Tauranga City Council has reported a pollution incident from last week when car washing wastewater was discharged directly to stormwater. This is against council policy. Council is urging the public to remember that detergent, oils, grease and other contaminants from car washing are harmful to the environment. To avoid this contamination, council recommends washing cars on grass and allowing the wash water to soak away and no flood into the stormwater system.

This information provided by Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin as published here.

City Waters

Water Supply:
The annual mains flushing programme is progressing well. Over the next two weeks flushing will be carried out in Mount Maunganui working out towards Papamoa. Check your local newspaper or Council's website for affected areas.
A number of programmed water shut downs will be happening this week in the following areas: The Mall, Glen Lyon Place, Levers Road, Coopers Road and Peri Street. Affected customers will be advised by letter drop.
Pillans Watermain Upgrade is 97 per cent complete.
Otumoetai Watermain Upgrade has started with 50mm pipe thrusting in Waihi Road and preparation to thrust the 100mm pipe in Otumoetai Road.
Maintenance on water main and bellows on the Taipari Street overbridge will start shortly now that the Hammond/Hinerua link is commissioned and the new valve has been installed on Taipari Street
Fire hydrant marking and servicing continues in the Otumoetai area and throughout the city over the coming year.
Work on the Darraghs Road water main upgrade is still on hold while work planning information is finalised. We will monitor this street but it is likely to be pushed out to the end of the year due to higher priorities.
Work on the Ohauiti High Level water supply reservoir is progressing, with the water main installation now underway. The construction of this new reservoir includes installation of over 1.1 km of new water main and will service the Ohauiti area. Expected to be completed by January 2010.

Drainage:
Sump filters in Cameron, Tauranga CBD, Papamoa and the Mount area have been cleaned this week.
Work on stormwater pipes and manholes in Clarke Street is continuing and CCTV is being used to confirm state of pipes.
Sewer overflow in Courtney Rd due to tree roots in a manhole caused medium pollution to the Courtney Rd drain and Fraser St outlet. Health warning signs remain in place.
100 trees were planted along the grafittied fence line at Matene Place and Tomika Crescent as seen from State Highway 2 South. The trees were retrieved from the gas pipeline easement off SH29 on Kopurerua Stream where they had been planted - but under the easement rules were not supposed to be there.
Two stormwater outlet pipes off Marine Parade (Hart St and Tweed St) had graffiti removed.
Stormwater outlet pipe off Arabian Drive, Papamoa, was put back into place after slumping into the open drain. The concrete lids from refurbished soak holes on Papamoa Beach Rd were reused to support the outlet and bank slump. Concrete lids would otherwise be sent to land fill so a good reuse of materials to save rock and dumping costs.
Blocked sewer connections in Elizabeth St and Maunganui Rd. Cameras will be used on the lines to check for problems.
Blocked sewer manholes and connection at Kinross Place due to bad root infiltration. Combination of council and private works to clear.
A number of stormwater sump grates reported dropped into drains.
Chapel Street Wastewater Treatment Plant Digester #2, ten yearly draining has begun. Sludge will be removed by tankers and it is possible that there could be odours. Job will take a number of weeks.
The pollution prevention team in conjunction with EBOP have been busy with site visits to automotive dismantlers and scrap metal dealers and expect to complete the initial visits this Friday - 25th.
Inflow Reduction Project: Gully Trap inspections are continuing in the Royal Palms area. For further advice on your gully trap or to advise Council that your gully trap is now fixed and ready for reinspection, please call us on (07) 577 7000.

City Projects
The work to stabilise a constantly eroding void under the roots of a large Pohutukawa tree at the surf club end of the Mauao base track is progressing well.

Parks and Leisure
One of the street trees in the Mount main street will be replaced. A Jacaranda has been planted with a bromeliad garden planted around the base to replace a pepper tree that had damaged the tree pit.
Huharua Harbour Park at Plummers Point - the public can access this reserve which is located at the very end of Plummers Point Road. TCC own and manage the site in association with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

Transportation
Cameron Road: Routine maintenance and reconstruction work on Cameron Road between Pooles Road and Maleme Street is underway. There is a 30km speed restriction through the site so please expect delays, especially at peak times. The project is expected to be completed early December, weather permitting.
Takitimu Drive: Routine maintenance and reconstruction of the next section of Takitimu Drive between the Elizabeth Street Roundabout and the Waihi Road off ramp is underway. Lane changes are in place so that traffic can continue to use the road while the work is being done. Some work will be done at night to reduce the length of the project. The work is expected to take 6-7 weeks to complete, depending on weather. A 30km speed limit will be in place so please expect delays, particularly at peak times.
Strand Carpark: From 1 October the Strand Northern Reclaimation Carpark will be closed between 10:30pm and 6:00am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. This is part of Council's Strand Night Management Plan and is aimed at reducing crime and making the Strand a safer place.
Live to Play Road Closure: The Strand will be closed from Hamilton Street to Wharf Street between 12.00 noon to 2.00pm on 2 October 2009 for the Live to Play Fulton Hogan Corporate Challenge event. Detours will be in place. There will be delays so please use an alternative route.
Footpath Programme: The annual footpath construction programme has started. About 4km of new footpaths will be built between now and Christmas in various parts of the city. Works are currently underway on Oceanbeach Road.
Commons Avenue: Work to replace watermains is underway in Commons Ave between The Mall and Marine Parade. Some of the work will affect footpaths so pedestrians are advised to take care in the area. Traffic management is in place.

Events Tauranga
Baycourt Community and Arts Centre
Cats was Tauranga Musical Theatre's annual production. This show had excellent audience appeal, and over 6,300 people came to see it. This figure is 32 per cent up on the normal audience that come to see the annual Musical Theatre production.