Council chief of strategy and science Jo Noble said she would have to check the legality of such a decision.
The council received a total of 149 written submissions on the proposal to reduce speed to 20kmh at Makorori and Kaiti beaches.
Seventy-eight were in favour of the proposal and 71 against, but of those 71, eight opposed the proposal on the basis that no vehicles be allowed on the beaches.
Makorori resident Kay Bermingham thanked the council for their “well meaning” efforts in protecting the beaches.
The council had made much effort and spent money, but had achieved very little.
Vehicles still retained access to the beach and endangered other beach users and the dunes.
Reducing and then advertising a permitted speed would only add more vehicles to the beach.
She asked why the bylaw only referred to Makorori and Kaiti beaches, and excluded city beaches. She was told it related to the implementation of any bylaw, budget restrictions in the last two years of the long-term plan, and a trial of the two named beaches.
Robyn Busby said Makorori residents had been repeating themselves for years in calling for vehicles to be banned from the beach.
The proposed 20kmh speed limit only signalled it was OK for everyone with a vehicle to use the beach — a recreational area for families picnicking, relaxing and walking.
Another submitter, Sandy Bull, also wants vehicles removed from Makorori Beach.
Apart from official services such as council, police and lifesavers, vehicles should be banned from beaches, he said.
Anti-social and illegal behaviour on Makorori Beach would not be tolerated on Gisborne beaches.
Enforcement of bylaws was essential and was noticeable by its absence, Mr Bull said.
Other proposals in the draft speeding bylaw (with agree/disagree submissions) are:
■ Reduce speeds in some rural areas from 100kmh to 80, 60 or 50kmh.
Agree, 37 percent of written submissions, disagree 63 percent.
■ Reduce speeds in some rural and urban areas from 70kmh to 50 or 30kmh and from 50km to 40 or 30kmh.
Agree, 35 percent, disagree 65 percent.
■ Set new variable speeds to some schools of 30 or 40kmh.
Agree, 58 percent, disagree 42 percent.
Jeanie McCullum said she wanted the speed limit reduced to 50kmh in Bilham Road (Patutahi) and extended in Kaimoe Road from Wharekopae to the current 50kmh sign.
She said she had the support of all residents and businesses in the area.
There had been “many close calls”.
The Kaimoe Road area, a single lane, had 20 driveways off it, including a commercial orchard.
Council asset planning manager Tina Middlemiss said she was not aware of the issues identified by Ms McCallum.
Computer modelling would look at matters such as traffic volumes, width of the road and other matters.
Katrina Duncan of Gisborne Cycling and Walking Trust said she had been in the Netherlands where villages bore some resemblance to Gisborne.
The Netherlands had made courageous decisions in past years and were now “literally streets ahead of us”.
Arterial streets had speed limits of 50 or 60 kmh but side streets had speed limits of 30kmh.
Such changes would make Gisborne a more liveable community.
Dutch side streets were “really beautiful”.
Children played in the streets.
“It's just pleasant.”
Ms Noble said council community workshops on the bylaw were planned in August and a report would go “probably” to the newly-elected council.
The workshop would ensure all the community had been involved, including mana whenua.
No new submissions to change the speed limits had been received.
Developing an implementation plan for introducing speed limits was under way.
Ms Noble said the committee might like to give direction on what speed limits should be given priority assuming some speed limit changes were adopted.
The council had constraints on what could be done, and when.
“We have heard loud and clear the message about vehicles on Makorori Beach.”
Ms Noble suggested speed limits outside schools be given priority, in response to a question from the committee,
Any speed limits determined by the council will not be enforced until they are incorporated into a new standardised national speed register established by the Ministry of Transport.
The register will set a date on which speed limits come into effect meaning not all speed limit changes made by the council will take effect immediately.
Cr Seymour said the committee would deliberate on how to put into effect public submissions made on speed limits.
The decision would be submitted to the full council but there was still an lengthy process after that.
