Ōamaru Intermediate School pupils were part of a group to make verbal submissions to council about road safety near schools last week.

Waitaki District Council elected members considered verbal and written submissions received in response to the public consultation on the "Safer speeds around schools" interim Speed Management Plan.

Seventy-six written submissions were received on the plan consultation, which ran from March 3-31. 

Speakers at the hearing included eight pupils from Oamaru Intermediate School, along with representatives from the Education Ministry and CCS Disability Action.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher was pleased to see such a wide-ranging community interest in the safety of our streets.

“It’s particularly encouraging to get the input of school pupils who are directly affected by the speeds of drivers around them as they walk and cycle to school,” he said. 

“Council has a responsibility to do everything we can to ensure Waitaki is a place where we can all share the roads as safely as possible.”

Prior to the hearings and deliberations, council officers analysed the submissions and the results were 79% in favour of introducing safer speed limits around schools within our district, with 77% in favour of the proposal as outlined in the draft plan.

Common themes raised in the responses were:

1. Implementing the 30kph speed limit around Ōamaru Intermediate School as soon as possible.

2. Preferences for some schools to have electronic variable speed limits at certain times of day (ie start and end of school day) instead of permanent speed limits.

3. Requests that traffic calming devices, such as speed bumps and kerb crossings, are constructed in conjunction with the 30kph speed limit.

4. Requests for the introduction of ‘no parking’ areas outside schools in conjunction with the 30kph speed limit.

5. Concerns held around compliance of the new speed limit(s) by drivers and enforcement by police

Council network infrastructure engineer Rodger McGaw was happy with the number and quality of submissions. 

“We got good engagement on the consultation and well-considered responses from a broad section of our community and stakeholders.”

The plan will be considered at a council meeting on May 30, and then submitted to Waka Kotahi for certification, before the full Speed Management Plan goes out to consultation later in the year. A further hearings process will be held before it is submitted to the 2024- 27 National Land Transport Plan.