Transport Indicators (what we measure)

Overview

A good transport system is vital to the prosperity of the district. It provides the link between different areas, and gives people access to attend to their needs and activities. Transport enables businesses to access resources and markets, and provides people with social, cultural, recreational and employment opportunities. Transportation and traffic growth can result in economic, environmental, social and safety impacts that need to be managed through careful land use decisions.

While Matamata-Piako maintains an efficient transport system providing many benefits to the community, there are also several social and environmental impacts of the system.

Our Situation

Our urban areas are relatively free of significant parking, loading and vehicle access problems. However, traffic safety along State Highways and arterial routes (major roads) is of concern as traffic speeds are often high due to the flat and open nature of the environment.

Traffic can generate adverse effects; particularly by creating noise. In some locations, roads with high vehicle counts affect the use, values and function of the neighbouring environment. The number of resource consents permitting an entranceway onto a state highway or regional arterial road has decreased over recent years.

New developments can create traffic problems if there is not enough parking available. In the industrial and business zones, there have been 38 resource consents that did not require on-site parking or loading from 2000/01 to 2008/09.

Signage can also have an adverse affect on residents' property values by creating glare, and degrading the surrounding character. If signs are poorly located they can distract driver attention and restrict visibility. The number of resource consents granted that permit signage on or visible from a State Highway has steadily decreased since 2000/01.