Tauranga City Council is hoping someone will contact them with information regarding a kerosene spill that affected the Bridge Marina area last week.
It is described as a major incident involving an estimated spill of 200-1000L. No clean-up was feasible, but due to the light nature of the fuel product it dispersed and evaporated fairly quickly. Council staff have not managed to trace the spill's source, but have suggested it was due to vessels in the harbour or possibly a business in the Mount Maunganui industrial area.


This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin, for the week beginning Monday, May 10, published below.

City Waters
Water Supply:
• The Parton Road watermain upgrade between Tara Road and Bell Road has started and is due for completion by the end of July.
• The Matua Road watermain upgrade is nearing completion with the contractor connecting the new main on Matua Road this Friday.
• Planned shutdowns will occur on Matua Road, Tainui Street, Eaton Crescent, Levers Road, Smiths Road and Parton Road this week.
• An assessment for the Chadwick Road bulk main renewal is currently underway. A report detailing proposed options is due to be completed at the end of May. (The renewal is a result of the February 2010 mains failure.)

Drainage
• Material removed from Harrisons Cut is being used as fill in a short pipe extension to the Sovereign drain in the same area. This job is now almost completed and any surplus material is to be used on other work sites.
• 17th Avenue stormwater improvement work continues. The earthworks are mostly complete. Phase two is due to commence which will be the piping of the open drain being done as a joint venture with Classic Builders, TCC and Historic Village.
• Work was scheduled to commence off 5th Avenue and Sheath Street last week to replace a short length of defective sewer pipe and to remedy two manhole structures that have corroded from hydrogen sulphide. The contractor is completing another contract (Parton Road culvert installation) and advised they will be on site Monday, May 17.
• Three sewer blockages were attended to this week. Again these were relatively minor blockage incidents affecting local properties. No spills to any waterways.
• Gabion rock basket work to the open stormwater drain is due to commence on the Matua Life Care site off Levers Road. The works will stabilize the drain banks on both sides of the drain and protect the adjoining properties.
• Stormwater drain rock protection work was required off Taiho Place near the boat ramp where the open drain bank had collapsed exposing the 375mm diameter water main for approximately 10m.
• One sewer blockage attended to this week at Palmers Garden Centre, Bethlehem. Cause was reported as tree roots and was a minor incident.

Stormwater Pollution:
• Two pollution incidents reported this week:
1 An incident involved the dumping of fat into a stormwater drain from a takeaway shop on Cameron Road. The Pollution Team is following up with the shop concerned.
1) A further incident involved a spill of concrete from a truck on Cheyne Road. The source was not traced. It is important for all contractors transporting cement to ensure spill cannot occur from vehicles while on the road. The spill required clean up by council contractors.
• Follow-up visits with Automotive Wreckers and Scrap Metal Dealers were carried out this week as part of the joint project with Environment Bay of Plenty. Many sites are making good progress however both councils will look to take tougher action where deadlines for site improvements are not met.

Waiari Water Supply Project:
• Two appeals and two interested parties to appeals remain against the resource consents for the construction and operation of a new water intake and treatment plant to serve the Papamoa urban growth area. Tauranga City Council has signed an agreement in principle with the appellants and a consent order is due to be lodged with the Environment Court on May 14.

Southern Pipeline:
• Work is continuing on the new 1,300m3 wastewater storage tank and pump station site at Maleme Street with completion to be completed June/July 2010.
• The first section of pipeline being between Maleme and Memorial is programmed to be tendered in the second quarter of 2010 with construction starting in the third quarter of 2010.
• Work is continuing on detailed investigation for the Judea Link emergency management option.

Inflow Reduction Project:

• Gully trap inspections and smoke testing of properties in the Pillans area will begin on Monday, May 10. Affected property owners will be advised by letter before inspections begin. Streets to be inspected are Goods Road, Mana Street, Maxwells Road, Milton Road, Myres Street, Pillans Road, Rutherford Street and Roderick Street. Council contractors City Care will be carrying out the initial inspections.
• Council is also currently inspecting homes located in the Orange Lane area of Bethlehem. Affected property owners will continue to be advised by letter before inspections begin.
• For more information about this project, go to www.tauranga.govt.nz and enter keywords 'gully trap' into the search box, or contact our Customer Services team on (07) 577 7000.

Parks and Leisure
• The park ranger team has started a project with the Corrections Department along the coastal strip. This follows a long and productive relationship working with Preventive Detention at McLaren Falls Park. The work has removed several tonnes of ice plant and other noxious weeds already, which have established themselves within our dunescape. We are looking forward to removing a significant amount of inappropriate vegetation from the dunes which will allow our established natives to expand into the newly available space. With approximately 221ha of dunes along the coast to maintain, we are confident that this project can be a benefit to both parties and to the community – as it has proven to be at McLaren Falls for a number of years now.
• Planting of large wetland area with appropriate native species continues at Gordon Carmichael Reserve.
• Resurfacing of the walkways in the McCardles Bush area is being completed this week.
• Next week the Tauranga Model, Marine and Engineering Club, who operate the train track at Memorial Park, will begin work on track extensions.
• At Welcome Bay Hall, car park marking is to be altered to reduce traffic movement immediately in front of the hall as this is an area of heavy pedestrian use. The bulk of vehicle traffic will be diverted through the lower portion of the car park.
• Planting of 100 pohutukawas on the south western face of Mauao will start next week.

