Tauranga City Council is reporting the new walkway through the Wairakei Drainage Reserve between Golden Sands Drive and Emerald Shores Drive is due to be completed this week. The walkway is an off-road transport link to the new Golden Sands Primary School which is due to open in February 2011. The next stage of the walkway is currently being planned.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, November 22.

City Waters

Water Supply

• Last week's water discoloration experienced by residents in the Judea, Otumoetai and Matua areas was found to have arisen when one of the three Cambridge reservoirs was brought back into service. It appears that when the reservoir was being cleaned certain residual sediments and material found its way into the delivery pipe work resulting in the problem. We are currently revising our procedures to mitigate the problem from re-occurring.
• 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.
• Work is continuing on the Durham / Spring Street and Moffat Road water main upgrades. Both are nearing completion.
• Water main upgrade on Fasching Lane, Tauriko, has started and is due to be completed in the first week of December.
• State Highway 2 pipe relocation is progressing well and is expected to be complete by mid December.
• Work is progressing rapidly on Marine Parade and Grove Avenue watermain upgrade. All the mainline pipes are laid and Commons Avenue to Pacific Avenue is operational.

Drainage

• Inspection of all the manholes along the Kaitemake Stream is being done to check that they are flowing okay and that no blockages or overflows are occurring. This is following on from the recent overflow incident slightly elevated water quality test results. It is suspected that animal stock is the likely reason for this.
• One wastewater blockage this week. The cause of this incident was from thrust damage to a sewer service connection in Koromiko Street. The connection has now been fixed to restore the service.
• Stormwater pond area behind McFetridge Lane is being cleared of noxious weed and willow tree re-growth.
• The Kopurererua Stream behind Birch avenue is to be have the reed sweet grass and willow trees in the water-way sprayed
• The ponds off Carmichael Road are scheduled to be mechanically cleaned of weed.

City Projects

• A new boat ramp has been constructed at Lake McLaren (McLaren Falls Park). This was a collaborative effort between TCC and Trustpower with TCC obtaining the resource consent, engaging the contractor and supervising construction, and Trustpower paying for the physical works.
• Consultation with neighbours over a proposed new all access playground at Kaka Street Reserve is currently being undertaken as part of the resource consent process. The application is due to be lodged prior to the end of November. The Kaka Street Special School is raising funds for the play equipment.

Parks and Leisure

• Letters go out at the end of the week to up-date all coastal property owners about the encroachment initiative. Next year we will target 30 properties starting from Motiti Reserve, moving towards the Mount.
• The Tropical Display House contractors, Aztec Gardens, held a free demonstration at Robbins Park at the end of Garden and Art Fest week. They had 55 very interested visitors huddled around the picnic table outside, under the trees, to enjoy a lesson on how to grow Bromeliads. The event proved very popular and there will be another three or four next year too.
• 140 tonnes of sea-lettuce was removed from Main Beach last week. We are planning to continue to remove the remainder as conditions permit.
• Contractors have started revegetation enhancement works in the area between 4th and 9th Avenue West.

Transportation

• SH2 Bethlehem Township Improvements: The new pedestrian crossing will be commissioned this week. Please watch for the new signals at the crossing. Minor finishing work continues till the end of November. Lane closures may be in place during off peak times.
• Inner City Bus Stops: Work to construct the canopies for the new inner city bus stops on Willow Street has started on the council side of the road. This first stage is expected to take about four weeks to complete. The majority of the work will be done off the road so disruption to traffic will be minimal. Some pedestrian detours will be in place and occasionally some car parking in the area will be affected.
• Girven Road: Resealing work is due to start in the next couple of weeks on Girven Road between Grenada Street and Oceanbeach Road. The work is expected to take about four days to complete. Expect delays and take an alternative route if possible.
• 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.
• Maleme Street: Southern Pipeline pipe laying work progresses up Maleme Street towards Oropi Road, maintaining two-way traffic. There will be some disruption to parking on Maleme Street, and some minor disruption to access as work crosses business vehicle entrances.
• Streetlight Upgrades: Street lights in the following streets will be upgraded over the next few months. Eleventh Avenue, Wylie Street, Bush Street, Jones Street, Lynwood Place, Bennett Street, Russell Place, Lydbrook Place, Dysart Road, Tollemache Place, Lemon Grove Avenue, and Monmouth Street East. Work will be done off the road and disruption will be minimal.
• Annual Resealing Programme: Resealing work is currently underway on various streets around the city.
• Hull Road: Minor tidying work still to complete.
• Cameron Road / Munro Street: The new traffic signals will be switched on this week. Please take extra care when driving through this intersection. There is still some minor tidying up work to be done.
• 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 SH 36 (near the crematorium). There may be some disruption to traffic when work begins to construct a new roundabout on SH36 in early 2011.
• Hairini Link Advanced Works: Work on NZTA's 15th Avenue and Fraser Street intersection improvements continues. Expect some lane closures and minor alignment shifts. Please take care when travelling through the site or chose an alternative route.
• 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. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the area.
• Gravatt Road / Domain Road Intersection: Work to upgrade this intersection is continuing. Expect delays during peak traffic and allow extra travelling time. 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. Please take care when driving through the area.
• Vale Street Stormwater Project: The last phase of the reconstruction of Vale Street, between Hinewa Road and Landscape Road, is nearing completion. Please pay attention to signs and take care when driving in the area.
• Downtown Tauranga: Bayhopper buses into and out of the city centre are free on Saturdays in November. The city's two parking buildings are also free on Saturdays in November.
• Parking Building $1 Mondays: Park in either of the city's parking buildings on a Monday for up to three hours and pay no more than $1.

Venues & Events

Baycourt Community and Arts Centre

• Friday 26 November (7pm) - Musical Arts Extravaganza - Presented by Selwyn Ridge School at Baycourt Centennial Theatre
• Saturday 27 November (7:30pm) - Show Off - Presented by Rhythms Dance Co at Baycourt Centennial Theatre
• Sunday 28 November (8pm) - It's Rhys Darby Night - Presented by Awesomeness Entertainment International at Baycourt Centennial Theatre