The Tauranga City Council's waterline team has begun promotion of free home water efficiency audits. The team is able to make house calls, offer hints on how to save money on water bills and leave with a discount voucher for approved water efficient items at supporting retail outlets. Every water efficient home visited goes into a three monthly draw to win Tui Garden products.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, November 9, published below.

City Waters

Water Supply

• Issues related to bringing the Cambridge #2 reservoir back online resulted in discoloured water affecting areas in the Judea, Otumoetai and Matua areas. Extensive flushing was carried out and the reticulation was back to normal by late afternoon.
• Inspections and maintenance have been completed on the Cambridge Road and Kaitemako Road Reservoirs. Due to the issues noted above both Cambridge #2 and Kaitemako reservoirs are being kept offline temporarily whilst the cause of the discolouration is identified.
• Work is continuing on the Durham/Spring Street and Moffat Road water main upgrades. Both are due to be complete around mid November.

Drainage

• A total of 19 street sump grates were stolen in one night (3 November) in Windemere Road area. Police and scrap metal dealers have been advised.
• Four recent wastewater blockages were attended to in last two weeks, one of which caused an overflow to a waterway or swamp area. This incidence was off Lochinvar Place, Welcome Bay where the blockage was caused by roots and fat. Access to the site was difficult due to the location and overgrown area of the pipeline requiring an excavator to clear a track. The other blockages were for two individual property service connections that had been damaged by recent thrusting work and one was a blocked main off Firth Avenue East where roots and debris were the cause.
• Bollards have been installed to restrict unauthorized vehicle access to the storm water reserve off Parton road following on from the recently completed road works.
• Weed and debris clearing taking place in various open drains around the city.

Stormwater

• One Pollution incident attended to this week. A spill of around 5L of biodegradable detergent occurred at a Mount Maunganui business. The spill was subsequently hosed into the stormwater system by staff on site. Biodegradable detergents are not environmentally friendly and should never be hosed into stormwater drains.

Waiari Water Supply Project:

• Design of the access road to the intake and the design of the intake is being done at present.

Southern Pipeline:

• Pipe laying within the pump station site at Maleme Street is expected to reach the public highway mid November. Once it reaches the road it will progress up Oropi Road to before Chadwick Road and is expected to take in the order of three months to complete this section. Two way traffic is expected to be maintained.
• Related works taking place at Memorial Park.

City Projects

• A contract for the design and build of a new visitor services building at McLaren Falls Park has been awarded. Construction is programmed to start in February 2011.
• Construction of the new pathway through the Wairakei Drainage Reserve is progressing well and is ahead of schedule.
• Planning for an all access community playground at Kaka Street Reserve is currently underway. This is a joint project between TCC and Kaka Street Special School.

Parks and Leisure

• Wharepai Domain hedge removal - Consent has been received that permits Council to proceed with removing the hedge along the Cameron Road frontage. The purpose of the removal is to improve surveillance into and out of the park, encouraging people to use the park.
• Mauao track closures. Some tracks will be closed for times while abseiling weed control is completed. Signs will be in place.
• Recent sand-ladder and fence renewal has been completed at the access-way located at 67 Oceanbeach Road. We have had positive feedback from the community at large in response to these improvements.
• A large tree on the corner of Park Street and Willow Street will be removed by the start of next week as it has been found to be extensively decayed and is hazardous. It will be replaced. The removal of the tree is not being carried out to allow for the footpath construction that is scheduled to be carried out within the next two weeks.
• Letters will be sent to residents adjacent to Reilly Ave Reserve next week regarding the planned playground for that reserve.
• The Tauranga Marine and Model Engineers Club are building a new section of model railway track at Memorial Park.
• Resurfacing of the Daisy Hardwick Walkway will start next week.

