Safety was the word for the day when Hamilton City Council’s Infrastructure and Transport Committee met on Tuesday 30 May 2023 to consider a citywide speed management plan and a significant intersection safety upgrade. They also received an update on 28 climate friendly transport projects and reviewed submissions on the trade waste and wastewater bylaw.
Speed Management Plan
Council’s plan to ensure that our roads will have safe and appropriate speeds was approved to go out for public feedback.
From Wednesday 7 June – Wednesday 5 July the community will be able to give feedback on the draft 2024 Speed Management Plan. The consultation is not about changing specific speed limits; it is about confirming the principles and priorities that will inform future speed management decisions, for example, it proposes that the road environment should be constructed for 30km/h speeds in areas where there is lots of walking and biking activity.
Legal speed limit changes are covered by a different process. The council will always consult with impacted communities before making any specific speed limit changes.
Gordonton Road/Wairere Drive intersection – safety improvements
Taking the sting out of human error was a hot topic as the committee disused, and approved, new safety measures for the Gordonton Road/Wairere Drive roundabout.
Slowing down cars as they enter the roundabout reduces how severe a car-on-car crash can be, and even the chance of a crash happening at all.
In the past five years, there have been 71 recorded crashes at the roundabout with speed of losing control as the reason why for many of these.
Infrastructure and Transport Committee Chair Angela O’Leary explained the importance of making sure people can get around safely.
“All we’re asking is that people slow down, it’s not a hard concept. People drive on autopilot sometimes and we need to help put things in place to make it easier to get home safely.”
“Mistakes do happen, we want them to be less severe when they do because they are all someone’s family, friend or neighbour.”
The work, still in the early planning phases and flagged for construction later this year, will include new signs and raised safety platforms on all entries to the roundabout except Crosby Road. Signs for a lower speed limit will also installed as part of this work.
The platforms, will be similar to those recently installed at the Te Rapa Road/Church Road roundabout which have a smoother exit to make it a better driving experience, especially for larger vehicles.
Climate-friendly transport projects (CERF)
From one upgrade to many, the committee was updated on the 28 projects that comprise the Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Transport Choices package. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is covering approximately 90% of the cost for the suite of walking, biking and public transport upgrades that will help reduce transport emissions and make it easier for people to move around the city.
The projects are at various stages of planning and public engagement. A project proposed for Hayes Paddock is currently open for feedback. The community is being asked for their thoughts on two new road layout options at the intersection of Jellicoe Drive and Plunket Terrace. Both options aim to enhance the public amenity and make access to this popular walking and biking area a lot safer.
Another project open for feedback is an upgrade designed to make it safer and more convenient for people to walk, bike and bus through the Horsham Downs area. One of the main changes involves shifting the bus stop out of the shopping centre carpark and onto Horsham Downs Road. At the moment, not only is it unsafe for buses to be moving through the busy shopping centre carpark, they are getting delayed, so shifting the bus stop will help keep services on time and people safe.
Earlier this year the committee approved the overall Transport Choices project schedule but asked for several projects to be brought back to the committee with more detail before proceeding further. Three of those projects were approved today: Western Rail Trail to Frankton Station walking and biking improvements; Killarney Road cycle paths and shared paths from Queens Avenue to the Western Rail Trail; and a bus stop upgrade project at Anglesea Street South. There will be minor design changes to the bus stop project as a result of conversations with residents.
For further information about the climate-friendly transport projects (CERF), please have a look here.
Review shows Trade Waste and Wastewater Bylaw still fit for purpose
Earlier this year Council sought feedback on its Trade Waste and Wastewater Bylaw (the Bylaw) review, proposing the Bylaw should go ahead with only minor changes.
At the Infrastructure and Transport Committee, members recommended the revised Trade Waste and Wastewater Bylaw be adopted by Council.
The Bylaw was first adopted in 2016 and the revised Bylaw is legally required to be in place by no later than 28 July 2023.
The Trade Waste and Wastewater Bylaw aims to better protect the city’s wastewater network, prevent overflows and protect our important wastewater treatment process.
Council sought feedback from trade waste consent holders, businesses and industries, Waikato Regional Council, neighbouring district councils, iwi, as well as the wider community, from 17 January 2023 – 17 March 2023. The review received 16 submissions, of which two supported their submission at a hearing in April 2023.
The Bylaw is fit for purpose and is still going ahead with our proposed minor changes. However, based on submissions received during the consultation process, we have made further amendments:
- (item 7.1 of the Bylaw) stating Council, in its sole discretion, can grant a connection approval, based on the provisions of the Three waters Connection Policy
- (clause 8 of the Bylaw) when making a decision on sampling, analysis and testing, Council can consider the type of discharge being applied for.
The Government’s recent announcement regarding the Three Waters Reform hasn’t changed the proposed changes to the Bylaw.
Government’s Three Waters Reform shifts responsibility for Three Waters Services from councils to new entities in a staged transition by July 2026.
Legislation to enable the entities came into force in December 2022 and further legislation is going through Parliamentary processes.
The next Infrastructure and Transport Committee meeting will be on 20 July 2023.