Editorial: Council right to heed locals

Richard Weld, a frequent user of State Highway 2, was against lowering the speed limit. Photo / Ruth Keber

Every day Kiwis exercise their democratic right to have their say on issues affecting them.

Generally those who do, oppose the direction our leaders are heading in. Often they can struggle to be heard - but not so in Te Puke this week.

Residents came out in force to make known their opposition to the Western Bay of Plenty District Council's proposal to reduce the speed limit on the outskirts of town once the Tauranga Eastern Link opens later this year. More than 1000 people signed a petition against it. Residents were concerned it would be bad for business and make it harder to attract people to live or work in the town as it would further persuade people to use the bypass.

On Wednesday the council made the sensible decision to retain the 100km/h speed limit on rural stretches of State Highway 2 between Papamoa and Paengaroa and review the limits again in two years.

I back the council's decision for several reasons. First, those who live and work in Te Puke are the ones who use the road the most and will be most affected by any changes. Input from roading experts is important but locals should be consulted and weight given to what they have to say.

Second, lowering the speed limit to 80km/h would have made me think twice about using the existing road once the new highway opened and I'm sure others would have felt the same.

While Te Puke residents are glad to have a bypass that will keep trucks out of town and prevent traffic jams, they do not want to drive everyone out.

Many Papamoa residents now choose to go to the cinema in Te Puke but a slower trip may change their mind. The town could also see even less through traffic which would mean fewer people stopping for a bite to eat or filling up with petrol.

The decision to review the speed limit in two years is a sensible move.

How traffic will change once the Tauranga Eastern Link opens is speculation at the moment.

It seems sensible to wait until the road is open and people have established driving habits to see how much traffic uses the new road and how much continues to go through Te Puke.

I applaud the councillors' decision.