Western Rd speed plea refused

The latest round of speed limit bylaw changes have been made in Rotorua but some residents of Western Rd are disappointed their road was left out.

Speed limit changes have been made to four roads in the district with one change being declined.

The speed limit on Brent Rd, Owhata, has seen the 50km/h limit dropping to 40km/h outside the two school zones and limits have gone from 50km/h to 20km/h on three streets in Whakarewarewa Village - Wahiao St, Huarere St and Tukiterangi St.

However, a request to change the speed limit to 50km/h along the entire length of Western Rd in Ngongotaha, from State Highway 5 to the township, was opposed by both the New Zealand Transport Agency and the Automobile Association.

Rotorua district councillors passed the changes at a recent meeting of the infrastructure services committee. Councillors also decided to re-apply for speed limit changes on Western Rd during the next round of speed limit changes due next year.

In March the committee went out for consultation on the changes. No submissions were received for any of the changes except for Western Rd.

The council wanted to change the 100km/h and 70km/h limits on Western Rd to 50km/h for its entire length due to parts of the road now being residential on both sides.

The agency said in a letter to the council it would be unlikely people would stick to the 50km/h limit, especially from the State Highway end of the road.

Without the agency's support council could not make the change.

Chantelle Guarnaccia has just arrived in the Western Rd neighbourhood, and the 70km/h road just metres from her door is a concern for her because of her young son.

"Just standing here now, [the cars are] like, zoom zoom zoom."

A 50km/h speed limit made more sense in the new residential area, "even if it was just from the start of the houses".

Ms Guarnaccia supported a graduated speed limit, changing to 70km/h off State Highway 5 and then down again to 50km/h before the residential area, she said.

Western Rd resident Tamihana Curtis said the speed limit could stay the same because the wide, straight road was "not that dangerous".

"There's only been one crash [in the two years] since I've been here," he said.

Other residents commented that drivers did tend to travel faster than the posted speed limit, particularly at night, which could be dangerous.

Most said they had not been affected by the speed limit, and some were unaware a change had been suggested.

The transport agency supported the other changes applied for.

Brent Rd has two schools on it, Mokoia Intermediate and Owhata Primary School. The 40km/h speed limit will only apply 35 minutes before the start of school - until the start of school, 20 minutes at the end of school, and for 10 minutes when more than 50 students need to cross the road.

The signs have been in place for some time, but the school zones have now been confirmed.

Mokoia Intermediate principal Deborah Epp said she thought the school zones made roads safer for students by introducing a specific measure, rather than a vague reminder to slow down around schools.

"I certainly think that it's a good idea."

According to district councillor Maureen Waaka changes to speed limits in Whakarewarewa Village were a given. She said the streets in the village were very narrow with a lot of tourists and locals walking on them. "Even if you could drive at 50km/h in the village you would probably end up in a hot pool," she said.