They went in without consultation. Now the bollards and chicanes are gone in less than 2 days.
The bollards, single-lane chicanes, and road-mounted sticks installed just days ago, along Birchwood Lane in Tamahere, have been removed and without explanation. A Waikato District Council spokesperson has confirmed the removal was not undertaken by them. Which leaves only one conclusion: Locals. Whoever it was, the message is clear: Tamahere has had enough.
In response, Tamahere Community Committee Chair Charles Fletcher has stepped in with a timely call for calm, urging all parties - residents, Council, and road users - to come together, not break further apart.
“There are valid concerns on all sides,” Charles Fletcher says. “Safety matters. So does road flow. But we need to take the heat out of this issue and work constructively toward a sensible, inclusive solution. One that actually reflects how people live, move, and rely on this road. The Council needs to review its position with proper consultation”
The Birchwood Lane measures were installed earlier this week, as a trial to address speeding concerns, especially after police monitoring disclosed speeds at 80+kph, including many local residents. But the backlash was swift and pointed, particularly from motorists who felt punished by poorly designed infrastructure they had no say in.
Originally a quiet semi-rural lane, Birchwood Lane has become an arterial route, following the closure of the Newell Road exit the Hamilton City. That change forced a significant increase in daily traffic, yet no corresponding upgrades were made to Birchwood Lane to handle the load. Instead, the Council opted for reactive speed-control infrastructure, bollards and squeeze points most drivers found confusing and dangerous, not calming.
“This isn’t just about Birchwood Lane,” one driver remarked during an informal roadside discussion. “It’s about the way WDC keeps pushing things through without talking to the people who are affected every day”.
The Tamahere Community Committee had been advised prior to the installation but not the extent of, nor installation of the measures. Waikato District Council has now admitted they’ve made a mistake, issuing an apology and promising feedback “later in the year.” But for many, that timeline just added to the sense of disconnect.
“There were options that could have addressed safety without making daily life more stressful,” says one Tamahere ratepayer. “Radar signage. Modest speed limit changes. A design rethink. The bollards were an aggressive solution to a problem that needed a nuanced approach.”
Now, with the bollards gone, by unknown hands, the tone is shifting. Not to blame, but to resolution.
Aksel Bech, long term Tamahere resident, former WDC Councillor and Deputy Mayor, says "The TCC was clear with the Council and NZTA how the closure of Newell Road would impact on Birchwood Lane. It's right there in the name "Lane" as it was never designed to be an arterial route and the upgrade should have been part of the Expressway scope of works". Aksel Bech say: "Local residents who use this road have a good knowledge of what will and won't work as a retrofit and, based on the data collected by the 'YOUR SPEED' sign, traffic calming may be appropriate. It’s concerning local residents have not been involved in finding a solution. I hope that changes now as ratepayers should invite Council to send the invoice to NZTA"
Charles Fletcher and the TCC are now calling for a formal working group, comprising residents, engineers, and Council representatives, to re-evaluate traffic needs along Birchwood Lane and this part of Tamahere. The goal is to co-design a balanced, forward-thinking plan addressing safety without creating unnecessary friction between planners and the public. Maybe its time to reopen Newell Road for access into Hamilton.
“The frustration is real,” Charles Fletcher says, “but so is the opportunity to reset. Let’s not allow a week of upheaval to derail years of community-building.” His views are echoed by Tamahere-Woodlands Councillor Crystal Beavis who has been very busy on Facebook trying to calm things down.
