Queenstown Lakes District councillors were yesterday divided over placing a blanket road speed limit of 40kmh across Arrowtown. The speed limit recommendation would go to a hearing in front of a committee of Simon Stamers-Smith, Jude Batson and Lyal Cocks.
The public would be notified of the speed-limit proposal and submissions would be called.
Councillor Trevor Tattersfield said suggesting a blanket speed of 40kmh to the public would affect its decision and "raise an unrealistic expectation".
"If they can't enforce the 50-kilometre limit then we can't enforce the 40-kilometre [limit]."
Mr Tattersfield said the council would be better to introduce a footpath programme.
The historic village's narrow roads, originally designed for horses and carts and with few footpaths, were often used by pedestrians.
Arrowtown councillor Lex Perkins, who had raised safety concerns over the 50kmh speed, said the issue had already been raised in the community.
QLDC asset management engineer Andrew Edgar said from the feedback the council had received, 50% of the people were in favour of a change and 50% were against.
Mr Tattersfield asked Mr Edgar what specific questions were raised during their consultation process.
"If there was a speeding problem and what should we do about it?
There wasn't specifically a speed recommendation," Mr Edgar said.
Councillor John Mann supported the issue going to consultation.
"Whilst I support Trevor's concerns, because I think they're valid, I also support my Arrowtown mate.
"It is worth going out to the people of Arrowtown and supporting them. I don't think we should be afraid of the consultation process."
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.
Mr Perkins said the next step would be to reduce the Lake Hayes road speed to an all-over 80kmh.
