People can expect a new-look water rates invoice from Tauranga City Council this week. The purpose of the new design is to clearly report to the ratepayer information about water usage and how to be more water efficient.
This format is to be built on and on the next water rates bill people will be able to see a comparison of their usage with other similar sized households.
The council welcomes feedback on this new form and can be contacted on 577 7000.


This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, July 26, published below.

City Waters
Drainage:
• New soak holes are being installed in Norton Road, Otumoetai to improve the stormwater disposal from the street sumps.
• Damage to the trunk sewer main pipe has occurred alongside the Fraser Street access track. Materials to repair the pipe will not be available until early next week. In the mean time the pipe has been temporally protected and site secured.
• Two sewer blockages were reported this week. One blockage at a Ngatai Road property cause the property basement to be partially flooded with wastewater that discharged from a gully trap. The cause appears to be tree roots from the resident’s trees. Excavation is required to repair the pipe which has been scheduled for next week. The other incident was a minor type blockage that was able to be remedied quickly without contamination to any waterway.

Stormwater:
• Two pollution incidents were reported this week: One involved the discharge of cement slurry from concrete cutting on Dive Cres. This required clean up by the contractors concerned but there was no impact on natural waterways. The pollution team are following up on this issue. Any contractors dealing with cement and cement slurry must ensure wash-water is collected for appropriate disposal. The high pH of cement wash water is toxic to aquatic life.
• A second incident involved the potential for paint washwater to be discharged from a construction site. Contractors are reminded to ensure paint washwater is not discharged to land or the stormwater system. Washwater should be tipped into inside sinks or external sewer gully traps.

Waiari Water Supply Project:
• A separate project has recently commenced to determine the optimal alignment of the water trunk mains that will link the Waiari Water Treatment Plant to the Papamoa water reticulation. There will be a consultation process to discuss possible route options before the final route is chosen.

Inflow Reduction Programme:
• Gully trap inspections and smoke testing of properties in the Pillans area began this week. Affected property owners will be advised by letter before inspections begin. Streets to be inspected are Goods Road, Mana Street, Maxwells Road, Milton Road, Myres Street, Pillans Road, Rutherford Street and Roderick Street. Council contractors City Care are carrying out the initial inspections.
• Inspections are continuing at homes located in the Orange Lane area of Bethlehem. Affected property owners will continue to be advised by letter before inspections begin.

Parks and Leisure
• Track work is to continue on the Mauao summit upgrade project.
• Mauao Care Group is meeting next on 31 July. They will be planting. Anyone wanting to join please contact Tauranga City Council. Forest and Bird volunteers are continuing to feed bait stations.
• Tropical Display House will be closed for foyer reconstruction from Sunday July 25th to possibly Wednesday August 4th. The work is weather dependent. This will be a welcome improvement for the Tropical Display House, designed to make it more inviting. It is free, open nearly every day of the year, and is located at Robbins Park next to the rose garden. We apologise for the necessary inconvenience caused by the closure for works to take place.
• Street tree maintenance is underway in the Matua and Bethlehem areas at present and will move to the Avenues area in the next week or so.
• A cutting from the Aspen tree was planted in Wharepai Domain to fill the gap left by a large Elm that fell in the storm a couple of weeks ago.

City Projects
• Mount Greens Natural bowling greens were completed and handed over to green keepers for purposes of grow-in on 16 July. Construction and levelling of the artificial bowling greens has started.
• Planning of a new walkway/cycleway between Golden Sands Drive and Emerald Shores Drive in Papamoa East is currently under way. This is part of the development of the Wairakei Drainage Reserve. Paths already exist through more established areas of the reserve such as the section between Parton Road and Opal Drive. The new section will link in with the new Wairakei Primary School. Construction of the walkway/cycleway is scheduled to commence in November 2010.
• The seawall at the end of Bay Street in Matua is in a poor state of repair and is scheduled to be renewed. This work is currently being priced and is programmed to start in late August 2010. Construction is expected to take three weeks.

