Changes to Mount Maunganui's stormwater system in the wake of recent flooding is delaying the start of construction on the Pilot Bay Boardwalk.

Construction on the boardwalk was due to begin on Monday but Tauranga City Council today announced it will be postponed for three weeks while adjustments are made to accommodate the new stormwater improvement plans.

Work on the Pilot Bay boardwalk is being put off for two weeks.

Since the flash flooding on April 20 Tauranga City Council has been investigating ways to improve the stormwater systems in problem areas.

TCC communications advisor Marcel Currin says the decision was made to include stormwater improvements in the Pilot Bay area, and undertake these alongside construction on the Pilot Bay boardwalk.

He says this is not a result of the Annual Plan hearings decision yesterday, but stormwater has been the focus of council since the flooding occurred.

To improve the stormwater system sumps will need to be installed in places not previously approved by the Historic Places Trust.

Council City Parks manager Marie Gordon says council now needs to dig deeper to install stormwater sumps, and requiresHPT approval to do this.

'Council is going through a process to get a new HPT Authority for that work.”

Marie says as soon as the new HPT authority is granted, the stormwater improvement work will get underway at Prince Avenue, working at the same time as the boardwork construction.

The original plan to start work on the concrete section at the new Prince Avenue pedestrian crossing on Monday has now been postponed.

Timber will still be delivered as scheduled and Marcel says work will begin on the boardwalk section between Sailsbury Wharf and Prince Avenue as soon as possible.