The final reinstatement of grounds and footpaths following the emergency water shutdown in Welcome Bay recently are due to be completed by mid-week.

On February 22 Welcome Bay residents were advised of a water shutdown in the Welcome Bay and Kairua Road area due to a damaged water main in Welcome Bay Road.

Photo: File.

The damaged pipe was a 500mm bulk main which supplies water to the Waikite reservoir and the Poplar Lane reservoir, which services Papamoa.

A water tanker was sent to supply Otepou Primary and it was stationed there until 8pm to be available for properties affected by the water shutdown.

Tauranga City Council says once excavations on the main were underway, the main was found to be encased in a reinforced concrete anchor so considerable time was spent jack hammering out the concrete to locate the leak.

The leak was underneath the pipe at the lowest point of the main in a section that could not be completely drained.

TCC says a couple of attempts to repair proved fruitless and a temporary clamp was installed to stem the flow. The water main was reloaded at 5am Saturday morning.

It reports Poplar Lane reservoir got down to a level of 30 per cent. City Care staff monitored the leak during the weekend and also monitored the pumps on a two hourly rotation through to Tuesday morning.

TCC reports permanent repairs were made on Tuesday with affected residents notified in advance of the water shutdown.

Hydrant painting throughout the city is due to commence next week. Greerton and Bethlehem are the first two areas to be started. There are 5400 hydrants in the city and this work will be carried out over the next two to three months.

This from this week's Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week starting March 4.

City Parks

• Vegetation clearance and weed control work is underway behind Otumoetai Swimming pool and in Sherwood Vale Gully.
• The revegetation enhancement work and weed control work at the southern end of Ohauiti Reserve continues. The machinery work is nearly finished and the planting will proceed late autumn.

City Projects

• Welcome Bay Hall renovations were due to be completed this week.
• Links Ave Reserve No. 2 field floodlights were installed this week.
• Irrigation at Morland Fox Park and Waipuna Park will be operating this week. This will speed up the recovery of the grasses until the fields are ready to play on.
• Work will shortly commence on the floodlighting at Waipuna Park.

City Libraries

A series of free lunchtime law seminars will be held in the Okahukura Room at Tauranga Library on Willow Street from 12noon - 1pm each Wednesday in March. These have been organised by Baywide Community Law Service and hosted by the Tauranga City Libraries lunchtime seminars. For more information or to register people should call Baywide Community Law Service on 07 571 6812. Seminar details are:

• 6 March: Wills and Powers of Attorney - An overview of the law about wills and power of attorney.
• 13 March: Asset Testing for Rest Home Subsidies - An outline of the current rules of eligibility for the subsidy.
• 20 March: Family Trusts - An introduction to Family Trusts and when they can be useful.
• 27 March: Personal Insolvency Options - Looking at No Assets Procedure and Bankruptcy, and where to go for help.

Transportation

• Gravatt Road to Hartford Avenue: Work will start shortly on an upgrade to the pathway through the Papamoa Drainage Reserve between Gravatt Road and Hartford Avenue with completion expected before the end of May. Detours will be in place around the work area but walkers and cyclists are asked to take care.
  • Chadwick Road: Work continues on the upgrade of Chadwick Road between Fraser Street and Mitchell Street. Road closures and a detour are in place. Expect delays and take care when driving in the area.
  • Construction Sites: Watch for construction vehicle movements around the Burger King construction site at the corner of Fifth and Sixth Avenues and Cameron Road.
  • Coronation Classic 2013: No road closure is in place for this event but please be aware of cyclists on Maunganui Road, Salisbury Avenue, The Mall, Adams Avenue, Marine Parade, Nikau Street, Rata Street, Totara Street and Hull Road.
  • Devonport Road: Work to upgrade the intersection with Fourth Avenue is underway. Please take care when driving through the site.
  • Matapihi Rail Bridge Pathway: Work to repair the pedestrian and cycle pathway on the rail bridge is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks. The bridge remains closed until the work is completed. People trying to use the rail tracks to cross the bridge are at risk of serious injury or death.
  • SH2 Takitimu Drive: Work to rebuild a 300 metre long section of road beyond the Waihi Road/11th Avenue Overbridge is underway. Traffic travelling toward Bethlehem/Route K from the city is reduced to one lane and a speed restriction will be in place. Please expect delays and drive carefully through the work area.
  • Ultrafast Broadband: Work to install Ultrafast Broadband is being completed. Most of the work is being done off the road. The Ultrafast Broadband Project is a central government initiative.
  • Waihi Road: Work to construct a new bus bay opposite Paine Street is continuing.
  • Cycle safely: Check your bike, plan a safe route. www.bikewise.co.nz