Whanganui council asks for highway speed review

Keryn Amon hopes NZTA will consider reducing speed limits on Whanganui's Great North Rd near the Tirimoana subdivision. Photo file / Stuart Munro

Red tape moves slower than the city speed limit that some people are wanting reduced.

Three submitters to a speed bylaw asked Whanganui District Council for speed on Great North Rd to be reduced at its western end - Robert Forrest even wanted the 50km/h speed limit to continue 150m past Rapanui Rd.

The matter was considered at the council's strategy and finance committee meeting on February 26.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) sets speeds on highways. Councillors agreed to write to the agency, asking for a review of speed in that stretch of highway, where a major subdivision was planned.

Committee chairwoman Kate Joblin wondered whether the letter was strongly worded enough, given the issues there.

Cr Rob Vinsen said the matter was urgent, because landowner Graham Lillington hoped the review would enable a subdivision to be done.

"It's very urgent. People are waiting for this subdivision. It's not just three submitters. There are a lot of people very concerned about this speed limit."

But Cr Alan Taylor didn't believe the matter was that important, and said councillors were wasting their time.

"There are no statistics saying it will be safer to reduce speeds. Three of us in the room use that road quite a lot. People are rarely travelling faster than speed limits."

Council policy analyst Justin Walters said any review of speed limits by NZTA could take at least 18 months.