Tauranga City Council is commencing works to remove all existing vegetation at gardens which are on and surrounding the Palm Beach Blvd/Gravatt Road roundabout.
Five of the surrounding large gardens will be reduced in size, with part of the gardens renewed and the rest returned to grass. Also being renewed are gardens at the roundabout on Pacific View and Grenada Street. Renewed garden sites will be prepared with soil and bark. Planting will take place later after autumn rain.


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

City Waters
Stormwater Pollution:

• The Pollution Team will be running a "Pollution Prevention Quiz" over the next month. Entries can be made online from next week and can also be made by filling in an entry form at the council front desk and also at Rutherford Marine Electrical on Mirrielees Road. The quiz will also be run as part of the Sustainability Expo at Bayfair shopping centre next week. Answer questions about preventing pollution and you could be in to win a Marine GPS valued at $850. Further information on how to enter will be available on council's website next week.
• The Pollution Team will be running a display at The Bayfair Sustainability Expo next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Pop along and learn a bit about pollution and how you can help to prevent it. There will also be lots of other information about sustainable living. You can also enter the Pollution Prevention Quiz at the expo.
• One pollution incident reported to council this week involved the dumping of waste oil into a stormwater sump. The responsible party was not traced and the oil had to be removed from the sump. It is very important for people to be aware the street sumps (and most outside drains) lead directly to waterways and the sea. They should never be used to dump waste into. Anyone caught causing pollution can face serious fines and/or face imprisonment.
• Water quality has been tested in the Courtney Road drain to look at identifying the source of continued high bacterial counts found in water samples at various times over the past 12 months from this catchment. This testing looked at identifying if the source is potentially human (from human effluent). Results reveal this is unlikely, suggesting there are no issues relating to the wastewater network or potential leaks or overflows. TCC will be working with EBOP and Public Health to look at long term options for protection of public health and potential for permanent warning signage in this area.

Drainage:
• Some pond clearing of Carmichael Road in front of the new outdoor education building has been completed.
• Recent water testing of the Wairakei waterway has revealed three localised areas where water quality has deteriorated. As a precaution, temporary health warning signs will be placed at these sites: Parton Road towards the Grant Place weir for approx 100m; Gravatt Road at Royal Palm Beach where ducks congregate; and Palm Springs downstream of a section of farm drain. Water temperatures have been high due to lack of rain and this has contributed to the drop in water quality.
• Maintenance work has begun in the Fraser Street walk access track and drain area below Lloyd Street to cut and mulch fallen and dead trees and branches.
• Drain maintenance work in the 3rd Avenue West and Burrows Street areas is also being considered and will require EBOP consent as it is within the coastal marine area. This consent application is being lodged next week.
• Closed circuit TV of sewer pipelines in the Te Koari Drive area has revealed fat build up in places and some are buried and will have to be located and raised to ground surface.
• Closed circuit TV to the sewer pipeline crossing Fraser St at Courtney Rd intersection has revealed a cable being thrust through. Repairs are under way this week. It seems it may have been damaged as long as five years ago. A number of recent blockages and subsequent overflows have occurred at this location.
• Smoke testing of the Fraser Street to Burrows Street trunk sewer in the foreshore area is scheduled to start on March 22 to suit harbour tidal movement. The purpose of this is to check the integrity of the pipeline i.e. possible leaks or damage.
• There have been recent reports of three dead Muscovy ducks at two locations in the Royal Palm Beach Estate stormwater reserve at Papamoa. There are usually some duck deaths each year, mostly natural occurrence but people are asked to report dead ducks to council ASAP so we can retrieve them for disposal. Also we are maintaining a count of duck deaths in case water quality is an issue, especially botulism. It is advisable for dog and cat owners to ensure their animals do not eat the dead duck carcasses.
• The stormwater pond at the Graham Place entrance to Carmichael Reserve has been cleared of sediment and reformed and is now being filled up again. The pond had become overgrown with weeds in the sediments to a point where it was no longer a pond and surrounding areas had become saturated.
• Some tree work is being carried out in numerous stormwater reserves to ensure safe access for people and council mowing contractors as well as to maintain tree health.
• A sewer connection in Golf Rd was excavated to reveal the light pole concrete base installation had broken the pipe and allowed tree root infiltration. The connection has now been repaired after a slight detour around the concrete base.
• Work will begin in the two weeks to improve the overland flow path capacity at the Harrison Cut outlet from the stormwater ponds adjacent to Kokomo Key and Catalina Key.

Water Supply:
• Parton Road watermain upgrade is continuing and initial major shutdowns have occurred. Additional shutdowns to complete this work will be notified by letter drop to affected customers.
• The water main replacements in Pamela Place and Cameron Rd are in progress. Cameron Road is in final reinstatement and Pamela has been tested successfully and is due to be completed by end of March.
• The replacement of a pressure reducing valve and installation of a bulk meter is currently underway on Poike Road and this work is due for completion end of March.
• The new Ohauiti High Level water supply reservoir has now passed all of its hygiene tests and is available to enter service.
• Otumoetai Watermain Upgrade – reinstatements in Pillans Road and connecting of mains in Ruston Avenue are continuing.
• Fire hydrant marking and servicing continues is due for completion by the end of March.
• Matua watermain upgrade – the main installation in Columba Place has been tested and will be connected this week. Work has commenced on pipe upgrades in Matua Rd.

