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1 Present
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2 In Attendance
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3 Apologies
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4 Consideration of Late Items
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Nil. 5 Declarations of Interest
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Cr Alan Sole declared an interest in agenda item 9.1, in relation to the Community Mara Kai (food garden) at Waihi beach, as he was a member of the organisation presenting. 6 Public Excluded Items
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Nil. 7 Public Forum
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A Kyle Beetham - Woodland Road speed limit/road safety - Council’s responses Mr Beetham, a resident of Te Puna, owned a property at 177 Woodland Road, Katikati, and addressed the Committee with the following concerns: Several of his neighbours had raised concerns about speeds/road safety on Woodland Road, since 2001. They had sought action as there were incidents on the road about every three months. Engineers had favoured their own models and gave the lowest priority to the concerns of residents, who knew the road well. The speed had finally been reduced following a serious incident Council’s responses to the issues raised by residents appeared flawed, as there was inefficiency and inability to recognise what was important. It was hoped that under the ‘Road to Zero Plan’ there would be a change in approach, and residents’ concerns would be properly addressed. Mr Beetham provided a folder of documentation relating to Woodland Road issues of concern to residents (dated), and Council’s responses, (catalogued in sections). Mr Beetham responded to questions of clarification as follows: Residents requested a 70kph speed limit be applied in Woodland Road, which was sensible. Even following the serious incident, the current speed limit was 80kph. His primary concern was that residents’ feedback was not being taken seriously or valued, despite their knowledge of local roads. Acknowledging this should be part of the process. Woodland Road was a dead-end road, most traffic was generated by residents/locals. As it was a long road, people tended to travelled faster in the first 1.5km of the road, and that was where incidents usually occurred. At the request of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chief Executive advised that Waka Kotahi (NZTA) categorised all roads nationally in terms of ‘safe and appropriate’ speed. Council’s speed limit recommendations for roads would be a further part of the process. The Transportation Manager advised that Waka Kotahi had not supported speed limits of 70kph or 90kph in the past, but with the ‘Road to Zero Plan’ (New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy 2020-2030), and the categorisation of all roads in the country, it was possible that Woodland Road could have a ‘safe and appropriate’ speed of 60kph. The Chairperson noted that speed limits were not solely the decision of Council, but must have input from Waka Kotahi and Police. In response to a question, the Deputy Chief Executive advised that under the new ‘Road to Zero Plan’, Council now had less input into speed limits. The Chairperson thanked Mr Beetham for speaking and staff for their responses.
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9 Reports
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10 Resolution to Exclude the Public
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13 Information for Receipt