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Potential opportunities
We want to improve the usability for the road for all the different modes of transport people use and build on the beauty of the area. There are lots of improvements we could make. Some could be achieved in the short term and are relatively low cost. Others will have more significant implications; they will take longer to plan, design, and implement (multi-stage, multi-year) and will also be subject to Council’s longer-term funding/planning processes.
Cultural expression and historical design elements
Shelly Bay has a rich history from when mana whenua first settled here, to its role as a defence base. We are looking at ways we may be able to share these stories or reflect the cultural aspects of the area in resting spaces and the design of facilities such as pathways. We’ll work with mana whenua on what this might look like.
Opportunities/improvements that don’t require road widening (shorter term implementation, lower cost)
There are some opportunities to make improvements to Shelly Bay Road that can be achieved in the short term at a relatively low cost. These improvements could be done within the existing space. Therefore, they would not require road widening and could be done in alignment with the developer’s road upgrade. The images below give you an idea of what these may look like.
Reduced speeds (30km/h)
Lower speeds help to make roads a more pleasant and relaxed place for everyone. They also provide a safer environment for all road users, in particular vulnerable users like walkers, runners, and people on bikes. We are looking at the possibility of reducing the speed limit on Shelly Bay Road from 40km/h to 30km/h.
Traffic calming
Traffic calming uses design tools to reduce traffic speeds and restrict the flow of traffic. There is already some existing traffic calming on Shelly Bay Road in the form of speed cushions. We’re looking at additional tools that could be used to further reduce vehicle speeds. The traffic calming tools we’re considering include:
- Pinch points: Pinch points slow down motor vehicles by restricting the road to a single lane for short sections This requires opposing drivers to take turns passing through. The operation is similar to a one-way bridge.
- Vertical deflection: Vertical changes in the road encourage drivers to slow down. The vertical deflection tools we’re considering include speed bumps, raised tables, or additional speed cushions.
Improved access to the water’s edge
The natural coastal areas along Shelly Bay Road are busy spots for recreation and connecting with the natural environment. We are considering where and how we may be able to improve access to the water’s edge.
Historical and cultural design elements (integrated into the path)
Shelly Bay has a rich history from when mana whenua first settled, to its role as a defence base. We are looking at ways we may be able to reflect the cultural aspects of the area in the design of the path.
Sections of the road with more space
While the road corridor is constrained along much of Shelly Bay Road, there are some sections that have a little more width. These areas present an opportunity to deliver improvements without needing to build out into the coastal marine area or cut into the landward slope.
The map shows areas where there’s some extra space. Some sections have more width than others, and we can’t fit everything. We’ll need to prioritise the space. The images below give you and idea of what could fit in these spaces.
- Wider path
The path will typically be constrained to a width of 1.0 to 1.5m, as per the consent minimum requirements. In sections where we have more existing width, the path could be widened to provide more space for people using the path. - Seating and pause points
Where space allows, we could provide seating and pause points for people to stop and rest along Shelly Bay Road. These rest areas could include things such as benches, seating walls, and lookout areas.
- Planting
Where extra width remains, this space could be filled with additional coastal vegetation to enhance the natural environment.
- Conveying cultural narratives
Shelly Bay has a rich history from when mana whenua first settled, to its role as a defence base. We are looking at ways we may be able to share these stories or reflect the cultural aspects of the area in resting spaces. - Parking
The coastline is a popular spot for recreational activities. Informal parking areas along Shelly Bay Road are well used by people accessing the water’s edge. Where there is enough space, there may be the opportunity to retain on-street parking.
Opportunities that would require significant road widening - Longer term implementation, multi-stage, multi-year
Building in the coastal environment
There are options to upgrade the road that would require the road corridor to be significantly widened. These options would result in greater transport and amenity benefits. Some of them would also provide the opportunity to improve the resiliency of the road corridor by mitigating some of the coastal and slope instability risks.
However, they present significant constraints and challenges in terms of complexity, timing, and costs. They would require building out in the coastal marine area in some areas and cutting into the landward slope in others. The options would require careful planning and design and would take longer to implement. They would also be subject to council’s longer-term funding and planning processes.
The timing requirements for these options mean that they could not be implemented in the short term. The developer’s road upgrade would need to be completed first and these improvements would follow sometime later.
You can find out more about the options requiring road widening