Speed cuts proposed
Are Queenstown Lakes' road speed limits too high?
Councillors will tomorrow be asked to approve consultation on plans to slash speed limits across the district, including on major roads, unsealed tourist routes, and around schools, town centres, cemeteries, playgrounds, and active travel routes.
Those major roads include the Crown Range Road, Malaghans Road, Glenorchy – Queenstown Road, Cardrona Valley Road and Wānaka – Mt Aspiring Road. The Crown Range Road, for example, would drop from 100kmph to 80kmph.
Queenstown Lakes District Council general manager property and infrastructure Tony Avery says the proposals in the District Speed Management Plan 2024-2027, will increase safety.
"Everyone should get where they're going safely," he says. "Whether you're driving, walking, cycling or even scooting, safer speeds are one important tool for reducing serious injury and death on the roads, supported by infrastructure improvements and education."
Priority proposals for the 2024-2027 period include:
- 30km speed limit around our district’s schools
- Safer speed limits around community-focused areas such as town centres, cemeteries, playgrounds, active travel routes
- Lower speeds for key unsealed tourist routes
- Introducing consistent safer speeds for new developments around the district
Avery says speed management is all about ensuring safe and appropriate vehicle speeds that reflect the location, design and use of the roads.
"The proposals have been developed through a technical review of our network and in line with clear principles for speed management. These principles include safety for all; safe school zones and network consistency," he says.
"The draft principles provide a local lens to guide a consistent approach to speed management across the district, and are aligned with the national focus through the Waka Kotahi Road to Zero Road Safety Strategy.
"We know speed is an important issue for our community and many have differing views on how lower speed limits affect them. We’re now seeking approval to start community consultation next month and hope to hear from a wide range of people to help finalise the priorities."
If approved, consultation on the vision, principles and priorities for speed management, and the proposed changes, is expected to start in early-mid September.
The consultation material will include technical data and an online map to clearly illustrate the full suite of proposals, including those earmarked for further consideration in the 2027-2030 period.
Check out the report here - item four.
