Signs start Marine Parade safety
Signage will be upgraded on Timaru’s Marine Parade in the hope of improving road safety.
The signage, expected to cost the Timaru District Council less than $1000, will feature ‘‘more accurate signage and warns motorists of the beach activity zone’’.
However, the infrastructure committee meeting on Tuesday was told in a report outlining concerns in the area that limitations to such upgrades were that while the measures will have some effects on improving road safety, ‘‘road signs are not read or registered by all road users’’
Cr Barbara Gilchrist asked whether there would be any value in creating ‘‘speed cushions’’ at the side of the road, which provides access to port businesses like PrimePort Timaru, Talley’s and Sanford, the Timaru Yacht and Power Boat Club and the nearby little blue penguin nesting colony.
Council group manager for infrastructure Andrew Dixon said there was a limit to what the council was able to do.
‘‘Speed cushions would be very effective to controlling speed, but they’re a hindrance to larger vehicles,’’ Dixon said.
Marine Parade has a speed limit of 50kmh.
‘‘Speed limits are a difficult beast. Schools are in the legislation as a special example, but generally the road has to be engineered to 30kmh, then we have to go through a full public consultation.’’
The councillors agreed to upgrade the signage, but also consult on the creation of a ‘‘gateway’’ to the beach activity zone.
Dixon’s report suggested nine options, including requesting increased police presence, creating a gateway to the beach activity zone, installing speed control ‘‘cushions’’ enhancing the viewing area, a speed enforcement camera and number plate recognition camera.
Cr Peter Burt said they could consider a range of options over time, particularly in light of the safety issues of people using Marine
Parade to view the penguins.
‘‘We should keep pursuing other options. There’s really so many things we can look at,’’ Burt said.
Cr Allan Booth asked whether boyracers driving down Marine Parade were an issue at night, and whether an increased police presence was needed.
Council transport team leader Simon Davenport said ‘‘there is a small minority of drivers whose behaviour is considered illegal’’.
‘‘Having an ongoing police presence (at Marine Parade) is difficult for us.’’
South Canterbury road safety co-ordinator Daniel Naude told the council that further observations in the area was not necessarily sustainable.
However, Timaru District Mayor Nigel Bowen said the council should delegate authority to staff to consider other safety options in the future.
‘‘I would like to move some things forward,’’ Bowen said,
‘‘I’ve met the penguin groups, the concern is really around the safety of viewers.’’