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Your Council

Thursday, 03 September 2026

QLDC approves Speed Management Plan

The plan includes 76 speed limit changes across the district, with 53 in the Whakatipu Basin and 23 in Upper Clutha.

Lake Hawea Sh6

Queenstown Lakes District Councillors approved the 2026 Speed Management Plan at a Full Council meeting on Thursday 27 August. The plan includes 76 speed limit changes across the district, with 53 in the Whakatipu Basin and 23 in Upper Clutha.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Strategic Asset Manager Alison Tomlinson said vehicle speed plays a significant role in both the likelihood and severity of crashes. “The approved Speed Management Plan is about ensuring speed limits better match how our roads are used, helping to make travel safer for everyone. Whether driving, walking, cycling or even scooting, everyone should get where they're going safely,” Ms Tomlinson said.

Key changes include:

  • Glenorchy-Queenstown Road: Speed limits will reduce to 60km/h through the settlement areas of One Mile, Wilsons Bay, and Bobs Cove, 80km/h between the settlements, and 90km/h between Wyuna Station and Bobs Cove.

  • Malaghans Road: The speed limit on Malaghans Road and surrounding roads, including Alan Reids Road, Coronet Peak Station Road and Coronet View Road, will reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h.

  • Queenstown town centre: Pedestrian-focused streets, including Beach Street, Rees Street, Marine Parade, Cow Lane and The Mall, will become 10km/h shared spaces. Nearby streets, including Brecon Street, Hay Street and Park Street, will be reduced to 30km/h.

  • School zones: Speed limits will be lowered around Wakatipu High School and Hāwea Flat School. This includes a permanent 60km/h limit and a variable 30km/h school speed limit on Kane Road near Hāwea Flat School.

  • Hāwea growth area: Cemetery Road will reduce from 80km/h to 70km/h, and sections of Domain Road will move to 50km/h.

  • New residential areas: Several growing urban areas, including Ladies Mile, Hanley’s Farm, Bullendale, Lake McKay (Luggate), Kingston and Homestead Bay, will move from default speed limits of 100km/h to 40km/h.

  • Windmill Corner: Roads around the Windmill Corner intersection along Kane Road will reduce from 100km/h to 60km/h.

Consultation drew strong community interest, with 318 submissions received during the six-week period earlier this year. Views varied across the district, particularly between residents and people travelling through an area. Overall, 65% of in-scope* feedback supported speed limits lower than those currently posted. Support for lower speeds was strongest among residents living on affected roads, and people using alternate modes of transport such as walking, biking or horse riding.

Feedback was assessed alongside technical evidence, including road geometry, crash history, traffic volumes, active travel use, and future growth.

Councillors amended the proposed speed limits for two roads. The section of Glenorchy-Queenstown Road between Wyuna Station and Bobs Cove will reduce to 90km/h, rather than the originally proposed 80km/h. On Cemetery Road, the speed limit will reduce from 80km/h to 70km/h, instead of the proposed 50km/h.

The approved 2026 Speed Management Plan will now be submitted to the Director of Land Transport for approval. The new speeds will then be entered into the National Speed Limit Register enabling them to become permanent and legally enforceable, with changes to on-road signage to follow. Speed limit changes will be progressively implemented across the district over the coming months, supported by public education and awareness activities.

* The 65% support figure excludes submissions unrelated to the specific speed limit proposal being assessed, comments on roads not included in the draft Speed Management Plan, and responses where the proposal had been misunderstood. This ensured feedback was assessed against the road or speed limit change it was intended to address.

ENDS | KUA MUTU

Media contact: 03 441 1802

communications@qldc.govt.nz

FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri

Consultation feedback

  • 318 submissions were received, covering 749 individual road sections or speed areas.

  • Residents living on or adjacent to affected roads showed the strongest support for reduced speed limits, with 73% supporting lower speeds.

  • Active transport users were also strongly supportive, including 91% of people riding bikes or e-bikes and 89% of people walking.

  • Feedback highlighted a range of views, with many submitters also calling for driver education, enforcement, passing opportunities and other road safety improvements.

  • During consultation, feedback was received on a number of speed limit changes that were outside the scope of the current plan. This feedback will be considered as part of the next three-yearly review of the Speed Management Plan.

State highways

Speed limits on state highways were outside the scope of the Speed Management Plan consultation, as these roads are managed by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). However, QLDC received 56 submissions relating to state highways, all seeking lower speed limits. Council will submit these concerns to NZTA, requesting a further review of speed on our state highways.