Only minor traffic disruption is expected as works continue at the intersection of Doncaster Drive and Tara Road where a roundabout is being built.
The initial works include tree felling, fencing and clearing the site in preparation for earthworks.
A stormwater storage pond is also being formed next to the roundabout.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning, Monday, December 6, published below.

City Waters

Water Supply

• Durham/Spring Street water main upgrade is now complete.
• 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 tested and operational.
• Water Mains flushing will be carried out over the next week in the Otumoetai, Judea and Matua areas.

Drainage

• The open drain in Vale Street is being prepared for landscape planting as part of the rejuvenation of this drain.
• The open drain within the Judea sports ground is to have the litter removed (mainly tires) along with noxious aquatic weed. This is to be done in the next few weeks.
• The stormwater overflow structure off Whitaker Street is to be cleaned of rubbish so as not to block the outlet pipe.
• Four blockage incidents reported this week, none caused an overflow to any waterway. Three incidents were local house connection blockages and the fourth was a leaking air valve on a pump station rising main.
• Some recent odour complaints in Anchorage Grove are likely to have been because the fan at the odour filter bed had failed. This is now being serviced. Stormwater Pollution
• No pollution incidents attended to this week.

Stormwater Pollution

• One pollution incident attended to this week involving a spill of paint from a vehicle on Chapel Street. This was untraced and required clean up by contractors. There was no discharge to the harbour.
• Pollution Prevention Audits of all shopping centres in Tauranga have been completed.
• Pollution Prevention Audits of all restaurants and food outlets in Tauranga City will begin in the next couple of weeks.

City Projects

• Mount Greens - Final fit-out of the new Cosmopolitan Club is ongoing. Site car park line painting has been completed. Artificial bowling green turf placement has now been completed. Landscaping has now been completed.
• A resource consent application for a new 'all access' playground at Kaka Street Reserve has been lodged with TCC. The playground equipment has been specifically chosen to accommodate children with disabilities and includes a carousel suitable for wheelchairs. This is a collaborative project between Council and the Kaka Street Special School. Funding for the play equipment is being sourced from external parties.
• A new boat ramp has been constructed at McLaren Falls Park to provide easier access to Lake McLaren. The project was a collaborative effort between Council and Trustpower. Tauranga City Council obtained the necessary resource consent from the Bay of Plenty Regional and Trustpower paid for the physical works.

Parks and Leisure

• Takitimu Drive - The revegetation enhancement works between 4th Ave and Jordan are nearing completion, estimated to be finished by the end of today.
• Walkway upgrades are scheduled within Ohauiti Reserve. Also weed control of Pampas, Gorse and Blackberry is scheduled to be carried out - all within the next month.
• Memorial Park - New skate benches that were donated by local company Grind King have been installed next to the existing skate ramp.
• A large Fir tree which is 80 per cent dead is due to be removed from Yatton Park next week (actual date still to be confirmed).

Transportation

• Annual Resealing Programme: Resealing work continues on various streets around the city.
• Devonport Road and Elizabeth Street Intersection: Changes are due to be made later this week to the traffic signals at the intersection of Devonport Road and Elizabeth Street to improve pedestrian safety. The changes involve implementing one crossing phase for pedestrians instead of the current four. The change will allow pedestrians to cross the road diagonally as well as horizontally. Please take care when using this intersection.
• Gravatt Road / Crisp Drive Intersection: A new throat island is being built at this intersection as part of the minor safety works programme. Minimal delays are expected but please take care when travelling through the intersection. Temporary speed restrictions will be in place.
• Gravatt Road/ Domain Road Intersection: Traffic signals are being installed and may be switched on later in the week. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to take particular care at the new intersection layout.
• Hairini Link Advanced Works: Work on NZTA's 15th Avenue and Fraser Street intersection improvements is continuing. Expect some lane closures and minor alignment shifts. Please take care when travelling through the site or chose an alternative route.
• Inner City Bus Stops: Work to construct two canopies for the new inner city bus stops on Willow Street is underway. 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.
• 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.
• Papamoa Beach Road: Pedestrian refuge islands are being installed at two sites. Minimal delays are expected but please take care when travelling through the sites. Temporary speed restrictions will be in place.
• 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.
• Pyes Pa Bypass: Work is continuing on the 4.2km Pyes Pa Bypass which will connect SH29 near the tolled section of Takitimu Drive (Route K) to SH36 (near the crematorium). There may be some disruption to traffic when work begins to construct a new roundabout on SH36 in early 2011
• SH2 Watermain Relocation: Work to relocate the watermain alongside SH2 is continuing between Mangatawa Lane and Domain Road. At times shoulder closures and lane diversions will be in place. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the area.
• Streetlight Upgrades: Work to upgrade the street lights in the following streets continues: 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.
• Tauriko Slip Repairs: Slip repairs have been completed on SH29 at Tauriko. Traffic management and the temporary speed restriction have been removed. The NZTA thanks road users for their patience during the works.
• Willow Street: Minor repairs to the kerb are due to start on 4 December. The work will be done off the road and is expected to take about three days to complete. Pedestrian access may be affected from time to time but there should be no disruption to traffic.
• Route K – Route K vehicle numbers in November set a new historical record with a daily average of 4,842 vehicles. This is an increase of 28% or 1,050 vehicles compared to November 2009. November considerably exceeded the previous record month of March 2010 which was a daily average of 4,355 vehicles.

