Major petition joins fight against Te Puke changes

There is proposed speed limit reduction on the busy highway between Domain Rd and Te Puke. Photo/file

More than 1000 people have signed a petition against a proposal to drop the speed limit on State Highway 2 around Te Puke.

The Te Puke Economic Development Group (EDG) group revealed the petition as part of more than 400 submissions received in a meeting between local residents, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency yesterday.

Read more about the meeting here.

The council proposed new road names and speed limits for the stretch of highway between Papamoa and Paengaroa, but the Te Puke community has opposed the idea.

The Te Puke EDG gathered 1035 signatures backing their submission, which asked for key considerations to be taken into account:

1. The highway must have a name that identifies a sense of place, therefore the name Te Puke must be included.

2. Any change to current speed limits will seriously affect the efficiency of transportation through the district. Current speed limits are safe and and it is important that sensible travel times are maintained.

3. State Highway 2 is a key route and feeder to economic and community activity. Te Puke will continue to see economic expansion. Te Puke needs to be clearly identified with good signage to and from the township and we must support our town centre and retailers in their efforts to define Te Puke as a destination. Te Puke EDG has developed a proposal for revised parking, local lanes and through lanes and are asking Council to trial it in the near future.

In addition to these considerations Mr Boyle also outlined future considerations:

4. Passing bays and passing lanes are needed along SH2 to improve transport efficiency.

5. Road maintenance is essential. A repeat of the 2014 calamity with new sealed roading west of the township collapsing within days of completion due to heavy rainfall can not be allowed to happen again.

6. New roundabout and linkage systems to meet economic growth, particularly in the kiwifruit industry must be planned and implemented at Te Puke Quarry Road/No 3 Road, improved access to Washer Road, the linking of Washer Road and Collins Lane, No 1 Road and access to the planned Rangiuru Business Park from the highway in the vicinity of Affco.

The New Zealand Transport Agency backed the proposal drop to 80km/h because it believed it would create opportunity for Te Puke, and improve safety on the route once it became a local road.