The Beach Road to Shaw Place reserve walkway in Otumoetai remains closed as Tauranga City Council contractors evaluate the best method of reconstruction.

The walkway was closed following severe weather that buckled and washed away parts of the track.

A bridge on the Waikareao East reserve has also been damaged with the required remedial works being programmed now.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, January 31, published below.

City Waters

Water Supply

• Heavy rain over last weekend caused both water treatment plants to be placed temporarily offline. No disruption to service as a result of this.
• Water main break on Tara Road on January 21. Service was restored by Saturday and temporary water supply was arranged for affected properties on Tara.
• The water main upgrade on Marine Parade has been completed and works on the Grove Avenue water main upgrade are expected to be completed next week.
• The water main upgrade in the Matua area has commenced with works currently underway in Woods Ave and Maxine Place.
• Works on the water main upgrade on Eleventh Ave/Cameron Rd began on 17 January and are expected to be completed within the next 6 weeks. These works are associated with a roading project.
• Valves in the Matua and Bureta area are currently being inspected and painted as part of a city wide project.

Drainage

• There were 16 call outs last weekend for flooding during the heavy rain that occurred. Generally, systems coped well considering 130mm to 160mm of rain fell over the two days along with extra high tides at the same time. A number of the call outs were for stormwater grates on the streets being blocked by leaves and litter material. Flooding of some buildings in Birch Ave and Oak Lane also occurred.
• A sewer overflow occurred at a property on 15th Ave and entered the stormwater system and estuary at the end of Burrows Street. Temporary health warning signs have been installed around the Waimapu Estuary and Maungatapu Marae. Water quality samples have been taken with results due next week.
• Temporary health warning signs are to remain in place at Kaitemako Stream, Judea Marae Drain and Maleme Street Drain due to ongoing elevated bacteria counts in recent water samples originally analysed following a sewer overflow incidents. Elevated bacterial counts can be attributed to a number of potential sources such as live stock, water fowl and road runoff discharges. We have sent water samples to a Nelson laboratory for specialised ‘source tracking' analysis. Results of this are expected by the end of the month.
• Work has started to remove silts from four stormwater ponds. These ponds have been in use for a number of years and need the silt build up removed to restore them to original dimensions and storage. The ponds are off Bateleur Close, Resolution Road, Waipuna Grove and Waiorakei Way.
• A wastewater blockage occurred in the Council main at 572 Maunganui Road as a result of thrusting damage. No overflow occurred.

Stormwater Pollution

• Several Pollution incidents attended to this week:

- Two incidents involving sediment discharges from construction sites following heavy rain on the weekend. These required clean-up by the contractors concerned. Earthworks on sites must be controlled and silt fencing and other sediment controls should be in place to prevent discharges.

- An incident occurred involving the dumping of a can of paint on Cameron Road. The spill was cleaned up by City Care contractors before it entered any stormwater drains.

- An incident occurred in Birch Ave involving the discharge of bitumen to a grass area near the Kopurererua Stream. This required clean-up by the company responsible.

• Pollution Prevention Audits of 400 food premises to check the condition and maintenance of grease traps and waste food oil storage are almost complete.

Waiari Water Supply Project:

• Design of the access road to the intake and the design of the intake are being done at present.
• A decision on which is the preferred alignment for the trunk main project is expected in the first quarter of 2011. Once the preferred alignment is confirmed, negotiations will commence with affected land owners.

Bulk Water Meter and Pressure Management Project:

• A contract is underway to install additional bulk metering and pressure management in Birch Ave. and 12th Avenue. This will regulate pressures in the area and also improve the water supply zoning in this area. The contract is due to finish end February.

Southern Pipeline:

• Pipe laying in Oropi Road is progressing away from the Maleme Street junction.
• Works in Devonport Road between 12th and 15th Ave continue with some road closures necessary in this area and detours in place. By mid next week there will be at least single lane traffic open all the way along Devonport Road between 12th and 15th Avenues. In the meantime Devonport Road is closed at the 15th Avenue intersection. Access to the medical centre and Boys' College is still open via 14th Avenue.

Parks and Leisure

• Waitangi Dawn Service is to be held on Mauao's summit on Sunday, February 6.
• The karaka trees at the start of the Mauao 4x4 track are looking great with their orange berries.
• The Large Casuarina shelter belt on Cheyne Road, next to Oropi Road, is scheduled for removal from Thursday, February 3. This will involve temporary traffic management during the removal works. Removal has been programmed due to health and safety concerns. Trees drop a lot of debris on road which is hazardous to vehicles.
• The Otumoetai Pool will be closed for five days from Wednesday 2 February to allow maintenance work to be carried out. The pools are expected to reopen at 6am on Monday, February 7.

Transportation

• Annual Resealing Programme: Resealing work on various streets around the city is continuing.
• Devonport Road: Southern Pipeline pipe laying work on Devonport Road between 12th and 15th Avenues continues. There will be some minor temporary road closures in place. Expect delays and please use an alternative route if possible.
• Hairini Link Advanced Works: Some tidy up work continues on the reconstruction of the road surface at the Fraser Street / 15th Avenue (State Highway 2A) intersection. The next stage of work includes road surface upgrades at Burrows Street, 15th Avenue, Mayfield Street and Turret Road. Construction of the pedestrian crossing at Burrows Street / 15th Avenue will also begin.
• Inner City Bus Stops: Work on the new bus stop facilities on Willow Street is continuing.
• Mangatawa Lane: The intersection of Mangatawa Lane with State Highway 2 is closed. Access to Mangatawa lane is now via Truman Lane (by BayPark speedway).
• Maleme Street / Oropi Road: Southern Pipeline pipe laying work continues from the intersection of Maleme Street along Oropi Road. Expect delays. Please take extra care when driving through this area.
• Papamoa Beach Road / Domain Road: Work to build a new pedestrian refuge island and footpaths to Papamoa Domain at the intersection of Papamoa Beach Road and Domain Road continues. Expect minor delays and take care when driving in the area.
• Pyes Pa Bypass: Work to tie in the new bypass to Pyes Pa Road (State Highway 36) near the crematorium is underway. Speed is reduced through the construction area - please take care. Later this month, traffic will be diverted as the existing highway is joined to the new roundabout.
• State Highway 2: Work to relocate a watermain is almost complete with only minor tidying up still to complete. Some shoulder closures may be in place from Mangatawa Lane to Domain Road from time to time. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the area.
• Tara Road: Work to build the new roundabout at the intersection of Doncaster Drive and Tara Road continues. There will be traffic management changes over the next month while the new road is constructed.
• Tilby Drive: Work to alter the existing pedestrian refuge adjacent to the shopping centre and install new speed cushions is due to start this week. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the area.
• Tilby Drive / Fergusson Park Entrance: Work to create more formal road parking and install speed cushions at the entrance to the park is due to start this week. Motorists are advised to take care when approaching this area.