Source: Radio New Zealand
Over two thousand new homes are planned in a new neighbourhood, named Te Awa Lakes. Supplied/Hamilton City Council
Growth in Hamilton is leading the council to consider lowering the speed limit on part of a major city road.
Up to 2,500 new homes are planned for the northern end of the city in a new neighbourhood, called Te Awa Lakes.
Hamilton City Council has asked for feedback on lowering the 80 kilometre-an-hour speed limit to 60 km/h for a 460-metre section of Te Rapa Road.
As part of the approved development, the Te Awa Lakes developer was required to install a signalised pedestrian crossing on Te Rapa Road at their cost.
Council’s Network & Systems Operations Manager Robyn Denton said the road is an arterial route in a semi-rural area; but that is changing.
“People can already see a lot of earth works in there, but they are going to see buildings and that sort of thing,” she said.
The new homes would increase the number of people walking, cycling, and catching the bus in the area.
“The whole area will get busier,” sad Denton.
The council was looking for community feedback on the lower speed limit.
It consulted recently on other speed limit changes and Denton said Hamilton residents had shown they are thoughtful and engaged when it comes to considering the impacts.
“We found that people had thought about the issues and weren’t highly emotive about it but actually put some good, reasoned thought to us which was really useful for helping us and our elected members make decisions,” she said.
Denton said change was to be expected given that Hamilton was the country’s fastest growing city.
“This is one of the many things that happen in a growth city… we’re trying to respond at an appropriate time to get the right sort of outcome for those people who are moving into that area,” she said.
Public feedback would be presented to the council’s Transport Subcommittee in late May and if supported by elected members the proposal would then require approval from the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
The public had until 9 April 2026 to have their say.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
