'Wisdom and common sense” prevailed today as Western Bay of Plenty District Council unanimously agreed to keep the 100km/h speed limits on State Highway 2 in Te Puke.

The decision means from July 1, 2015, or when the Tauranga Eastern Link opens, the speed limits agreed upon will become effective, on the proviso of a review after two years.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson outside the Te Puke township where the 50km/h speed limit will remain the same. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

It sees council leave the rural stretches of State Highway 2 between Papamoa and Paengaroa at 100km/h instead of the New Zealand Transport Agency's proposed to 80km/h.

Once the road is handed over to council from NZTA, a 100km/h limit will be set between the district boundary - the railway bridge at the western end, and 200m west of Collins Lane, 70km/h through to 130m west of Te Puke Road and 50km/h through to 300m east of King Street.

Then heading east after going through the town it will be 70km/h through to the east end of the Waiari Stream Bridge, 100km/h through to 100m west of Strang Road, 70km/h to 100m east of Kaituna River Bridge and finally 100km/h to the Paengaroa/TEL roundabout.

The only tweaks council made were minor boundary changes to improve safety so that Te Puke Quarry Road and No. 3 Road will be inside the town's 50km/h boundary, and Waitangi's existing 70km/h speed zone extended for safety reasons to 100m east of Strang Rd.

Today's decision means council's operations committee have listened to strong public opinion against the speed limits council had proposed – with the majority of more than 400 submissions opposed to the changes along with 10 verbal submissions at a day-long public hearing.

There was also a 1035-strong petition submitted by the Te Puke Economic Development Group (EDG), arguing that any change will seriously affect the efficiency of transportation through the district, while current speed limits are safe and it is important that sensible travel times are maintained.

Councillor Peter Mackay says wisdom and common sense have prevailed in the unanimous decision while Maketu/Te Puke Ward councillor Kevin Marsh, a strong voice for the community throughout the meeting, is pleased council has kept the community's concerns at the forefront.

'These people live out in that area and they all have the same thing in common,” says Kevin. 'That is to use Te Puke and get there in the most effective manner.”

Earlier on in the meeting, council's transport strategy coordinator Gary Main told councillors the decision ultimately came down to the trade-off between efficiency and protection.

New Zealand Transport Agency data for the Te Puke corridor showed for the 85th percentile using the passing lane outside the Papamoa Hall between 6pm-8am were travelling at an average speed of 112km/h, and between 8am-6pm at 110.5km/h.

Gary says a four-to-five per cent reduction in speed could result in a reduction of fatal crashes by 20-to-50 per cent and serious accident crashes by 10-to-20 per cent.

NZTA statistics show from 2008-to-2012 there have been 25 intersection crashes along the 100km/h sections of road – either at Domain Road, Welcome Bay Road, Poplar Lane or Maketu Road.

It was NZTA's preference to have speed reduced on the rural stretches of SH2 between Papamoa and Paengaroa to 80km/h.

'The NZTA have been at pains to say to us that they hoped council would make an evidence-based decision,” says Gary.

Councillor Margaret Murray-Benge says with the decision now made, the challenge rests with the community to prove council made the right choice in listening.

'They [the community] have spoken,” says Margaret, 'and we have listened and acted accordingly. It will be up to them to keep that road safe themselves so we don't make any changes in the future.”