Public feedback invited on proposed changes to speed limits in Clutha
Consultation on proposed changes to speed limits to improve safety in the Clutha District will open on Wednesday 1 November 2023.
Councillors approved the Clutha District Council’s Draft Speed Management Plan which aimed to improve safety in line with the Government’s nationwide ‘Road to Zero’ campaign, which had a target of reducing deaths and serious injuries on New Zealand’s roads by 40% by 2030.
A key initiative of the draft plan was to reduce traffic speed around the district especially schools, rural townships and urban town centres.
In producing the draft plan Council had consulted with road safety specialists and obtained feedback from the community to shape the document.
The draft speed management plans have four main focus areas:
• Safe speeds around our kura/schools by introducing a 30km/h permanent speed limit for most schools in the district.
• Safe speeds in our urban towns by keeping the urban speed limit of 50km/h in our towns – excluding roads located within the school zones.
• Safe speeds limits in our rural towns as some speed limits were no longer appropriate.
• Safe speed limits on our rural roads by proposing to lower the speed limits on rural unsealed roads and maintain the 100km/h speed limit on rural sealed roads.
To read the proposed Speed Management Plan and to submit feedback, go to www.cluthadc.govt.nz/speed-management-plan.
There is also an interactive map to search a road in Clutha and check out the proposed speed changes to that road.
Annual report for 2022-2023 approved
The council’s annual report for 2022-2023 was adopted.
Clutha District Council Mayor Bryan Cadogan said in the annual report that huge changes underlined the scale and pace that all councils must work under.
“No change has been as stark as the increase in capital spend in Clutha which over the last year has gone from $27.3M to $39.7M.
“Our debt levels have also increased from $37.9M in 2022 to $72.5M this year and are predicted to be $111.2M by next year, primarily driven by the imperative changes in our Three Waters space,” Mayor Cadogan said.
Council focus in recent years was on increasing capital projects completion rates.
“It is pleasing to see a marked improvement here from 68% to 79% at a time where several projects that communities eagerly anticipated were progressed like $5.6 million on the Greenfield Bore, the $4.4M Glenkenich Treatment plant, Patterson Creek Stormwater at $1.3M and $1.4M at the Hub Pump Station to name a few.”
“Progress has been made on many of our Community Consultation projects with the Te Pou O Mata-au now open, Milton’s numerous projects like the cycle way, destination toilets, Main Street upgrade, Taylor Park Cabins and the Library/ Swimming Pool all taking shape and some real momentum right around the district as individual communities identify the changes they want to see occur,” Mayor Cadogan said.
Annual Reports are part of a cycle which includes Long Term Plans (every three years) and Annual Plans in the two years between Long Term Plans.
The annual report compares the council's actual activities and performance during the year with the planned activities and performance for the year as set out in its 2018/28 Long Term Plan and 2020/21 Annual Plan.
It is also provided accountability to the public on the decisions it had made throughout the financial year.
The final version of the annual report will be available on our website at www.cluthadc.govt.nz/council/annual-reports.
Location concerns of Taylor Park cabins
Concerns regarding the location of the Tayor Park cabins was raised with Councillors at the Council Meeting.
Ray Powell a Milton resident and Milton Deputy Chief Fire Office Mike Moeahu spoke in public forum about concerns about the current location of the Taylor Park cabins.
Mr Powell said he did not like that they were placed in rows on the main recreational green space on the centre end of the park.
Mr Moeahu said the current location of the cabins would affect their ability to hold practice sessions and hold fire fighting competitions.
The Tayor Park Reserve Management Plan in currently being reviewed and the cabin locations would be considered as part of this public consultation.
Māori ward representation
Clutha District Council will retain the status quo and not establish one or more Māori wards for the 2025 triennial election.
The decision required under the the Local Electoral Act 2001, was in consultation Te Ao Mārama Inc, Aukaha and the Waikoau Runanga who said there was currently little support for pursuing Māori wards for Clutha District Council.
However, Council acknowledged Aukaha desire for Council to improve cultural awareness within Council operations.
Te Ao Mārama Inc. (TAMI) is the agency approved by Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu to act on iwi liaison matters and supporting Papatipu Rūnanga in Murihiku/Southland under the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Local Government Act 2002.
Aukaha of Otago is a manawhenua-owned consultancy supporting Papatipu Rūnanga of Otago and Gore.
Waikoau Ngāi Tahu Runanga (South Otago) is recognised as being under the umbrella of the Papatipu Rūnaka of Otago and has a kaitiaki interest in the lower Mata-au and Catlins including Kaitangata, Iwikatea, Karoro, and Tokatā. The coast from the mouth of the Tokomairaro to the mouths of the Mata-au and the Mata-ura are of historical significance to Waikoau.
Consideration of Māori wards was currently optional, and Council acknowledged the decision could be revisited in the future for subsequent triennial elections.
Māori wards function similarly to Māori electorate seats in Parliament.
As per population estimates the the Māori electoral population in Clutha is 1,330 and the general electoral population is 17,300.
Road stopping requests
Two requests have been made to have roads stopped in Clutha and will be put out for public consultation.
Public will be able to provide feedback on a proposal to stop the unformed legal road between Waihola Hill Road and East Boundary Road and between Weardale Street and Stonewall Street in Beaumont.
All costs associated with the Road Stopping, whether successful or unsuccessful are covered by the requestor for the road stopping.
Council considered there was no demonstrated need for a road to be formed in both areas and as there were no Council utilities associated with the proposed road stopping, and therefore not required to be kept.