The Star: June 06, 2019

The Star Thursday June 6 2019
24
NEWS
news online at www.star.kiwi
Speed limit overhaul
• By Louis Day and
Julia Evans
SUMNER AND Woolston
speed limits could be set for a
complete overhaul.
The city council is proposing
various changes to the speed
limits across Sumner and
Woolston Village.
Sumner’s
plan proposes
the speed limit
be reduced
in the wider
residential
area from
50km/h to
Sara
Templeton
40km/h as
well as a drop
to 30km/h at
the entrance
to Sumner, through the
township and along the
Esplanade.
Heathcote Ward city
councillor Sara Templeton saw
the change as necessary.
“I know that many people
have concerns about the large
trucks going back through the
town on their way to Lyttelton
so I think it will be well
supported. There have also been
some issues with boy racers in
the area,” she said.
Cr Templeton thought a
reduction in the speed limit
would benefit local businesses.
“When you have slower speeds
LOWER: The speed limit on Ferry Rd may be dropped to
30km/h.
it makes it easier for people to
have a look at the shops when
they go past and are more likely
to walk around when it is a
pedestrian safe space.”
The speed limit in the
Woolston Village precinct may
also be lowered.
Consultation is set to begin
on lowering speed along Ferry
Rd from Portman St to nearly
Palinurus Rd to 30km/h.
Part of St Johns St, Maronan
St, Oak St, Heathcote St,
Portman St and Glenroy
St would also be dropped
to 40km/h as part of the
proposal.
Public feedback on the plans
will open on June 17.
The moves follows previous
consultation on the Sumner
and Ferry Rd master plans,
which approved implementing a
12-month trial.
The Woolston area’s master
plan was approved in 2014 and
currently streetscape upgrades
for the village are in the design
phase.
It features wider footpaths and
cycle lanes, upgraded crossings
and street lighting.
A laneway linking Ferry Rd
to the public car park and preschool
behind the library will be
upgraded for use by pedestrians
and cyclists under the library
development.
New and upgraded bus
stops and shelters will also be
introduced.
New Lyttelton tug
soon to enter service
THE LYTTELTON Port
Company’s new tug Piaka arrived
on Friday.
Piaka was designed by
Canadian tug experts Robert
Allan and built in Singapore by
ASL Shipyard, and will replace
harbour tug Purau, which has
been in service since 1986.
Over the past month
she has sailed from
Singapore to Lyttelton
and was greeted at the headlands
of Lyttelton Harbour by LPC
tugs Purau and Blackadder, and
pilot launch Awaroa.
LPC chief executive Peter Davie
said the new tug will offer improved
power and manoeuvrability.
“It will increase our handling
capability for the larger vessels
that are expected to call at
Lyttelton following the recent
upgrade of the navigation
channel. The future of shipping
is seeing a trend towards
NEW
ARRIVAL:
Lyttelton
Port
Company’s
tug Piaka
arrived
from
Singapore
on Friday.
significantly larger vessels,” he said.
“The modern control systems
and winch set-up of the Piaka are
similar to LPC’s tug Blackadder,
further modernising LPC’s harbour
tug fleet,” says Mr Davie.
Piaka is the Māori name for
Adderley Head, and the tug
is painted in Canterbury colours.
Piaka has 75T bollard pull,
significantly more than the Purau.
Mr Davie said it was fantastic
to have Piaka arrive safely at Lyttelton.
“It is another vital part of our
development at LPC, ensuring we
can cater for the growth in container
volume moving through
Lyttelton, and continue to be the
gateway for the goods that keep
our region moving.”
Piaka will undergo testing and
training sessions with her new
crew over the next few weeks,
before being formally launched
and named.
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