City Projects
• Mount Greens: The croquet lawns were handed over to Mount Green Sports on April 30 to undertake sowing.
• Gordon Spratt Changing Facility: Block work is nearing completion.
• Underground services are all complete. Preparatory work is underway to place the roof trusses (which are the biggest trusses to ever come out of Placemakers, Mount Maunganui).
• Gordon Spratt Storage Facility: The storage facility is on schedule for completion this week.
• A contract for the upgrade of the Harrison's Cut Carpark has been awarded. The work primarily involves reshaping and sealing the car park and new fencing. The work is scheduled to start on Monday, May 10 and is programmed to take four weeks. During this time the carpark will be closed to traffic. Pedestrian access will be maintained.
• Construction of the new public toilet at Cambridge Park is progressing well and is on schedule for completion by early June.
• Fencing work at Kaka Street Reserve is currently underway. The reserve is being fenced to enable the Kaka Street Special School to safely use the reserve.
• Most of the upgrade work at Central Parade is happening at night time at present to avoid disruption to retailers and the public.

Transportation
• Golf Road: The traffic signals are now installed and will be switched on this week. Please watch for the new signals and take extra care when using the Golf and Oceanbeach Road intersection.
• Bethlehem Township Improvements: Construction of the new roundabout on SH2 at west Bethlehem is continuing. Work on the roundabout is expected to be completed by the end of July. Traffic management and site screens are in place at the new roundabout site but only minimal delays are expected. There will be some minor pedestrian detours in place while service relocation work is done beside the footpath along the state highway. Preparation work will also take place for connection of relocated power supplies to businesses on the southern side of the road. The power supply will not be affected. The work will be contained to minimise disruption to parking and pedestrians as much as possible.
• Maunganui Road: Major reconstruction work on Maunganui Road between Concord Avenue and the Hewlett's Road flyover is continuing. Safety improvements are being made at the intersections of Maunganui Road and Concord Avenue and Maunganui Road and Spur Avenue. Traffic management is in place and motorists should expect delays and use an alternative route if possible.
• Wharf /Willow Streets: Work continues in Wharf Street with footpath upgrades and reconstruction of the road. Wharf Street is reduced to one lane for traffic coming from Cameron Road towards the Strand.
• Kairua Road Reconstruction: Major road works are continuing on Kairua Road. Some disruption to traffic can be expected at times and there will be speed restrictions in place. The work is expected to take about another four weeks to complete.
• Beaumaris Boulevard/Sterling Gate Drive/Waihi Road Link: Construction continues off existing roads. Until the work is completed, pedestrian access to the storm water reserve at Beaumaris Boulevard is closed. The pedestrian access between Sterling Gate Drive and Waihi Road is closed during working hours. The new road is expected to be opened in July 2010.
• Pyes Pa Bypass: Construction of the Pyes Pa Bypass to link SH29 through to SH36 continues. The new bypass is expected to be open to traffic in 2011.
• Parton Road: Top soil and grass seed is being laid beside the completed sections of footpaths. Final asphalt sealing will follow after the installation of the box culvert which is scheduled for late May. Work is expected to be completed by late May. Landscaping will be done in June.
• Vale Street: Work to reshape Vale Street between Baden Street and Landscape Road to form an overland stormwater flow path during severe storms is continuing. Work on the section between Baden Street and Hinewa Road is currently underway. Please pay attention to signs and take care when driving in the area. Work is expected to be completed by October.
• Minor Safety Works Stage Two: Work is underway in Victory Street (two new thresholds) and Falcon Drive (throat island). There will be traffic management in place so please watch for signs and take care when driving in the area.

Venues & Events
Baycourt Community and Arts Centre
Tues 11 May - Cadbury Crunchie Comedy Convoy
Thurs 13 May - Project - youth hip-hop dance competition
Mon 17 May 10 am - Theatre tour
Wed 19 and Thurs 20 May - Ten Tenors


Village on 17th Information Gathering Session
A meeting is being held next week to discuss opportunities for the Village on 17th.

Date: Thursday 13 May
Time: 10am - 12 noon
Venue: Village Hall, Village on 17th; 17 Avenue, Tauranga

For more information please call 577 7000.

Democracy

Council - Monday 10 May, Tuesday 11 May and Wednesday 12 May at 9.00 am in Chambers

• Hearings of submissions to the draft Annual Plan 2010/11.


Hearing Before Commissioner - Friday 14 May 2010

• Public Notified Application For Land Use Consent Under The Resource Management Act 1991 At 447b Oceanbeach Road, Mount Maunganui (RC14790) (DC 149). To hear and determine a publicly notified land use consent application pursuant to Section 88 of the Resource Management Act 1991 made by David Graham Sellars and Lynette Sellars to refuse land use consent sought to carry out building alterations to an existing two storey residence comprising the construction of an additional floor level and resulting in yard setback and overshadowing encroachments.