Tauranga City Council is reporting a major pollution incident last week resulted in the death of 20-30 native eels – some of which were likely to have been 10-15 years old. The eels were found dead in the open drain behind Brook Street on Tuesday, leading to suspicion their deaths occurred at that weekend.

The water in the drain was extremely low in oxygen, which suggests that something fairly toxic had been washed through and had sucked the oxygen from the water.

Eels. File Picture.

The water flowing into this drain was clear by Tuesday and the source of the pollution is not likely to be found.

Council contractors removed the eels from the drain and flushed fresh water into the system to restore oxygen.

It is possible the incident is the result of a local resident doing cleaning around their house or possibly having spilled chemicals.

It is important for people to be aware that outside drains lead directly into waterways and the sea. Anything spilled or washed into these can have a serious impact on wildlife.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, March 7, published below.

City Waters

Water Supply:

• The water main upgrade in the Matua area has started with works currently underway in Woods Ave, Maxine Place and Strathmore Street.
• Valves in the Matua area have been inspected and remedial work is currently being undertaken as part of a citywide project.
• Remedial works are being carried out on pipe bridges over the Waiorohi Stream, as a result of damage during the recent storms.

Drainage:

• Three blockages reported this week. All were local property service line faults with no overflows to a waterway. CCTV inspection of a fault reported last week where roots from a protected tree thought to be the problem, showed a displaced pipes fault that is now being excavated to repair the joint.
• Cleaning of sewer pipes in Wilrose Pl and Brook St has been completed.
• Work to replace a section of damaged sewer main pipes at the west end of 17th Ave has started.
• Repairs to a damaged culvert off Johnson Reserve are complete.
• Cleaning of a number of open drains and stormwater ponds of aquatic weed is progressing well.
• The work to contain the very noxious weed named ‘Alligator weed' in the Carmichael Stormwater Reserve by TCC and EBOP is now complete. Long term (3 to 5 years) monitoring will be required.
• Flood gates found to have been leaking on two stormwater outlet pipes draining to the Kopurererua Stream near Barberry Street/Birch Avenue have been repaired.
• Work continues on construction of a new stormwater overland flow path to help with flood protection for some Glenlyon properties.

Stormwater Pollution:

• Pollution prevention audits of 400 food premises to check the condition and maintenance of grease traps and waste food oil storage have been completed. Follow up letters will be sent to premises where issues are required to be addressed.

• Pollution prevention audits of around 170 auto workshops have begun this week. These will take several months to complete.

• The Pollution Prevention Quiz was launched this week featuring a giant cigarette on display in the Tauranga Library. More details and a chance to enter online are available on the Council website. Go into the draw to win a marine prize pack worth $850 sponsored by Rutherford Marine Electrical.

Southern Pipeline:

• Pipe laying in Oropi Rd has reached Greerton Park.
• Preparing to directionally drill under the road (instead of open trenching) in two sites: Oropi Rd Hill between Greerton Park; and Chadwick Rd and Fraser St between Esk St and Baycroft Ave.
• The following works all continue but require materials or specialist labour from Christchurch and as such may be disrupted:
  • Works in Devonport Rd between 12th & 15th Ave
  • Works in Devonport Rd between 18th & 15th Ave.
  • Works in Memorial Park.

Parks and Leisure

• Come and see the magnificent Begonias - A free demonstration workshop at the Tropical Display house, Robbins Park on Cliff Road Friday 11 March, 10am-12noon. Learn how to care for and cultivate Begonias.
• The 4WD track up to the summit of Mauao is still under repair with current efforts to ensure the drainage paths are safe. We hope this track will be open by mid-next week. Reconstruction work on the Oruahine track starts 14 March. The very steep track (known as the ‘Goat track') is not considered feasible to repair. Mauao Steering Group were this week shown potential options for repairing the major base track slips.
• Sections of Memorial Park playground will be closed to allow the equipment to be refreshed with new paint. Work starts 7 March subject to weather.
• Resurfacing of some walkways in the Gordon Carmichael Reserve continues. The summer wildflower display in the reserve has been removed and prepared for an Autumn re-sow at the end of March.
• Preparation of native revegetation establishment sites is well under way for planting in autumn.
• The revegetation enhancement works are well underway in Topaz reserve and are progressing well.
• Street tree maintenance is being undertaken in the central avenues area of Tauranga at present.
• A very deep pit has been dug at Tye Park to accommodate two waste water tanks. When they are installed and connected to the sewer lines, some stormwater works will continue off Forrester Drive. The leftover fill will be used to shape a mound for a slide and swings in the new playground.

City Projects

• Beach Road walkway storm damage repairs are underway and will take approximately one month to complete.
• Vine Avenue walkway renewal works are complete.
• Baypark Arena: exterior siteworks are underway with the construction boundary fence moved out to accommodate the works.

City Transportation

• Annual Resealing Programme: Resealing work is continuing on various streets around the city.
• Chapel Street: Work to extend the central island on Chapel St outside Bay Central starts this week. Please take care when driving through the area.

• Devonport Road: Southern Pipeline work continues on Devonport Rd. A single lane will be operating on both sides of Devonport Rd at the intersection with 15th Ave. Pipe laying work is progressing on 18th Ave between Fraser St and Devonport Rd and this section of road is open to residents only. This section of work is being affected by pipe supply from Christchurch. Expect delays and please use an alternative route if possible.

• Esmeralda Street: Work to modify the existing two speed thresholds is underway. Please take care when driving through the area.
• Hairini Link Advanced Works: Minor tidy up work is happening at the intersection of 15^th Ave and Fraser St and on the new pedestrian crossing at the intersection of 15^th and Burrows St. Work will commence soon on a new hand rail for the Turret Road Bridge. This work will have little impact on the traffic and pedestrian movements.
• Inner City Bus Stops: Work on the new bus stop facilities continues on both sides of Willow St.
• Kairua Road: Work on the next stage of the reconstruction of Kairua Road continues. Minor delays are possible.

• McLean Street / The Strand: Work to improve pedestrian facilities at this intersection is due to start this week. Please take care when driving through the area.

• Millers Road: Work to install new speed cushions has started. Please take care when driving through the area.

• Oropi Road/Fraser Street: Southern Pipeline pipe laying work continues from the intersection of Maleme St along Oropi Rd. Expect lane closures and delays. Please take extreme care when driving through this area and use an alternative route if possible. Work is expected to progress to Fraser St north of the Chadwick Rd roundabout.

• Pyes Pa Bypass: Northbound traffic is now running on the new roundabout during peak times and overnight. During off-peak times, there are traffic lights operating, allowing traffic to travel on the southbound lane of the highway one direction at a time while the contractor excavates the original northbound lane. As the new roundabout is about two metres lower than the existing road, a significant amount of earth needs to be excavated to complete it. The work is programmed to take eight weeks and the roundabout is expected to be fully functional in April.

• Tara Road: Sealing of the new roundabout at the intersection of Doncaster Dr and Tara Rd has been completed and work has started on the next stage of reconstructing Tara Road. The work site is adjacent to Gordon Spratt Reserve. Please take care and expect delays
  

Democracy

Tuesday 8 March

• 9.00am Councillor Workshop – to discuss CBD parking issues
• 1.00pm Strategy and Policy Committee Meeting – Decisions: Dangerous, Earthquake-Prone and Insanitary Buidings Policy; Amendments to Wairakei Designations:

Stategy and Policy Committee meeting to be followed directly by a Council Meeting – purpose, to adopt the Draft Annual Plan.