One lane or two lanes? It's an issue that's divided Te Puke cleaner than the tree-dotted island that runs down the middle of the town's main street.
And two locals – one an incumbent councillor and the other an ousted councillor – are squaring off over the $1 million-plus plan to single-lane the main street, reducing it from two lanes to one.
And caught in the middle, the town's business leaders who have adopted a conciliatory ‘wait and see attitude'. But they're sceptical.
'The community has had an opportunity to comment,” says former Western Bay councillor and past mainstreet retailer Karyl Gunn-Thomas.
She refers an analysis on commuter numbers and effects, which was investigated by traffic experts and reported back to the Te Puke Project Control Group, the community board, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and its ratepayers.
'Two out of three community responses supported the proposal, as did councillors who voted 9-2 in favour before the elections,” says Karyl.
Despite those numbers re-elected Maketu-Te Puke ward councillor Kevin Marsh says the majority of people he represents don't want a single lane through the main street.
Not only does he want to re-litigate the issue, the six-term councillor has indicated he will file a Notice of Motion at WBOPDC's first meeting of this triennium to stop the proposal in its tracks.
'I'm very concerned,” says Karyl. 'If the work stops and the process is reversed it will most likely be at the ratepayers' expense.”
Kevin didn't want to discuss the matter with The Weekend Sun. 'I will discuss it in the first meeting of council.”
The change of council may indicate a change of attitude and Kevin, from Pongakawa, will file his Notice of Motion to reverse the decision.
What has split the town is the proposal to reduce the two through-lanes in the main street to one lane. The other lane would enable angle parked cars to back out and merge into traffic.
There will be double lanes in and out of the roundabouts and an additional roundabout at Belcher Ave, plus a couple of extra pedestrian crossings.
But there will also be money spent on aesthetics, sprucing up the main street – low growing planting, new rubbish bins, refurbished light standards, seating, bike stands and at no cost to the ratepayer. 'It'll transform the ambience of Te Puke into a destination town making it safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” says Karyl.
She may no longer be a councillor but she was a retailer in the main street and a keen observer. She witnesses dozens of accidents involving motorists backing out of their angle parks directly into the traffic flow.
The issue has been investigated by experts and Karyl says ratepayers and council have spoken.
Work on the main street project has already begun and Karyl says to stop it now would be foolish. 'There will be a need for patience as there will be some changing of the roading configuration and therefore a period of adjustment.”
Sitting quietly non-committal at this stage is the Te Puke Economic Development Group. Although, CEO Mark Boyle says throughout the whole planning process they had grave concerns.
'Historically, they trialled the one lane and it failed, failed terribly. Traffic backed up for miles at both ends of town, so it was a disaster.”
It was a headache, according to Kevin. 'Traffic couldn't get through the town full-stop.”
But TPEDG has taken the view that the plan, ‘Option 3', is a compromise. 'It will allow the council to revert to the current system in the event the new system doesn't work,” says Mark. 'The saving grace is we can go back if it fails.”
'We had concerns from the get go and we still do.”
9 comments
Te Puke Mainstreet
Posted on 21-10-2016 12:32 | By KevinM
I well remember the late evening co-driving a large truck and trailer through the Main Street and having someone leaving the pub and reversing their car out between the truck and trailer. Definitely did not do the boot of the car much good but certainly put the fright of ones life into the guy sleeping in the back seat of the car. Luckily no injuries.KWM. Perth Aust.
Worst idea ever
Posted on 21-10-2016 12:36 | By LeeW
Sorry Ms Gunn but to say that 2 out of 3 Te Puke residents are in favour is rubbish. The council did not advertise the plans widely and most of the town was oblivious until the plans were announced as final. Why wasn't a letter drop or similar undertaken? You might also be interested to know that the sole reason i did not vote for you at this election was because of your support for this nonsensical proposal. My guess is that I was not the only one.
We'll see
Posted on 21-10-2016 14:32 | By vicki.josh@kinect.co.nz
How one lane works for oversize transporters and housemovers as T.E.L is no go for large oversize loads
A Disaster in the Making.
