The Ashburton District Council has submitted feedback on Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s new plan for speeds on State Highways and is encouraging residents to do the same before submissions close on Monday.

Waka Kotahi’s Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan proposed four changes to speed limits in the Ashburton District.

The Council expressed its support for lowering speed limits around Ashburton Borough School, Our Lady of Snows School, Mount Hutt College, and Methven School which all have entrances on State Highway 77.

It also backed permanently reducing speeds on State Highway 1 at the approaches to Rakaia and through the township itself. Vehicle speeds in Rakaia have long been a concern for the District’s road safety committee and for locals.

However the Council disagreed with Waka Kotahi’s proposed 80km/h speed limit for the section of SH77 immediately north of Methven, instead asking for a lower limit of 50km/h.

Reasons for a lower limit included the extra activity associated with the Ōpuke Thermal Pools, Methven Racecourse and the development of a new subdivision, as well as the ongoing popularity of nearby community walking tracks.

Earlier this year, Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan presented a community petition to Waka Kotahi with over 500 signatures asking to speed reductions in the area.

The Council also suggested that the current 100km/h between the Methven Walkway and Mount Hutt Station Road could be reduced to 80km/h, which would help increase safety for tourists travelling to Mount Hutt.

The Council had recently consulted on its own draft Interim Speed Management Plan. It’s due to adopt the final plan later this month, which will see speed limits on local roads lowered around schools and in areas with a large number of active users.

Residents can have their say on Waka Kotahi’s plan on their website. Feedback closes at 5pm, Monday, 12 December 2022.