Tauranga City Council's pollution team attended two incidents last week. Both incidents involved the discharge of cement slurry and high pH wash water into stormwater sumps.

One was a result of wash down following a concrete pour and the second from exposed aggregate wash-off. Both incidents required clean-up to remove slurry and wash water. The pollution prevention team is following up with the parties involved.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, October 18, published below.

City Waters

Water Supply

• The annual Water Mains flushing programme has now recommenced and will be completed in the Tauranga CBD (small area left to complete), Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Matapihi over the next few weeks.
• Inspections and maintenance are being carried out on the Cambridge Road and Kaitemako Road Reservoirs
• Tenders for the Durham/Spring Street and Moffat Road water main upgrades have been awarded and will commence on 15 October, to be carried out of a six week period.

Drainage

• Contractors are on standby this month for weather conditions that will allow them to do pressure testing of the treated wastewater outfall pipeline at Omanu. Once work starts people may notice some activity on the beach and coast off Sunrise Avenue. Divers will be checking the condition of the pipeline and testing it by pumping greenish-yellow dye through the pipe. The dye is non-toxic but may be visible over a large area of water around 1km offshore.
• One wastewater blockage. The blockage was a service connection to a manhole that had root infiltration which caused a restriction to the flows.
• Bollards in the vicinity of the Sterling Gate pond are being installed to stop vehicle access to unauthorised areas.
• Bollards off Parton Road are to be installed to restrict unauthorised vehicle access to the storm water reserve following on from the recently completed road works.

Stormwater:

• The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Bylaw will be effective from 1 November.

Waiari Water Supply Project:

• Consents to construct and operate a water supply intake and processing plant from 2014 have been obtained. Preliminary design continues.

Waiari Water Trunk Main Project.

• A separate project has started to determine the best possible alignment of the water trunk mains that will link the Waiari Water Treatment Plant to the Papamoa water reticulation. To determine key issues that could impact on possible route locations, two public information evening meeting have been held at Te Puke and key parties consulted with.

Bulk Water Meter and Pressure Management Project:

• A project is being planned to install additional bulk metering and pressure management in Birch Ave. and 12th Ave. This will regulate pressures in the area and also improve the water supply zoning in this area. The planned start is November 2010.

Southern Pipeline

• Pot holing works to locate existing services are expected to start on or around 18 October 2010 for the Maleme to Memorial section of the pipeline.
• Pipe laying starting in Maleme Street and up Oropi Road to before Chadwick Road is due to commence by the end of October 2010. It is expected to take about three months to complete this section.
• Creation of the alternative car parking at Memorial Park required to facilitate the construction works is planned to permit the directional drill component from Memorial Park to 12 Ave to be constructed between November and December 2010.

City Projects

• Council's retail bond issue for $75 million has been fully subscribed.
• Demolition of the old Beach Street Pub at 82 Devonport Road is due to start on 18 October. Work is expected to take about four weeks to complete. Some parts of the adjacent car park, the access way and the steps down to the waterfront will be closed while the work is underway.
• Construction of the new walkway from Golden Sands Drive to Emerald Shores Drive in Papamoa started on 11 October. The contract period is eight weeks.
• Kulim Park - the cobble walkway to be renewed at the western end of the park in the next fortnight. The walkway will be resurfaced with a compacted aggregate surface.
• Blake Park - the skateboard ramp is being resurfaced over the next fortnight.
• Gordon Carmichael Reserve - some sections of the walkways are to be resurfaced to top up the aggregate

Parks and Leisure

• Two trees were planted at the newly renovated tree pits at the Mount Main Street this week, with gardens to follow.
• Various Parks staff are involved in running Live to Play events, including a Guided Tour of Carmichael Reserve, Children's Tree Climbing Day, Historic Walk of Tauranga CBD.

Transportation

• Hewletts Road: Resealing of the intersection with Aerodrome Road is due to be done next week. The work should only take one night to complete and disruption to traffic should be minimal as the work will be done between 7pm and 6am.
• Bethlehem Roundabout: Construction of the new roundabout on SH/2 at Bethlehem west starts this week. Work is expected to take about six months to complete. Traffic management and site screens will be in place but only minimal delays are expected in the early stages of construction. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the work site.
• Parton Road: Work is continuing. There will be unsealed sections and temporary speed restrictions.
• Local Road Resealing: The local road resealing programme has started again and work will continue until March. Generally this work will involve minimal disruption to traffic.
• Bus Shelters: Work on installing new bus shelters around the city is underway.
• Links Avenue / Golf Road: Work to remove the speed hump at the intersection with Links Avenue and Golf Road is underway. Work is expected to take about two weeks. A detour will be in place during the day while work is underway. Please take care when driving in the area and follow temporary signage.

Venues & Events

Baycourt Community and Arts Centre

Saturday 23 October (7:30pm) – Bay Salsa Showcase

Democracy

Council Meeting

The first meeting of the new Tauranga City Council will be held on Tuesday 26 October at 1pm.