Posted on 21-10-2016 14:34 | By Chapsmate
We all know the definition of an expert.X the unknown quantity, and spurt a drip under pressure!The same "Experts" wanted to slow traffic coming into and out of Te Puke from the present 100kph to 80kph, because 'now that there will be 30%less traffic, [thanks to TEL] it will be safer if we slow down!'The FACT that there have been no fatalities on this road with 100% traffic escaped the notice of these so-called experts.Te Puke is a pleasant, beautiful little township, where people are free to cross the two lanes safely anywhere, without recourse to pedestrian crossing.Not only are the "EXPERTS" reducing the safe, steady flow of traffic, they are REMOVING THE LAWN and replacing it with GARDEN!All this because a biased questionnaire suggested approval of residents!Thankyou Kevin for your intelligent and courageous stand.If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Posted on 21-10-2016 14:47 | By Chapsmate
The so-called 'improvement plan' to reduce the flow of traffic through Te Puke by reducing the two lanes to one was promoted by a few selfish business people.The scheme was trialed more than 20 years ago, and was an unmitigated disaster, with traffic backed up for miles.The council prepared a heavily slanted questionnaire that gave them the 'approval' that they wanted.Few in Te Puke think the plan has merit.I spoke to a construction worker, asking if this was yet another trial.He laughed and told me that it will take considerable expense to undo what is being done.The roundabout at Boucher Avenue is unnecessary.A roundabout at No 1 Rd, and another at No3 Rd,/Quarry Rd makes more sense.But when did 'Experts' use commonsense?
Nuts
Posted on 21-10-2016 16:06 | By Vman
Ask Katikati or Matamata or any other town with a single laned mainstreet how well they like it. Im pretty confident i know what the answer will be!Two lanes are already there and should be left there. At least it allows for traffic to merge in and out of carparks etc.Stop trying to spend money and fix what aint broke.As Vicki pointed out over dimensional loads still need to use this road too. Typical council trying to force vehicles to use the toll road. The changing of the speed limits etc was enough for that.
Reality
Posted on 21-10-2016 23:33 | By Murray.Guy
Authorities such as the NZTA and Council are motivated, NOT by a desire to secure best outcomes for Te Puke, but rather for the toll road. Recall the efforts to reduce speed limits citing safety concerns yet the original highway was to have less traffic. That was all about making the Papamoa / Te Puke / Paengaroa route as unattractive as possible to encourage greater use of the toll road. Te Puke township design features proposed have the same 'toll road agenda'. Clearly former Western Bay councillor and past mainstreet retailer Karyl Gunn-Thomas chose to put the NZTA agenda before her community. Exactly the same mindset and manipulation happens in Tauranga with main arterial routes choked with chicanes, traffic lights and single lanes to encourage toll road use for revenue collection. Congratulations Maketu-Te Puke ward councillor Kevin Marsh for having the integrity and courage!
Main Street changes
Posted on 22-10-2016 07:41 | By OAP
Disappointing to see so many negative people who only want to live in the past.I suggest that the Pongakawa resident ,who is so opposed to the new system ,stay in Pongakawa and stop trying to waste taxpayers money by scrapping the scheme. The present set up, with parked cars reversing out into a lane of traffic, is a death trap, especially for motorcyclist and even more so for cyclists. Every time a car backs out , it slows the traffic flow, so the new system has to improve things. To say the plan was not advertised is also blatantly incorrect, only a blinkered person could have failed to see the plans. Perhaps all these negative people would have us back in the days of the Horse and cart, and then they could wear blinkers as the horses did. !
I am proud to wear blinkers
Posted on 22-10-2016 09:12 | By Chapsmate
I wonder what OAP's agenda really is!Traffic has been backing safely into the 'slow' lane of traffic for many years, with relatively few minor incidents, and to my knowledge, no major ones. I also feel so proud when I see traffic either moving into the right lane, [if it is clear] or waiting patiently for a vehicle to reverse out of the park. Murray Guy is to be applauded for pointing out that much of the rationale for these changes is to drive traffic onto the toll road. The early residents of Te Puke are to be honoured for their foresight in providing such wide streets. We can do our bit by continuing the present system and saving the country One Million Dollars. I suggest OAP move to Matamata or Katikati or Taihape if they want to live in a one lane town.
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