Tauranga City Council is reporting six sewer blockages were attended by its team over the last fortnight.

In Royal Palm Beach Boulevard kikuyu grass roots were the predominant cause of a blockage.

In Darraghs Road, and a related blockage in Waikareao Way, the fault has been identified as a damaged pipeline that will need repairing.

In Pacific Park Way, a blockage was the result of a trencher installing power cables cut a house sewer connection.

A Waimapu Street blockage was caused by an accumulation of rags.

A Welcome Bay Primary School blockage was the result of some historical building works were it transpired that a pile drill auger had damaged the pipe.

This repair required a section of their decking to be removed to access this for repair.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, November 7, published below.

City Waters

Water Supply:

• Work begins on Monday to upgrade a 50mm watermain to a 100mm diameter main in Te Wati Street. The larger watermain will allow adequate water irrigation for Te Wati Park No.1 rugby field without adversely affecting neighbouring properties. There will be some minor disruption in the immediate area during works. Affected properties have been directly notified. Work will take about two weeks.
• The upgraded water main in Bureta is operational. Finishing work is underway in Vale Street.
• The new water main in the Otumoetai area is being connected up in Windsor Road next week.
• Decking is under construction for the new access bridge at the Oropi drinking water supply intake. Installation of steel beams starts next week.
• Valve maintenance is currently underway in the CBD and is soon to begin in Greerton and the Avenues. This involves repainting valve covers and ensuring the valves are in working order.

Drainage:

• Temporary repair has been done to the leaking ocean outfall wastewater pipeline that ruptured a month ago and is being monitored. Detailed design for a permanent repair at this location continues with work not expected to commence for some time while. Resource consent is being sought before reinstatement and construction of a new chamber can begin.
• Following on from a recent sewer blockage off Pillans Road, CCTV investigations show the pipeline has large sagged sections. Detailed design to remedy this problem has started.
• Smoke testing and gully trap inspections are continuing. The area being investigated is from Elizabeth Street south to 13^Th Avenue between Devonport Road and Cameron Road.
• Work on widening the Portside Drive storm water pond is scheduled to start on Monday 7 November.
• Grass growth in the stormwater reserves is very high presently. The contractor is working hard to keep up with expected levels of service.

Parks and Leisure

• Weed Control is being undertaken on various sites around the city, including the Waikareao Estuary in and around McCardles Bush and at York Park.
• Some walkway resurfacing is being completed in the Coach Drive area.
• Now the vegetation control has been completed on the walkway at the Western end of Hamilton Street has been completed, contouring and resurfacing work is programmed over the next few weeks.
• The vegetation enhancement work for public safety reasons is progressing well in the Matua Saltmarsh.
• Work started this week to repaint the Hartford Reserve playground. This is being conducted in two separate stages to allow at least one half of the playground to remain open at all times.
• From Monday 7 November Arborcare will be removing some vegetation and form-pruning the trees in a couple of gardens on the Maunganui Road frontage of Blake Park near Hinau Street. This is a continuation of the Blake Park Vegetation Upgrade.

Transportation

• 40km/h Variable Speed Zones: New 40km/h variable speed zones have been installed outside Papamoa Primary School (Parton and Dickson Roads) and Bethlehem College on Moffat Road. Please watch for new flashing 40km/h signs before and after school and adjust your speed accordingly.
• Annual Resealing Programme: Asphalt resealing work continues on various streets around the city.
• Bell Road: To allow Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) construction traffic to cross Bell Road, a temporary 50km/h speed restriction is in place, Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 6.30pm, until further notice. All TEL construction traffic will be on a controlled give way. Please take care when driving in the area.
• Bus Shelters: New bus shelters are being installed at various bus stops around the city over the next few months. Most of the work will be done off the road so disruption to traffic will be minimal.
• Cameron Road and Eleventh Avenue: Work on upgrading the Cameron Road, Eleventh Avenue, St John Street and Christopher Street intersections continues. Access to businesses in the area will be maintained at all times. Please expect delays and use an alternative route if possible.
• Fraser Street: Southern Pipeline work between Maleme Street and Memorial Park is nearing completion. Please take care when passing work sites. There is full access to Fraser Cove.
• Matapihi Rail Crossing: Work to upgrade the Matapihi Rail crossing continues on Saturday 12 November. The work is being done at night to minimise disruption to road and rail traffic. Vehicle access will be maintained at all times.
• Parton Road: Construction activity for the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) continues. A temporary 30km/h speed restriction is in place Monday to Saturday from 6am to 6pm. A manual stop/go control will be used when large trucks need to cross Parton Road. Expect minor delays and please take care when driving in the area.
• School Zones: New active school zone signs are being installed outside the following schools: Otepou School, Welcome Bay Road; Rudolph Steiner School, Welcome Bay Road; and the Seventh Day Adventist School, Moffat Road. Please watch for the new signs and take care when driving through these areas.
• State Highway 2 (Te Maunga to Domain Road): Construction activity for the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) continues. A long term temporary 80km/hr speed restriction is in place from Te Maunga to Domain Road until further notice. Please take care and stay alert when driving through this area.
• Tara Road (Domain Road end): To allow Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) construction traffic to cross Tara Road, a temporary 30km/h speed restriction, with a manual stop/go, will be in place for approximately eight weeks between 7.00am and 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Minor delays are expected. Please take care when driving in the area.
• Ultrafast Broadband: Work to install Ultrafast Broadband in the city centre and in the areas around the city centre continues. Most of the work is being done off the road. The Ultrafast Broadband project is a central government initiative. More information about the project is available at www.ultrafastbroadband.co.nz or call 0800 342 735.