Traffic light resolution a ‘bizarre low’
A council meeting took a turn for the unexpected when a councillor attempted to pass a resolution banning further traffic lights in Richmond.
In what was described by one person present as a “bizarre low” for a meeting held to adopt consultation material for the Tasman District Council’s Long Term Plan 2024-2034, councillor Mark Greening put forward a resolution to remove the possibility of traffic lights from the Draft Transportation Activity Management Plan.
Greening said in council workshops he thought that councillors “made it clear” that they didn’t want the possibility of traffic lights. “Yet I am seeing words like the possibility of traffic lights still in the documents,” he said.
Strategic policy manager Dwayne Fletcher said when the council looked at intersections, it looked at options.
Sometimes a traffic light was the “most feasible, cost-effective and best outcome” for an intersection, though other options included four way intersections and roundabouts.
Councillor Kit Maling spoke against the resolution, arguing that no-one around the table were traffic engineers. Before any intersection was upgraded or changed, he said he would like to see a detailed engineering report with cost benefit analysis. “I see certain roundabouts now in Richmond [have] a big tailback already and our traffic flows are increasing because we're getting more people. So to rule them out now without seeing a proper report I just think is premature, and not the correct way or the right process to follow.”
Councillor Chris Hill said she thought the council would be making a resolution around work they had “no expertise in making decisions around”.
“We have hit a bizarre low, really.”
Greening’s resolution was lost 4 to 9.
Rates increases on the cards
The proposed 10-year plan agreed to proceed to public consultation by councillors puts the average rates increase at 4.6% annually over the next 10 years.
Rates are proposed to increase 9.6% over 2024-25, by 7.2% the following year and between 5.2% and 1.8% over the next eight years.
And under the proposal for Fees and Charges 2024-25, most fees and charges have been increased by at least 10%.
Services that have had significant increases include aerodromes, dog control, the Richmond Memorial Wall Plaque Space, berthage, and fees at Port Tarakohe.
The plan includes community facilities in Wakefield and Brightwater, a swimming
pool for Motueka, Tapawera Community Hub and stage two of Murchison Sport Recreation and Cultural Centre.
However, all are to be part community funded. Should the community not be able to reach their respective level of funding of between 22 and 33%, the council will consider delaying the projects, explore other funding options, or, as a last resort, cancel the project.
Maling said council needed to remember that affordability was “a real issue” in the community. “Our community isn't even. A significant number of our community don't have mortgages. They've retired here and are reasonably well off, but then we have other sectors of our community that are really, really struggling,” he said, adding that making decisions going forward would not be easy.
The proposed 10-year plan will go out for consultation from March 28 until April 28. Hearings are scheduled for May 8, 9 and 10.
What’s In
■ Fees and charges proposed to increase in general by 10%.
■ Motueka Swimming Pool, starting from 2026-27, with an estimated cost of $20m.
■ Waimea South Community Facilities, at an estimated cost of $13.7m.
■ Tapawera Community Hub, at $2.7m .
■ Stage Two improvements of Murchison Recreational and Cultural Centre at $5.5m.
■ An annual $500,000 for speed management implementation.
■ The sale of Emissions Trading Scheme credits from forestry to fund loss-making Port Tarakohe, funding $400,000 of interest and loan repayments annually.