Waiari Water Supply Project:
Two appeals and two interested parties to appeals remain against the resource consents for the construction and operation of a new water intake and treatment plant to serve the Papamoa urban growth area. Tauranga City Council attended an Environment Court mediation on March 16 and signed an agreement in principle with the appellants. Staff are due to meet with the appellants and with Environment Bay of Plenty to revise resource consent conditions on April 15. TCC is due to report back to the Environment Court by April 20.

Bulk Water Meter Installation Project:
• The bulk meter renewal project is under way and will continue until the end of March. The first renewal was undertaken for Mangatawa Reservoir meter which is now complete.

Water Demand Management Project:
• A pressure management pilot project has been initiated in the Mangatapu Pressure Zone to reduce leakage. There have been no complaints of low pressures, investigative work will be completed to assess if losses have reduced, and it is planned to drop the low set point a further 10m to further reduce night flow leakage.

Southern Pipeline:
• Work is continuing on the new 1,300m3 wastewater storage tank and pump station site at Maleme Street with the shell of the tank now completed and all works expected to be completed in June 2010.
• The first section of pipeline being between Maleme and Memorial is programmed to be tendered in the second quarter of 2010 with construction starting in the third quarter of 2010.
• Work is continuing on detailed investigation for the Judea Link emergency management option.

Inflow Reduction Project:
• Council is continuing gully trap inspections in the Beaumaris and Bethlehem Heights area, and is pleased to report that the majority of homes visited so far have 'good' gully traps. If you have special property access arrangements or have a dog, please contact us on (07) 577 7000.

Parks and Leisure
• ‘Before Night Falls' gold coin donation concert at McLaren Falls Park this Sunday March 21 from midday to 6pm. Live Acts, DJs, gourmet food and licensed bar. For more information: www.bopfm.co.nz

City Projects
• We have awarded the contract for the revitalisation of Central Parade to Fulton Hogan. They intend starting work on Tuesday, April 6, to avoid disrupting the retailers' busy time.
• Work will commence at Gordon Spratt Reserve on Monday, March 22 on the construction of a new storage facility adjacent to the front playing field.
• Registrations of interest for the design and construction of the McLaren Falls Visitor Services Building closed on March 17. Submissions will be evaluated to choose three contractors to invite to tender for the design build contract.
• The final designs for the Gate Pa Reserve Interpretation Signs have been approved. It is planned to have the signs installed prior to the anniversary of the battle of Gate Pa on April 29.
• Resource consent for a new playground at Tye Park has been granted. Consent is required as the park is within the flood hazard policy zone. Works planned for the park next year include upgrading the car park area, constructing pedestrian paths to the existing toilets and installing new playground and BBQ. This work implements actions from the Harbour Reserves Management Plan.
• A large protected chestnut tree is to be removed at Maungawhare (33 Parkvale Rd). Tree has died and is to be removed under health and safety. Works to initiate on Monday 22 March 2010.

Transportation
• Wharf /Willow Streets: Work is continuing on Wharf Street with the installation of the new sewer main. While the work is being done, Wharf Street is reduced to one lane for traffic coming from Cameron Road towards the Strand. The project involves reconstructing and resurfacing the road and installing new kerb and channeling. Additional work includes upgrading the sewer, stormwater, watermains, and some parts of the footpath.
• Takitimu Drive: Resurfacing work is continuing between the Elizabeth Street roundabout and the Waihi Road off ramp. The work is expected to take about another two weeks to complete, depending on weather. There is a temporary speed limit in place and motorists should expect delays, particularly at peak times.
• Maunganui Road: Work to reconstruct Maunganui Road between the Hewlett's Road flyover and Concord Avenue will be starting in late March at the Concord Avenue intersection. The main reconstruction work will start after Easter. Some minor preparatory work will be done this week. The project is expected to take about 8-10 weeks to complete. Minimal traffic delays are expected during most of the work but at times delays and/or partial closures of the flyover are possible.
• Osprey Drive: Work to remove existing speed humps and replace them with speed cushions is underway. There is traffic management in place so please take care when driving through the area.
• Pyes Pa Bypass: Construction on the Pyes Pa Bypass to link SH29 through to SH36 by the Crematorium is underway. Good weather has allowed the preload material to be removed along the northern end of the bypass. Construction has started with the delivery of roading materials, compaction and shaping of the road surface. Drainage works are also being done at the same time. The new bypass is expected to be open to traffic in 2011.

Venues and Events
Baycourt Community and Arts Centre
National Jazz Festival Tauranga – for full programme visit www.jazz.org.nz

Fly tower Project
The Baycourt Fly Tower project is on schedule for the theatre re-opening on April 1.

Event Delivery
The wet weather venue for ANZAC Day service has been confirmed as the Tauranga Boys' College gymnasium.

Democracy
Monitoring Committee - Monday 22 March at 1.00 pm in Chambers – Highlights:
• New Dwelling Trends – March 2006 to December 2009
• Presentation by Andrew Love – Coastal Encroachments
• Presentation by Jim Pringle – Sanctuary Park
• Presentation – Sea Lettuce Management
• Presentation – Mauao Update
• Presentation – Sustainability