4 August 2017
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Speed limit review
Inquiry
Just looking for more info about the speed limits assessment mentioned in yesterday's meeting agenda.
- Can I please get a list of the streets these speed changes are being recommended for, their current speed limit and the proposed change.
- What were the reasons behind this suggested change?
- Have residents on these streets been alerted to the possible changes?
Further questions
- the speed limit reviews are all looking to reduce the limit?
- Am I able to get the crash records of these streets and their current speeds
- Also, again to clarify, if council decides it wants to change - are these then suggested to NZTA or does the council have the power to just change them?
Response
Here is the information re speed limit reviews.
Speed limit reviews are done every three years. The roads/streets under review have been highlighted to Council by members of the public through various channels such as annual plan submissions or direct correspondence.
The review takes into consideration the appropriateness of the current speed limit for each street, safety and crash records for the area and feedback from residents.
Assessing whether a speed limit should be changed includes measuring the average actual speed and as per NZTA guidelines (under the Land Transport Rule), taking a raft of factors into account, including practicality of enforcement.
The review is currently underway and we expect recommendations to go to Council by September or October. Any recommended change, with rationale for each recommendation, will then be publicly notified and residents will have the opportunity to make formal submissions.
Streets/roads currently under review (all of the roads below have had requests from the public in the past 3 -4 years):
Pongakawa valley Road (SH 30 to Kennedy Bay)
Western Road
Okareka Loop (Blue lake to Okareka village)
Millar road (Steep Street to end of seal)
Tarawera Road (Blue Lake to the Landing )
Brunswick Drive
Waiotapu Loop road
Vaughan Road
Road to MIGS Gym and WWTP (Parks road)
Owhata/Iri Iri Kapua Parade (location of changed limit)
Hamurana Road (SH 36 to SH 33) including side roads
Further response:
Requests for speed limit reviews are generally, but not always, requests for speed limits to be reduced. We don't wish to pre-empt anything at this stage as the review process is still underway but Council must ensure speed limits align with national guidelines. Council will make the final decision.
Further response:
Council determines speed limits on local roads - based on NZTA guidelines - and NZTA determines limits on state highways. If Council's speed changes do not meet the guidelines they will not be able to be enforced.
From Stavros Michael:
Crash records are only one aspect of the decision-making process which is based on multiple factors. The most important consideration is risk reduction and perceptions of safety. We are still working through our assessments and it would not be helpful to focus on one aspect in isolation of the whole picture, until we have completed the process and presented recommendations for elected members to consider.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Potential parking services partnership
Inquiry
1. Why is council looking to outsource parking?
2. How many proposals have council received so far?
Response
From Group Manager Infrastructure Stavros Michael:
We are exploring the potential for a partnership arrangement for parking services in Rotorua which would result in cost efficiencies for Council.
With parking equipment such as meters and pay and display machines needing to be modernised, now is a good time to consider how else we might be able to provide these services and we have put out a request for proposal to test the market.
It's envisaged that if Council were to go this way, a longer term contract would be entered into in the first instance and that the contract would include all aspects of public parking, including supply of technology and associated services like administration and enforcement.
Tenders close later this month so we will know then how many responses we have. Once tenders are in we will need to assess those and develop a recommendation for Council to consider. No decision has been made as yet.