Transportation
• Gravatt Road/ Domain Road Intersection: Work to upgrade this intersection is continuing. Expect minor delays during peak traffic. Pedestrians are asked to follow the temporary signs around the work site.
• Willow Street: Road works continue in Willow Street. While the work is underway Willow Street is closed to traffic between Hamilton and Wharf Streets. Masonic Park car park is also closed. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. Businesses on this section of Willow Street are open as usual.
• Heath Street: Minor tidying work continues.
• Dee Street: Work continues this week on speed bumps and pedestrian crossings.
• Central Parade: Overhead power lines have been removed and work is underway in sections on both sides of Central Parade from Heath Street and Dee Street north. Work includes; installation of lighting poles, kerb and channel, paving, planters, cycle stands and gardens. Minor traffic disruptions are likely. Please take care when driving in the area.
• Bethlehem Township Improvements: Work on the new roundabout at west Bethlehem has moved to the centre of the state highway. Lane changes are in place and traffic is now moving on both sides of the works. Please take extra care when driving through the work site. Work has started on the new footpaths outside the shops and houses on the southern side of the state highway. Work will mainly be off the road and won't affect traffic. Some parking in front of the shops will be affected while this work is underway.
• Kairua Road Reconstruction: The road is now sealed. Finishing off work is continuing.
• Beaumaris Boulevard/Sterling Gate Drive/Waihi Road Link: A ceremony to open the new road links will be held on Sunday 8 August. More details will follow soon.
• Vale Street Stormwater Project: Reconstruction of the Vale Street and Hinewa Road intersection continues. Hinewa Road is closed to through traffic between Grange Road and Vale Street but access is maintained for residents. Please pay attention to signs and take care when driving in the area.
• Parton Road Watermain: Work to relocate the bulk watermain between Tara Road and Bell Road is continuing. There are temporary traffic lights and a one way traffic management system in place. Motorists are advised to watch for the temporary signals and take care when driving through the area.
• Pyes Pa Road: Work continues on the NZTA's safety improvements on a 1km stretch of road between Joyce Road and Merrick Road. There is one lane open to traffic through the work site and a detour (during week days, daylight hours) along Joyce Road for traffic going towards Rotorua. Work is expected to be completed in August depending on weather.

Libraries
Maori Language Week – 26 July to 1 August
• This year's theme is 'Te Mahi Kai - The Language of Food. You can contribute to the city's food basket by bringing Food Bank donations to the city libraries during Maori Language Week. Library staff will translate the name of your donation into Te Reo Maori.

Venues & Events
Baycourt Community and Arts Centre
• Wed 21 July 7pm, Thurs 22 July and Sat 24 July 7:30pm, Sun 25 July 2pm, Mon 26 July 7:30pm - Presented by DEC Playhouse Productions at Baycourt Theatre. The spectacular ballet, Don Quixote starring soloists with the Australian Ballet, features exciting supporting company of top dancers and actors. Directed by Prue Gooch.

Democracy
City Plan Hearings Panel - Tuesday, 27 July
• Chapter 10 - Network Utilities and Designations (in relation to network utilties) - The purpose of Chapter 10 – Network Utilities and Designations is to provide the Objectives, Policies and Rules to ensure the efficient operation and functioning of the City’s network utilities. They are physical resources and include telephone and electricity lines, radio and telecommunications masts, underground pipelines, and associated equipment (amongst other matters).
• Chapter 10 - Network Utilties and Designations (in relation to designations) - The purpose of Chapter 10 – Network Utilities and Designations is to provide the Objectives, Policies and Rules to ensure the efficient operation and functioning of the City’s infrastructure. Designations allow requiring authorities to plan for network utilities and large public works by setting aside an area of land outside the provisions of the district plan. In this way, they provide an alternative to resource consents or plan changes.

City Plan Hearings Panel - Thursday, 29 July
• The purpose of the High-Voltage Transmission Area Plan is to identify the high-voltage transmission network within the City and to provide for the sustainable, secure and efficient use and development of that network. The network, and its associated buffer corridor are identified and provided for through objectives, policies and rules as the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission contains an explicit requirement for the City Plan to manage third party risks.