A meeting of the Dunedin City Council planning and environment committee heard yesterday residents had contacted councillors about the issue, worried about the effect of any increase on children walking to and from school, or riding horses.
Councillors urged the public to get involved in a consultation process on the issue, due to start next month, and staff were urged to make the changes easily understandable to people without traffic expertise.
The review of the council's speed limit bylaw began last year, with 67 roads being considered.
That number has decreased as the issue has gone through the council process.
A report from senior traffic engineer Bruce Conaghan said the review, held every three years, was to make sure speed limits were "safe, appropriate and credible for the level of roadside development and the category of road for which they are set".
They were also required to be nationally consistent.
The council is legally required to use Speed Limits New Zealand (SLNZ), a procedure for calculating the speed limit.
It takes into account factors including the extent of roadside development and road features including footpaths, cycleways and curves.
Mr Conaghan said although there was a list of roads proposed for changes, others could be suggested during consultation.
Cr Fliss Butcher said she had already received "passionate" emails about a proposed speed limit increase on Dalziel Rd, Brockville.
An increase from 50kmh to 80kmh was proposed on one section of the road.
Cr Teresa Stevenson moved to have speed limit changes for Dalziel and Mt Grand Rds removed from the bylaw before consultation, but the motion was lost.
Cr Butcher said after the meeting there were also concerns among Seacliff residents about changes on Coast Rd.
Crs Michael Guest, Neil Collins, Andrew Noone and Bill Acklin were appointed to a hearings committee for the consultation.
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