Transportation

• SH2 Bethlehem Township Improvements: SH2 Bethlehem Township Improvements: Work has begun on reconstructing the road. This work is being done at night and there will be some detours in place. The road will be open for normal use during the day.
• Tara Road: Work to construct a new roundabout at the intersection of Doncaster Drive and Tara Road is underway. Initial work includes tree felling, fencing and clearing the site in preparation for earthworks. A stormwater storage pond will also be formed next to the new roundabout. The majority of the work will be done off the road and there will only be minimal disruption to road users.
• Annual Resealing Programme: The annual resealing programme has started. Resealing work is currently underway on various streets around the city.
• Hull Road: Work continues at the Hull Road/Totara Street roundabout, some work will be done at night to minimise disruption. Expect delays.
• Cameron Road/Munro Street: Work to upgrade this intersection is continuing and is expected to take another five weeks to complete depending on weather. The work involves installing new traffic signals, cycle lanes, and improvements to the footpath and vehicle crossings as well as a new pedestrian crossing.
• Pyes Pa Bypass: Work is underway to complete the 4.2km Pyes Pa Bypass which will connect the State Highway 29 roundabout near the tolled section of Takitimu Drive (Route K) to State Highway 36 (near the crematorium). There may be some disruption to traffic when work beings to construct a new roundabout on SH36 later this month.
• Hairini Link Advanced Works: Work on NZTA's 15th Avenue and Fraser Street intersection improvements is underway. Expect some lane closures and minor alignment shifts.
• SH2 Watermain Relocation: Work to relocate the watermain alongside SH2 is continuing between Mangatawa Lane and Domain Road. Work is currently at Domain Road and Mangatawa. Shoulder closures and lane diversions are in place.
• Gravatt Road / Domain Road Intersection: Work to upgrade this intersection is continuing. Expect minor delays during peak traffic. Pedestrians are asked to follow the temporary signs around the work site.
• Tauriko Slip Repairs: Essential slip repairs continue on SH29 at Tauriko. Most of the work is being done on the shoulder of the road. Traffic management and a temporary speed restriction are in place.
• Vale Street Stormwater Project: The last phase of the reconstruction of Vale Street, between Hinewa Road and Landscape Road, is nearing completion.

Venues & Events

Baycourt Community and Arts Centre

· Saturday 6 November - East meets West - Presented by Kutu Mukherjee at Baycourt Exhibition Space

· Saturday 6 November - A Night in Vienna - Presented by Bay of Plenty Symphonia at Baycourt Centennial Theatre

· Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 November - Isla Grant with Al Grant and Friends - Presented by Event Entertainment at Baycourt Centennial Theatre

Democracy

Tuesday, 9 November 2010 - City Plan Hearings by Independent Commissioner

• Rezoning Request - Rural to Suburban Residential - Land House Ltd - The purpose of this report is to provide recommendations to submissions received in relation to the request for rezoning from Rural to Suburban Residential of part of Lot 1 DP 28243 and Lot 2 DP 395895, corner of State Highway 2/Moffat Road, Bethlehem.
• Chapter 13 - Open Space Zones (Artsville) - This report considers the submission in relation to the Artsville Site (165-173 Elizabeth Street), and what zoning is appropriate to the context of its use.
• Proposed Commercial Zone – Te Reti - The purpose of this report is to provide recommendations to submissions received on the inclusion of land within the Commercial Zone at the junction of Waihi Road, Beaumaris Boulevard and Tamatea Arikinui Drive, known as the ‘Te Reti' block, together with issues surrounding the designation for SH2 affecting this land.

Wednesday, 10 November 2010 - City Plan Hearings by Independent Commissioner

• Chapter 20 - Special Use Zones - Baypark - The ‘Special Use Zone – Baypark' provides for event-based activities at Baypark, Truman Lane. The overall approach is to enable flexible use of a public facility whilst protecting the surrounding area from significant adverse environmental effects, particularly from noise and traffic.
• Chapter 20 – Special Use Zones – Baypark achieves the above through Objectives, Policies and Rules that are based on the existing resource consents that originally provided for the operation of the site as a Speedway and Events related area that caters to the City and wider sub-region.

Thursday, 11 November 2010 - City Plan Hearings by Independent Commissioner

• Chapter 12 - Subdivision, Services and Infrastructure (Section 12.14 - Infrastructure and Service Provisions) - The purpose of this report is to make recommendations on submissions made to the proposed City Plan on the topic of Chapter 12 – Subdivision, Services and Infrastructure specifically relating to the consideration of service and infrastructure requirements.

Friday, 12 November 2010 - City Plan Hearings by Independent Commissioner

• Chapter 10 - Designations (Monetary Contributions) - The purpose of Chapter 10 – Network Utilities and Designations is to provide the Objectives, Policies and Rules to ensure the efficient operation and functioning of the City's infrastructure. Designations allow requiring authorities to plan for network utilities and large public works by setting aside an area of land outside the provisions of the City Plan. In this way, they provide an alternative to resource consents or plan changes.
• This report focuses on submissions to some existing designations. These submissions relate to whether it is appropriate to place conditions on specific designations that require the payment of monetary contributions to Council for the impact that further development of these designated sites would have on Council's infrastructure networks.