Community feedback is being sought about whether to install pedestrian crossings in Ōhope’s popular cafe and swimming area near Mahy Reserve.

The busy section of Pohutukawa Ave near Mahy Reserve and the Whakatāne Surf Lifesaving Club, where there are several cafes, restaurants and other businesses, can be challenging for pedestrians to cross.

This is especially so during the busy summer period, when the area is flooded with visitors.

Councillors were informed staff were looking at plans for crossings at a meeting of the Whakatāne District Council’s projects and services committee on Thursday.

Councillor Malcolm Whitaker said the suggestion of crossings was causing quite a bit of controversy among the Ōhope community. He felt some sort of crossing was needed on that area of road.

Transport manager Ann-Elise Reynolds said an opportunity for crossings had presented itself because of the road needing to be resurfaced over this summer.

“Any time there is a surfacing renewal we always look at whether there is an opportunity to include any improvements,” Reynolds said.

A pedestrian crossing facility of some sort had been “on and off the cards” for about the past eight years.

A petition brought to the council in 2018 signed by 300 people had resulted in several courtesy crossings being installed in Ōhope in 2019.

However, plans for a crossing on that section of road proved controversial because of the loss of parking for businesses. Plans included removing all carparks outside the businesses.

Two proposals for crossings on Pohutukawa Ave between West End Rd and Mair St include one with formal zebra crossings and another with informal courtesy crossings. Image / LDR

Plans were created to offset the loss of parking by developing a 60-car, off-street carpark in Mair St.

“That then created the need for a roundabout intersection upgrade around Mair St because of all the additional vehicle movements,” Reynolds said.

“The project grew until it became completely economically unviable. So it got put on the back burner for a while.”

While the previous plan still exists, a less ambitious plan to create two raised crossings, one on the corner of Mair St and another outside the Quay Cafe, is currently being suggested.

An option of formal pedestrian crossings would require the loss of six car parks, while courtesy crossings would require only two parking spaces to be lost. These options include removal of an existing loading zone and an unused vehicle crossing.

The platforms would need to be raised because of new pedestrian crossing design guides requiring they can only be installed in speed environments of 30km/h or less.

No decision was put before the committee this week. Once public engagement has been completed, the committee will be presented with a report with options for decision-making.

Councillor Lesley Immink said many people had welcomed the plan to move parking to Mair St.

“There was quite a lot of excitement about it because [Pohutukawa Ave] is such a high-density traffic, foot and cycling area.”

The council still had the plan, but it was not prioritised and unlikely to be carried out in the next 10 years.

Immink asked if the work could be postponed until after discussions about next year’s long-term plan.

“That priority might change when you bring the projects back to the committee.”

Reynold said while this was a possibility, the road’s need for resurfacing this summer was quite high.

The last pavement renewal had not lasted as long as expected because of a lack of strength in the underlying subsoil.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.