Peninsula limit

It may come as news to some who enjoy an occasional or regular delightful drive on SH75 to and from Banks Peninsula, to learn that NZTA is intent on imposing a maximum speed limit of 80km/h over the entire distance between Halswell and Little River.

Given that the route is mostly lightly trafficked, with long clear straights and excellent visibility, the proposed restrictions may be seen as by many, including those of us who use the road on a regular basis, as unbelievably ridiculous.

NZTA’s request for submissions on its proposal earlier in the year would seem to fit the situation identified by David East, former Coastal Councillor, North Beach, in his letter Submission Irony, of Nov 11, when he wrote ‘‘Various planning proposals are made, we are given the opportunity to ‘make a submission’ but in the end little or nothing changes... The desired outcome has already been decided and the engagement process is an exercise working backwards to justify the preferred option.’’

Certainly, we have seen no evidence that submissions made earlier this year have influenced NZTA in any way whatsoever.

Further submissions are invited before December 3, but the track record suggests this is simply a ‘‘tick the box’’ exercise on the part of NZTA.

Eric Foley, Duvauchelle (abridged)