Tauranga City Council is reporting there were three sewer blockages around the city last week, two of these caused by plant roots.

These two blockages were at Papamoa Beach Road and Grenada Street sites and neither resulted in any overflow to waterways.

The third blockage was in Sterling Gate Drive and it caused an overflow to a street sump which drains to the stormwater pond in Sterling Gate Drive.

Water quality testing sample results showed clear so the temporary health warning signs have been removed.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, July 4, published below.

City Waters

Water Supply:

• The water main upgrade pipe laying about to start at Seaview Road and Windsor Road
• A bulk water mains break occurred at the Omanu Golf Course in the early hours of Sunday morning resulting in temporary flooding of some the greens and fairways.
• A water main break occurred in Tay Street in the early hours of Thursday morning (around 3am) – water was restored by 7.30am.

Drainage:

• Flooding, mainly to roads, occurred last Friday night following heavy rain fall. Some reports of property flooding in Resolution Drive, The Strand near Masonic Park and Devonport Road.
• Bank erosion from a stormwater outlet at the rear of a property in Wallace Road (off Westridge Drive). Investigation to clear the area to see the extent of the damage is continuing as access is difficult.
• Sewer manhole adjustments and general maintenance will be done on selected manholes in the area off Beach Road over the next few weeks.
• Wastewater main replacement work in Vale Road from Landscape Road towards Grange Road continues. There is a speed restriction of 30 kilometres an hour in place at the construction site or a detour may be in place.

Southern Pipeline

• Pipe laying and other work continues in various sites along the Maleme-Memorial route, of particular note along Fraser Street and Devonport Road. The Devonport Road section will be finished within a few weeks.

Parks and Leisure

• Congratulations to City Care Limited and Aztec Gardens who have both received considerable compliments throughout the year from the public regarding the high standard of the Rose Gardens, and the Tropical Display House at Robbins Park.
• Remedial drainage works are underway along the Kingswood Road walkway, the very wet conditions in this area will make these works slow to be completed.
• Riparian planting along the Birch Ave walkway are planned to be completed in the next fortnight.
• Some directional signage has been installed along the main access track through Johnson Reserve.
• The Coast Discovery Education Program has had a huge few weeks with six full teaching days since the 20 June. Year 5-6 from Bethlehem Primary and Otumoetai Primary, have been through the program with tremendous success.
• Coast Care has been coordinating a volunteer group to work all week on the dunes. Motiti Road and Taylor Road are on target to have the rehabilitation project complete by the end of the planting season.

City Projects

TECT Arena at Baypark

• Quarter way through the six-court wooden sprung floor installation.
• Carpet tiles are down in function rooms and under way on the walkways to the top seating.
• The retractable seats are being installed.

Transportation

• City Centre: Free Saturday parking in Tauranga's city centre and in the parking buildings on Elizabeth Street and Spring Streets starts on 2 July. People parking in the city centre on Saturdays will still need to abide by the signposted parking time limits.
• Devonport Road: Southern Pipeline pipe laying work continues on Devonport Road between 16th and 18th Avenues. Lane restrictions are in place. Please use an alternative route if possible.
• Domain Road/Tara Road Intersection: Construction activity for the Tauranga Eastern Link continues in this area. A permanent 50km/hr speed restriction is in place. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the area.
• Fraser Street: Southern Pipeline pipe laying is progressing past Fraser Cove, heading towards Merivale. Lane restrictions are in place. Please take care when driving through this area.
• Howell Place: The intersection with 15th Avenue (SH 2A) has been closed. A shoulder closure will be in place on 15th Avenue (SH 2A) westbound. Road users are advised to access Howell Place via the new link from 16th Avenue.
• Maunganui/Girven Road intersection: Site investigation works are continuing. Lane closures during off peak hours may cause delays. Please use caution when driving through the intersection.
• SH 2A: Work to reconstruct the section of highway from under the Route K over bridge to the Takitimu Drive overbridge near 15th Avenue continues. Expect delays at peak times.
• Tara Road: Work on Tara Road has now moved to the intersection with Parton Road where a new roundabout will be built. Please take care and expect delays.

Libraries

Papamoa Library - Change of hours

• Papamoa Library will be changing it's opening hours from Friday the 1 July. The new opening hours will be 9.30am - 5.30pm during weekdays. (Historically Papamoa Library has opened at 10.00am and closed at 6.00pm). Weekend hours will remain the same 10.00am - 2.00pm.

New book group launched

• Tauranga Library has formed a new book club for adults. It meets on the third Wednesday of every month from 10.30am—11.30am. Each month it discusses different topics and librarians promote the paid Top Titles collection.

Venues & Events

Baycourt Community & Arts Centre

• Saturday 2 July (1.30pm – 10pm) – 'Smokefree Rockquest 2011”. All day pass: $20.00. For more information visit www.sfrq.co.nz
• Tuesday 5 July – 7 July (7pm – 9pm) – ‘Who does that?'. An exciting production presented by Tauranga Intermediate School. Adults $16.00, Child (13yrs and under) $10.
• Friday 8 July (9am – 4pm) - Tauranga Society of Artists Annual Supreme Exhibition. A great variety of original art not previously exhibitied.

Democracy

Events Support & Community Investment Subcommittee - Tuesday, 5 July 2011 - 9.00 am

OPEN SECTION

• Annual Flagship Event Meeting - Consideration and decision of applications to the Small and Major Project Investment Funds. (Please note: Presentations and deliberations will be held in public excluded)

Councillors Workshops

Date: Monday, 4 July

Time: 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chambers

Meeting: Open

Purpose: Cemetery Levels of Service

Staff Contact: Anthony Averill Ext: 7015

Date: Monday, 4 July

Time: 1.00 pm

Venue: Council Chambers

Meeting: Open

Purpose: Councillors Workshop - Review of Growth Pays for Growth Philosophy
(continuation meeting of 21 June)

Staff Contact: Andy Mead - Ext: 7410