Mayor condemns vandalism of concrete planters

Vandalism to several concrete planters around Gore last night has been condemned by Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks.

The planters are among initiatives being rolled out this week for Streets Alive, a project to trial new road layouts to make Gore’s streets safer, more accessible and more people-friendly.

The concrete containers create the impression of narrowing streets to slow traffic and provide a protective barrier at new courtesy crossings.

On Thursday night, planters at various locations were intentionally tipped up. Those responsible also threw soil, plants and road cones around the vicinity.

Mr Hicks encouraged people to give the trials a chance.

“We know change can be challenging, but we need to remember these are trials.

“If they (the initiatives) don’t work, they won’t stay.”

Gore Roading Asset Manager Peter Standring said the vandalism had been reported to the police, and all the planters put back in place.

“It’s disappointing.

“If people want to have their say, we’ve various avenues for them to do so. This (the vandalism) is not one of them.”

He appreciated some changes were likely to be uncomfortable and even frustrating for people. However, they were part of a bigger picture to calm traffic in areas where speed and traffic volume were becoming an issue.

“There seems to be a lot of concern about the planters making the roads too narrow, when in fact the width of lanes is at least 3.6m. This is plenty of room for a vehicle to pass through.”

Mr Standring echoed the mayor’s comment about giving the trials a chance.

“We’re still rolling out different components, such as the road markings for the courtesy crossings.”

Streets Alive trials have been the subject of a safety review by WSP (formerly OPUS), and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency representatives who visited Gore recently were comfortable there were no safety issues, Mr Standring said.

“We are working with heavy transport operators to ensure they can get around the town when they have business in residential or commercial areas.

“However, it’s concerning that we’re seeing big truck and trailer units increasingly using residential streets as a short cut instead of staying on the heavy traffic bypass.”

The Council will put out a survey early next month, once all the initiatives are in place, and again at the end of the three-month trial.

Streets Alive is a $1 million project. It is 90% ($900,000) funded by Waka Kotahi NZTA from its Innovative Streets fund. The Council has contributed $100,000.

The trials will run until the end of June.