)

Consider the submissions and recommend to Council the appropriate action to take as a result of the submissions:

Advantages:

· Follows due process as set out in the Local Government Act 2002

· Allows community input to inform final Speed Management Plan

Disadvantages:

· No disadvantages.

6. Compliance

Local Government Act 2002 Purpose Provisions	This decision enables democratic local decision making and action by, and on behalf of communities by regularly reviewing speed settings, with community input, to ensure they are set correctly for the district.
Decision consistent with other Council plans and policies? Such as the District Plan, Economic Development Strategy etc.	Consistent with other council plans, including previous speed setting approaches.
Considerations as to sustainability, the environment and climate change impacts	Lower speed limits may encourage more walking and cycling in some areas.
Risks Analysis	No new risks identified.
Significance, Consultation and Engagement (internal and external)	Consultation undertaken.

7. Next Steps

Following adoption, all changes will be submitted to the Director of Land Transport for approval. Follow approval changes will be programmed and implemented according to the prioritisation principles set within the Speed Management Plan.

8. Attachments

Appendix 1 - Speed Limit Submissions with Staff Comments - Roads ⇩

Appendix 2 - Speed Limit Submissions with Staff Comments - Schools ⇩

Appendix 3 - Speed limits survey report ⇩

Appendix 4 - Local Road Speed Limits ⇩

Appendix 5 - School Speed Limits ⇩

Appendix 6 - Speed Limit Maps - Roads ⇩

Appendix 7 - Speed Limit Maps - School Zones ⇩

Appendix 8 - Draft Speed Management Plan ⇩

Appendix 9 - Statement of Proposal ⇩


AGENDA Speed Limit Hearing Wednesday, 3 April 2024
Date:	Wednesday, 3 April 2024
Time:	9.30 am
Location:	Ngā Hau e Whā, William Fraser Building, 1 Dunorling Street, Alexandra (A link to the live stream will be available on the Central Otago District Council's website.)