Speed limits set to be lowered

Traffic on Fenton St will be restricted to 50kmh after changes to limits were approved by the council on Tuesday. Photo / File

Fenton St will become a 50km/h area as the speed limit on five local roads is reduced.

Even though the roundabouts on Fenton St have reduced the average speed along one of the main arterial routes into the city, Rotorua district councillors decided to reduce the limit to 50km/h after complaints from moteliers.

The decision to drop the speed limits was approved at a meeting of the council's strategy, policy and finance committee on Tuesday following public consultation.

Council transport planning manager Peter Dine said Tarawera Rd was becoming a problem with traffic, usually coming down the hill, travelling at speed.

Councillors voted to lower the speed limit on Tarawera Rd from 70km/h to 50km/h from the Te Ngae Rd roundabout to just past Lynmore Ave.

Mr Dine said there was a lot of demand to extend the 50km/h limit to Forest Place further up Tarawera Rd.

Councillors thought Lynmore Ave was far enough. "It is an area with a lot of cycle and pedestrian traffic and the real demand for a lower speed limit is near the bottom."

The most controversial of the changes was along Fenton St where councillors voted to change the 60km/h speed limit from Sala St to Malfroy Rd back to 50km/h.

"Speeds along Fenton St have actually gone down by 10 per cent since the roundabouts were put in," Mr Dine said.

Councillor Rob Kent was against changing the speed limit, saying 50km/h on a dual carriageway was ridiculous.

"We are only doing this because of some moteliers, who didn't even bother to turn up for us to ask questions when we were hearing their submissions." Councillors Charles Sturt and Mike McVicker agreed.

"This is a wide road with four lanes and a large median strip and a major arterial route like Fairy Springs Rd and Old Taupo Rd, this is just over the top."

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said she had heard the moteliers' concerns and wanted to help.

"Our moteliers live, work and play on this road, it's a responsible decision."

The vote was deadlocked at 4-4 to change the limit on Fenton St, with committee chairwoman Merepeka Raukawa-Tait having the casting vote to lower the limit. The changes will come into force in mid-November.

Speed Limit Changes

• Fenton St - 50km/h, down from 60km/h from Sala St to Malfroy Rd

• Tarawera Rd - 50km/h, down from 70km/h from the Te Ngae Rd roundabout to just past Lynmore Ave

• Tarawera Rd - 50km/h, down from 100km/h at Tikitapu (Blue Lake), from DoC entrance to Okareka Loop Rd

• Otaramarae Rd - 50km/h, down from 100km/h from Maniatutu Rd to 1060m south of Vercoe Place

• Wharenui Rd - 50km/h, down from 100km/h from Porikapa Rd

• Hamurana Rd - 80km/h, down from 100km/h from 200m west of Kaska Rd to 100m east of Te Waerenga Rd