Te Puke residents and Western Bay Council are set to debate proposed changes, or a lack of them, to speed limits in the township after the NZ Transport Agency clarified it is leaving the final say to the two parties.

Final submission numbers to Western Bay of Plenty District Council show 412 submissions regarding the speed limit suggestions, with 185 concerning road names received during a month-long submission process.

The proposed changes to a variety of speed limits for Te Puke.

Council opened submissions in January on the variety of speed limit changes and new names proposed for State Highway 2 between Domain Road and Paengaroa before the highway reverts to a local road once the Tauranga Eastern Link opens this year.

In an effort to improve safety and reflect the changed function of the road, council is proposing an 80km/h limit on rural sections. It is also proposing to extend the 50km/h section to the Domain Road side of Te Puke Quarry Road and to extend the 70km/h limit in the same area.

On the east side of Te Puke, the proposal is to replace the present 80km/h section with 70 km/h.

But the general pattern of submissions on speed limits is to retain the status quo, particularly the 100km sections, says council's group manager for infrastructure services Gary Allis.

This seems to fall in line with a number of concerned Te Puke residents SunLive have spoken to on the issue over the past month.

Rotorua and Te Puke MP Todd McClay says news that NZTA is leaving the final decision to residents and council will be welcomed by many concerned locals and businesses.

At the same time, he encourages people to keep an open mind in respect of speed limits and road safety.

MP Todd McClay thinks the majority of regional traffic will use the new bypass.

The MP met with the NZTA, along with Tauranga MP Simon Bridges and Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller, last week to raise the concerns of local residents around reports that speed limits would be reduced on the road between the Paengaroa Roundabout and Domain Road.

He says significant progress on the $455 million Tauranga Eastern Link means that the bypass is likely to open in the middle of this year and would help drive economic development in the Bay, allowing businesses to become more productive and competitive through reduced journey times.

NZTA raised concerns about road safety, but did accept that the TEL was likely to relieve significant pressure on the current SH2 corridor once the new road opens.

'It's my view that a significant amount of regional traffic, including logging trucks and other commercial vehicles that access the Port of Tauranga, will use the new bypass,” says Todd McClay.

'The current road will become less congested and therefore speed limits are only one factor when considering road safety.”

Council are currently analysing all submissions, and an acknowledgment of the submissions is being provided to all submitters.

Council's operations committee will hear submissions on March 30 in Te Puke, at the Te Puke Service Centre.

Following this, council staff will provide a summary of submissions and recommendations for the committee to deliberate on.

A final decision will be made at the operations committee meeting on April 22.