An east Auckland resident is speaking out in support of controversial traffic calming measures installed in a seaside community and which have been the recent focus of court action.
The Times previously reported that third-year law student Sean O’Loughlin had won a judicial review against Auckland Transport (AT) and Auckland Council over a raised pedestrian crossing and several speed humps installed along The Parade in Bucklands Beach.
The judgement of Auckland High Court Justice David Johnstone found AT didn’t consider whether the crossing and speed humps would unduly impede vehicular traffic when making its decision to install them.
Instead, its decision-making commenced with the assumption reducing vehicular speeds would likely improve public safety, “and, having commenced with that assumption, its decision-making turned on whether various proposed traffic-calming measures would reduce vehicular speeds cost-effectively”.
Justice Johnstone said without having addressed itself to the question of whether the crossing and humps would not unduly impede vehicular traffic, AT didn’t form the opinion it was required to form before it became entitled to install them.
The judge determined AT “must reconsider and determine whether it should have installed the raised pedestrian crossing and speed humps which were installed at Little Bucklands Beach on the southern portion of The Parade during the latter part of 2024”
If it forms the opinion the measures unduly impede vehicular traffic to any extent, it must remove them, the judge said.
O’Loughlin previously told the Times he was motivated to launch the judicial review because of the process AT carried out in deciding to install the raised crossing and speed humps.
“There’s no issue in building them if, first, you follow proper process, but second, the public actually supports it.
“What showed on the public community feedback report was these speed humps were the ones the public supported the least.
“They supported changes elsewhere which were not continued, but it was the ones along this road that had the least support that they continued with.”
Following publication of the story on O’Loughlin’s successful judicial review, the Times was contacted by another Bucklands Beach local, who doesn’t want to be identified but says there was nothing in the story “about all the positives the community has seen from them being installed”.
“The speed bumps and crossing are not impeding traffic flow on The Parade,” she says.
“We, and the community here, massively support having them and the safety improvements have been remarkable.
“We can cross the road safely, finally. We see so many people using the crossing, young kids, kids with bikes, elderly, walkers, etc.
“These speed bumps and the raised crossing are certainly needed. I’m not the only one in support of these.”
The woman says a “significant number of people” support the raised crossing and speed humps.
“There would have been news about this a long time ago if everyone or anyone along The Parade objected.
“There was plenty of public consultation, meetings, emails, etc. The process took years.
“I don’t think anyone quite realises how dangerously people used to drive along here.”
A spokesperson for AT previously said the agency is unable to comment on the outcome of the judicial review as it’s in the process of considering the High Court’s decision.
