Slip-proof mats have been installed at the tidal stairs on the CBD waterfront, after reports of green slime build-up on the stairs causing numerous slips and falls.
Tauranga City Council facilities team leader Paul Muller says the mats were installed on February 2 on a trial basis.
'We are investigating further options before we add more matting.”
He says the steps are checked daily and swept to remove silt when necessary.
'We are now also water blasting the stairs twice a week, as we recognised that fortnightly wasn't enough.”
He says there have been no reports of serious incidents.
'Reports have been anecdotal, from staff and others who conveyed feedback to us directly.”
The council is currently seeking quotes regarding a possible upgrade of security measures on the waterfront, including increased CCTV coverage.
17 comments
Hindsight
Posted on 14-02-2018 07:24 | By Told you
You were warned the slime would happen, but choose to ignore advice,another drain on the Councils coffers.
Leave it to nature
Posted on 14-02-2018 07:51 | By SonnyJim
The supporters for this project clearly had no memory of how slippery the foreshore was when they were kids. There are always consequences when you defy the natural world so stop cleaning it and let the limpets grow.
And the...
Posted on 14-02-2018 07:56 | By Me again
excuses go on, and on, and.....You people who designed this, are a poor excuse for anything, as long as the jiggle-gaggles comes from the rates payers pocket, and just so Tauranga can look bea......! Tauranga lost it's beauty a long time ago Thanks to you lot at council!!!
Should
Posted on 14-02-2018 08:13 | By Merlin
Should have realised this would happen. Poor design.
Told you so!
Posted on 14-02-2018 08:50 | By Maryfaith
The ongoing problems and costs - as were pointed out before construction began, will become an ongoing, bottomless pit. They say there have been no reports of serious incidents to date. I wonder what the real story was, when a few days back, those sitting at tables on the strand witnessed a wet person being given CPR beside the 'Tidal steps' ..... ??
Not rocket science is it?
Posted on 14-02-2018 09:46 | By Bruja
Take water, add sunshine, place on smooth, hard surface = slippery slime. Someone's not worth what they're being paid.
Walk dont run
Posted on 14-02-2018 10:01 | By hapukafin
If you can instil some dissapline into the public to walk the the steps it wont be a problem
WHAT
Posted on 14-02-2018 10:06 | By 82m
How on earth was this not factored in to the initial design?? in this day of H&S bs especially.. Good grief
Stupid does what stupid must!
Posted on 14-02-2018 11:00 | By MISS ADVENTURE
Like helllo! See what other options ... what a joke, anyone simply needs to look at any slipway anywhere in the world and all teh same issues arise, what makes the morons involved here think that their special bit of concrete in the tidal zone would be "special", just more evidence of more money wasted.
Waterblasting?
Posted on 14-02-2018 11:04 | By MISS ADVENTURE
That will simply degrade the concrete surface and make the problem worse over time. The end result of that will be having to then either abadon the whole stupid thing or replace it say each 2 years or so? Stupid does what stupid must ... what a compelte waste of TCC Ratepayers monies.
Who's idea was it....
Posted on 14-02-2018 13:53 | By GreertonBoy
to have the concrete finished with a smooth surface? They should have known that the steps would be slippery when wet? Surely someone should have had the brains to have a stiff broom finish, stenciled pattern or a layer of aggregate on top of the setting concrete to offer some grip when wet? Oh, sorry, I forgot... smooth concrete LOOKS nicer (and was probably cheaper). I bet someone spent years at uni and got paid an astounding amount of money to make that mistake?
Name those responsible.
Posted on 14-02-2018 16:29 | By Accountable
What are the legalities around me naming those staff members within Council who are continually responsible for these substandard projects? I know the Councillors sign off these projects but because of their inability to say no to the Council CEO and his staff who are as slippery as eels when it involves getting their own way. The problem is that if the staff find themselves without a work project they have the ability to create work thus giving themselves an extension of their time within the Councils secure lifestyle and with a bunch of weak Councillors to lazy to do thier homework we end up with one project failure after another.
here we go again
Posted on 14-02-2018 18:42 | By old trucker
Agree with Accountable and MISS ADVENTURE, you are both right, names should be put out there who signed this off, mats are just cheapies from ------- do all people just use this one set, me would have thought it would go right along, BUT HANGON you need a BRAIN for that which none of TCC staff DONT HAVE and that is why they all work there, more staff than parliment, by the look of pictture it does look shiny, and would have thought it would be broomed finish running longways for grip,but what would i know, a old truck driver, i know that i would know more than all of them put togeather, Acountable , MISS ADVENTURE AND ME would make a great team, just us 3 could run TCCand tip out all the DEADWOOD, but they are real sticky and would not move,Sunlive Thankyou. 10-4 out.phew.
Next
Posted on 14-02-2018 19:48 | By clingon
Great, now how about some LED lights to make this area less boring?...
Slippery steps?
Posted on 04-03-2018 17:27 | By MISS ADVENTURE
That happening will happen regardless of broom finished or not. A broom finish would be a great help I do admit, but the scale of slime and much in the Harbour that accumulates will never be overcome by waterblasting etc. The sea will take what it wants, it is a harsh enviroment and its relentless.
They say...
Posted on 04-03-2018 17:29 | By MISS ADVENTURE
"Its a disaster waiting to happen...!" But in this case its worse, "its a disaster known prior, tald and retold, then hapened anyway and the idiots involved from start to finish still cant understand why they fail and of course as pointed out below, fail again.
Geeeez
Posted on 12-03-2018 17:26 | By Tgaboy
What a pack of negative nancies. The steps are awesome and have brought the waterfront alive. Yes they might get slippery but some commonsense negotiating them is not too much to ask and is free of cost. Id like to thank the council for the dynamic area the waterfront is now.
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