Rotorua Lakes Council is undertaking a review of some speed limits. Photo/file
The speed limits of several roads in and around Rotorua, some with a reputation for being dangerous, could change following feedback from the community.
Rotorua Lakes Council is currently conducting a review of the speed limits of more than 10 roads and streets which is based on feedback from the public.
Speed limit reviews are undertaken by the council every three years.
Recommendations for speed limit changes are expected to go to the council by September or October.
Any recommended change, with rationale for each recommendation, will then be publicly notified and residents will have the opportunity to make formal submissions.
Some of the roads being reviewed have a reputation for being dangerous, including Waiotapu Loop Rd, Tarawera Rd and Hamurana Rd.
Other roads that have been identified include Vaughan Rd, Iri Iri Kapua Pde in Owhata and Brunswick Drive in Tikitere.
"The roads under review have been highlighted to the council by members of the public through various channels such as annual plan submissions or direct correspondence," a council spokeswoman said.
The review takes into consideration the appropriateness of the current speed limit for each street, safety and crash records for the area and feedback from residents.
The council would not provide the crash records to the Rotorua Daily Post, saying the records were just one aspect of the decision-making process.
Rotorua Lakes Council infrastructure manager Stavros Michael said the most important consideration was risk reduction and perceptions of safety.
Public requests for changes to a speed limit were usually, though not always, to have it reduced, the council spokeswoman said.
"Assessing whether a speed limit should be changed includes measuring the average actual speed and as per New Zealand Transport Agency guidelines and taking a raft of factors into account, including practicality of enforcement."
A New Zealand Transport Agency spokeswoman said the Speed Management Guide would help Rotorua Lakes Council identify and priortise parts of their network where speed management contributed most to reducing deaths and serious injuries, while supporting overall economic development.
Community engagement in the decision-making process is also strongly encouraged.
The guide supports a consistent approach to speed management, and the setting of speed limits that are appropriate for how the road is used, its design, safety and the surrounding environment.
Tarawera Rd (Blue Lake to Landing)
Buried Village general manager Mike Gibbons said vehicles often travelled along Tarawera Rd at "phenomenal speeds".
"We would support a review of the speed limit - there's been two crashes on this stretch of road already this year.
"From a visitor and local point of view, the road conditions are in a state where the speed limit shouldn't be as fast as it is. Logically it should be at least 70km/h, even 50km/h.
"People coming in do tend to comment on the speed at this particular time of year given the nature of the road."
Mr Gibbons said while lowering the speed limit would help, motorists needed to take responsibility for their driving.
"I seldom get above 80km/h because of the road conditions, on a daily basis we notice the speed of some motorists so that attitude needs to change too."
Waiotapu Tavern duty manager Sandy Nicholls said she was all for a lowered speed limit on Waiotapu Loop Rd, wanting to see the change happen "sooner rather than later".
"The traffic goes past so fast. You hear horns tooting every day when there's a near miss, but it's the ones when you don't hear any horns that scare me.
"The amount of near misses get really bad in the summer. There will be at least a dozen a day. Even in winter, it's still three or four times a day.
"It's most dangerous around the intersection. Being on a blind corner, people are pulling out, not knowing what's coming."
Hamurana, Kaharoa and Awahou Ratepayer and Residents Association president Jerry Douglas said the community had a "real concern" about Hamurana Rd and the surrounding area's inconsistent speed limits.
"It's not just the speed but the inconsistency of speed limits in and around Hamurana Rd. There's 100km/h, 70km/h and 50km/h areas, and some streets are not even signposted with speed limits.
"With so many more young families coming to live in Hamurana, it's an accident waiting to happen."
Mr Douglas said it would be ideal having a 70km/h speed limit all the way through Hamurana Rd, with all side streets signposted with 50km/h to 70km/h limits.
"There has been a lot of crashes on this road, including truck crashes. With limited footpaths and kids playing on the road, we are hoping common sense will prevail and the changes will be made."
Roads under review: Pongakawa Valley Rd (SH30 to Kennedy Bay) Western Rd Okareka Loop (Blue Lake to Okareka village) Millar Rd (Steep St to end of seal) Tarawera Rd (Blue Lake to the Landing ) Brunswick Drive Waiotapu Loop Rd Vaughan Rd Parks Rd (from MIGS Gym to waste water treatment plant) Iri Iri Kapua Pde Hamurana Rd (SH36 to SH33) including side roads