The Tauranga City Council has a new website operating and the organisation is looking for the public's feedback on what they like and dislike about it. The website has received an overhaul with all information updated to be accurate after some of it became slightly dated.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, November 29, published below.

It is a strong first point of reference for people needing information on obtaining building consents, wanting information on the bus service, wanting to obtain house values and other council related matters.

City Waters

Water Supply

• After maintenance and inspection, both the Cambridge Road and Kaitemako Road Reservoirs are now back online.
• Work is progressing rapidly on Marine Parade and Grove Avenue water main upgrade.
• Water mains flushing will be carried out over the next week in the Otumoetai, Judea and Matua areas.

Drainage

• A number of shopping trolleys have been removed from the waterway in the stormwater reserve between Domain Road and Opal Drive at Papamoa.
• A wastewater overflow occurred on Maunganui Road and flowed into a stormwater sump that discharges into the Omanu Golf Course outlet off Matapihi Road. Water quality tests have since been carried out and the all clear has been given.
• Manholes along the Kaitemako Stream are being inspected to check that they are flowing with no blockages or overflows occurring. Temporary health warning signs remain in place.
• The stormwater reserve walkway entrance adjacent to Solomon Street wastewater pump station has been widened to allow better access for maintenance vehicles.
• Some cabbage trees in Royal Palm Beach Estate stormwater reserve are to have some maintenance to remove dead fronds causing issues for grass mowing.
• Two new soak holes have been installed on the road berm on Maunganui Road near the Golf Road roundabout to alleviate localised flooding.
• Smoke testing and gully trap inspections are ongoing in the Edgecumbe Road area.
• A damaged stormwater outlet off Fantail Drive, Maungatapu has been repaired after bank erosion exposed four metres of the pipe.

Stormwater Pollution

• No pollution incidents attended to this week.

City Projects

• Mount Greens: Internal fit out of the new Cosmopolitan Club is ongoing. Landscaping is nearly finished.
• The new pathway through the Wairakei Drainage Reserve has been completed. Planning is underway for landscape planting and future pathway stages.
• Construction of the new playground at Tye Park has been deferred until early in the new year. This is to bring the timing into line with other works programmed for the park including upgrading the entrance and car park and installing a new sewer rising main.
• The development of Cambridge Park is continuing. The next stage is to run power up to the new car park and complete the car parking area and lighting. The Tauranga BMX club are continuing to work on their track in preparation for the national BMX champs.
• The Arataki Hall demolition has been completed. The site will be leveled and seeded with grass.

Parks and Leisure

• A large Fir tree fell into Lake McLaren last week. A section of the park road had to be closed while a small crane extracted it from the lake.
• The new McLaren Falls boat ramp has been completed, this was paid for by TrustPower.
• A sea lettuce pick up covering the Matua Peninsula from Fergusson Park to Kulim Park collected 360 tonnes, our biggest pick up ever. There will definitely be another one or possibly two pick ups in this area before Christmas.
• Foreshore licences are in the process of being awarded to successful vendors. All coastal sites have been filled with a variety of water activities including surf hire/schools, paddle boarding, sail boat hire and kayaks. McLaren Falls have a new kayak hire business which we expect to be very popular.
• Up and coming next week: Tauranga Leisure Ltd & TCC - Indoor Facilities User Forum 6pm Monday 29th November; Blake Park User Forum 6pm Wednesday 1 December.

Transportation

• Annual Resealing Programme: Resealing work is continuing on various streets around the city.
• Cameron Road/Munro Street: The new traffic signals are now on. Please take extra care when driving through this intersection. There is still some minor tidying up work to be done.
• Hull Road: Minor tidying work still to complete.
• 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: Work to upgrade this intersection is continuing. Expect delays during peak traffic and allow extra travelling time. Pedestrians are asked to follow the temporary signs around the work site.
• Girven Road: Resealing work will be done this week on Girven Road between Grenada Street and Oceanbeach Road. The work is expected to take about six days to complete, depending on weather. Traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place. Please expect delays and take an alternative route if possible.
• 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 the canopies for the new inner city bus stops on Willow Street is underway on the Council side of the road. This first stage is expected to take about four weeks to complete. 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 is continuing along 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 Bethlehem Township Improvements: The signals on the new pedestrian crossing are now on. Please watch for the new signals at the crossing. Minor finishing work continues till the end of November. Lane closures may be in place during off peak times.
• SH2 Watermain Relocation: Work to relocate the watermain alongside SH2 is continuing between Mangatawa Lane and Domain Road. Traffic management and a stop/go system will be in place on Tara Road overnight on 30 November and a diversion route will be available along Doncaster Drive. At other times shoulder closures and lane diversions will be in place. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the area.
• Streetlight Upgrades: Street lights in the following streets are being upgraded over the next few months. 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.
• Tara Road: Work to construct a new roundabout at the intersection of Doncaster Drive and Tara Road continues. Initial work includes tree felling, fencing and clearing the site in preparation for earthworks. A stormwater storage pond will also be formed next to the new roundabout. The majority of the work will be done off the road and there will only be minimal disruption to road users
• Tauriko Slip Repairs: Essential slip repairs continue on SH29 at Tauriko. Most of the work is being done on the shoulder of the road. Traffic management and a temporary speed restriction are in place. Please take care when driving through the area.
• 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.

Venues & Events

Baycourt Community and Arts Centre

• Friday 3 December and Saturday 4 December – Peter Pan – Presented by The Gillian Moore School of Dance at Baycourt Centennial Theatre.

Democracy

Strategy & Policy - Thursday, 2 December 2010 at 9am

· Draft Elected Members' Expenses and Resources Policy Issues and Options - Seeking direction on the issues associated with Elected Members expenses and resources.

Council - Thursday 2 December at 1pm

· Kevin Hill, Grasshopper - Public toilet facilities at The Lakes. A PowerPoint presentation will support this matter. (10 min)
· Request for Temporary Liquor-Free Zone - for Blues Brews and Barbeques Event, 15 January 2011.
· Bay of Plenty Cricket Trust – Pavilion Location on Blake Park.
· Community Outcomes and Council's Decision Making Framework.
· Proposed Tauranga City Plan - Variations 1 & 2.
· Elected Members' Remuneration Distribution.
· Draft 2011 Committee Meeting Schedule.
· Notice of Motion.
· Schedule of Documents Executed under Seal

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