[iamge]A proposal to make Arrowtown's speed limit 40kmh will be presented to the Queenstown Lakes District Council on Tuesday.
The limit has been approved by the council's infrastructure services committee.
Because it involves a bylaw amendment, councillors will make a majority decision before the public is notified for submissions.
If the council approves the limit, the decision will go to hearing.
Council transport manager Denis Mander expected the process to take longer than usual because of the Christmas break.
He expected a final decision by March or April next year.
The historic village's narrow roads, originally designed for horses and carts and with few footpaths, were often used by pedestrians.
Safety concerns regarding this had sparked a review.
The proposal for the 40kmh speed limit had come from several sources, including the Arrowtown Primary School, and submissions to the 2011-12 annual plan, particularly from the Arrowtown Village Association.
Arrowtown councillor Lex Perkins has been working on getting the 40kmh speed limit in place for some time.
In September, Mr Perkins said the speed limit was in the town's short-term plan.
The council would look at introducing footpaths later, Mr Perkins said.
Main concerns for him were dangers to: people with prams, walkers, runners, children and the elderly.
These groups often had to use the roads.
A consultation process was undertaken in July and August. Most respondents were concerned about the speed of vehicles and related safety issues and supported a reduction in the speed limit.
Those against lowering the limit suggested enforcement and/or devices such as speed humps would be more effective, or said council should instead focus on accelerating its footpath programme.
A council survey this year found the town's average speed was between 45kmh and 50kmh, although 15% of drivers were driving over 55kmh.
If the proposed speed limit is introduced, Arrowtown will be the first town in New Zealand to have a 40kmh limit throughout.
