West Coast speed limit work ‘wasted exercise’

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon

The Government's plans to scrap the blanket speed reduction policy has been cautiously welcomed by West Coast leaders.

The blanket speed limit reduction policy will be reversed by July 1, 2025, under the draft new Land Transport Rule, which was released this week for public consultation.

The Government has previously announced the draft rule would take into account economic impacts, travel times, and community views alongside safety when deciding speed limits.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the untargeted approach of the previous policy slowed drivers and the economy rather than targeting high crash areas.

Under the proposed changes, speed limits reductions made since January 2020 will be reversed on local streets, arterial roads, and state highways.

"It will also require variable speed limits outside schools during pick up and drop off times to keep young New Zealanders safe," Brown said.

Greymouth mayor Tania Gibson said she welcomed the policy.

In March, Gibson questioned the extent of the proposed 30kph speed limits put forward by her council's transport department for the draft West Coast Regional Speed Management Plan.

"I never agreed with what we were looking at with speed."

Gibson said the speed review was probably "a bit of a wasted exercise" now, but the need for better safety around schools was widely acknowledged.

West Coast Regional Transport chairperson Peter Ewen said proposals under the previous policy had seen some communities "up in arms" about various speed limit plans.

But it was good to see school zones better targeted under the new proposal, Ewen said.

He did not foresee much change to the current draft West Coast plan as a result of the latest Government announcement but it would be a case of "wait and see".

"The process we went through, we will have to review.

"A lot of the process we went through is probably a waste of time now - it's irrelevant if those are the changes that are going to come," Ewen said.

Buller mayor Jamie Cleine said he agreed with the speed limit roll back intent but believed it would have little impact on the current West Coast proposals.

Regardless of higher or lower speeds, "people should drive to the conditions," he said.

However, there had been suggestions under the blanket policy to slash speeds for "long sections" of West Coast state highways to 80km.

That had needed "a reality check".

Cleine said he was pleased variable speed limits around school zones were being "reinforced".

Buller had also proposed low speed areas in some rural settlement/new subdivision areas under the draft regional policy which he believed should stay - although his council was split.

It recently voted against the introducing the lower speeds in a six to five decision, "which was bizzare".

Cleine said the council had already been funded for that work and its decision meant it would now have to give it back.

"I'm going to be bringing that back to the June 26 meeting because it is in line with the new Government's policy.

"(The Government) actually stated quite clearly that they are going to reinforce reduction of speeds around schools. I just want councillors to have a wee think about that."

Brown encouraged feedback on the proposed rule online at www.transport.govt.nz...