Venues & Events

Baycourt Community and Arts Centre

• Friday 10 December – Neil Diamond Super Hits Show – Presented by Showtime Entertainment at Baycourt Centennial Theatre.

Democracy

Council – Wednesday, 8 December – Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Items will be discussed in agenda order with the exception of some items which have specified dates and times as detailed below:

Thursday 9 December 2010 at 9am

• Annual Plan Issues & Options Paper - Indoor Sport & Active Living - To consider issues and options papers relating to the Sport Bay of Plenty relationship agreement and the maintenance of the Cliff Road pavilion.

Thursday 9 December 2010 at 1pm

• Annual Plan Issues & Options Paper - CBD & Neighbourhood Revitalisation - To consider Issues and Options Papers – CBD & the use of the parking revenue account and a city centre public art proposal.

Friday 10 December 2010 at 9am

• Southern Pipeline - Annual Plan Adjustments - Explanation of the reasoning behind the requested reduction to the Southern Pipeline budget and the revised 2010/11 Annual Plan spend profile.

Monday 13 December 2010 at 1pm

• The Historic Village - Council to approve the service delivery method to be included in the draft 2011/12 Annual Plan & Budget.

• Financial Assistance Package for Leaky Homes - Seeking Council's approval to opt-in to the Financial Assistance Package for the leaky homes scheme that is to be administered by the Department of Building and Housing.
• Route K - Toll Charges and Bylaw Amendments - To decide on the level of toll charges to be included in the draft 2011/12 Annual Plan & Budget, and to present the amendments to the TCC Route K Bylaw 2008 which will be necessary for these to take effect from 1 July 2011.
• Supporting Information for Draft Annual Plan - To provide Elected Members with supporting information related to the preparation of the draft Annual Plan.
• Annual Plan Issues & Options Paper (City Services) - To consider issues and options papers relating to library loan limits and the proposed Botanical Park on the Millers Road property.
• Annual Plan Issues & Options Paper (Customer & Environmental Services) - To consider issues and options papers relating to the Graffiti Prevention Officer role and Eco-Designer role.
• Possible Sale of Clarke Street Elder Housing - To consider the possible sale of Clarke Street Elder Housing to Tauranga Community Housing Trust.
• Annual Plan Issues & Options Paper - Arts & Heritage - To consider an issues and options paper relating to the Creative Tauranga relationship agreement.
• Issues & Options Paper - Hearings Commissioners - Structure and Funding - To consider the continued role of Councillors as Resource Management Act Hearings Commissioners, and to consider how the costs of Hearings Commissioners are funded.
• Annual Issues & Option Paper - Referendum Funding - To consider whether to include funding for a referendum in the draft 2011/12 Annual Plan.
• Development Contributions Policy - Implications of Revised Southern Pipeline Cost Estimate - To inform Elected Members of the impact that the revised budget for the Southern Pipeline Project will have on the development contribution payable for this project.
• SIF Reimbursement of Cost to Extend Golden Sands Drive Across Wairakei Stream - To seek direction on the timing of reimbursement for LIPS 268 and 1919 which together make up the extension of Golden Sands Drive across Wairakei Stream and into the Wairakei urban growth area. This project is SIF funded and is required to allow Bluehaven to commence residential development in Wairakei.
• Development Contributions Policy - Time Payment Scheme for Multiple-Owned Maori Land - To report back to elected members on the issues of security of payment and the charging of interest in relation to the proposed Time Payment Scheme for development contributions on multiple-owned Maori land for direction on whether the idea of this scheme should continue to be pursued.
• Proposed Amendments to the Revenue & Financing Policy - To consider potential amendments to the Revenue and Financing policy to reflect decisions previously made by Council, to reflect changed circumstances, and to amend minor typographical errors.
• Proposed 2012 User Fees & Charges - Changes to Council's User Fees & Charges are proposed for the 2012 financial year.