Signs spur speed limit change
THEY went up, there was a complaint and then they came down again — all the time advertising a speed limit which has never changed. But it appears it will change.
Residents of a village outside Invercargill raised concerns over the introduction of two 100kmh speed limit signs in Omaui, a small community on the road between Invercargill and Bluff.
The Invercargill City Council recently added a number of new signs throughout the district to notify drivers of the speed limits on gravel roads, including the two 100kmh signs at the entrance to Omaui village on Wednesday.
Omaui resident John Collins said while the signs may reflect the existing speed limit, adding the signs could prompt people to drive to the advertised speed.
‘‘It's just absolutely stupid. I realise that the speed limit here is legally 100kmh, but to tell people that they can do 100kmh through this tiny village with a loose road that's badly maintained, narrow potholes washed out on the sides . . . and also there's people walking around from the beach [and] just about every school kid in Southland comes to the Omaui camp at some stage and they walk up that road,’’ he said.
‘‘It's like putting a 100kmh sign up outside of a school somewhere.’’
On Thursday, the signs were vandalised with graffiti. By lunchtime yesterday they were covered up.
Invercargill City Council manager of strategic asset planning Russell Pearson said the new signs reflected existing speed limits, however when the roading and traffic bylaw came into effect on October 3, those speed limits would be reduced to 60kmh or 80kmh depending on the road surface.
‘‘The signs have been put in place in preparation for the amendment, which will involve over 400 signs throughout the roading network on sealed and unsealed rural gravel roads being changed.’’
He said the council has since identified a small number of signs that they will be reviewing and recommending to change prior to October 3.
‘‘The roading and traffic bylaw was part of a public consultation earlier this year and also included the reduction of some speed limits to 30kmh in the inner city, South City and Windsor.
‘‘We have appreciated the feedback from the community on this matter. It is good that people are noticing the signs and understand the change.’’
A council worker covered the 100kmh signs in Omaui yesterday morning while plans are made for a new speed limit to be introduced.
Mr Collins said he believed the new speed limit would be set to 40kmh, which he was pleased with.
‘‘Why they wanted to spend the money on a sign and half dozen guys out here putting it up that's going to be changed in six weeks is beyond me.’’