Rates payment deadline is looming with Tauranga City Council ratepayer bills all falling due on Wednesday, August 31.

The council is advising that ratepayers must pay or have a payment method set-up by this time to avoid penalty.

There are payment options available and people are encouraged to call the council on (07) 5777 000 to discuss them.

These calls are treated in confidence and low income earners may learn this way that they are eligible for assistance through the rates rebate scheme.

For more information on this scheme, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz

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

City Waters

Water Supply

• Water main upgrades in Matua and Bureta are complete with final work underway and site tidy up continuing.
• Pipe laying is complete at Seaview Road and has begun in Windsor Road.
• Valve maintenance is currently underway in Otumoetai and the CBD. This involves repainting valve covers and ensuring the valves are in working order.
• Repainting of markings for fire hydrants in CBD area has started.
• Replacement of 400 domestic water meters around the city is underway, along with accuracy testing for the purposes of meter renewals planning. Work will be complete by the end of this month.
• City Care is installing a Water Bottle Refill station outside the surf lifesaving club at the Mount Main Beach. This is a City Partners funded initiative, due to be completed on Monday.

Drainage

• Three reported sewer blockages were attended to this week. One was reported as private with the other two caused by rags and tree roots. Two of the blockages resulted in wastewater reaching waterways via street sumps connecting to stormwater drainage pipes. Both were reported as low level overflows and water tests have since provided clear results.
• Drain works are being done off Wallace Place to remedy a blockage problem.
• New soak holes for street sumps are being installed in Campbell Road as the existing ones had collapsed.
• Work to replace two damaged pipes that discharge onto the beach off Oceanbeach Road is scheduled to be done along with the removal of a large build up of logs that have accumulated at the outlet structure.
• The removal of mangroves and litter in the pond at bottom of Hamilton Street and Takitimu Drive is scheduled to continue with good progress.

Stormwater

• Several pollution incidents were reported to council this week. Three involving sediment run-off, one diesel spill and one involving washing out of wheelie bins to stormwater. These were all fairly minor.
• Work continues with the Port of Tauranga to assist with preparation of the Port's Stormwater Management Plan. This Management Plan will identify and address any potential stormwater pollution issues.

Southern Pipeline

Works are continuing with pipe laying in Memorial Park, fit out of the pump station at Maleme Street and pipe testing & connection works are continuing currently concentrating along the Fraser Street section.

Parks and Leisure

• Enhancement works along the Waikareao East Walkway between Hamilton Street and West Street should be completed this week with successful outcome.
• Walkway track at eastern end of the Fergusson Park Bank to be upgraded to repair trip hazards and resurfaced.
• Preparation is currently underway for the planting of 2200 large native tree species along the northern boundary of the Kopurererua Valley and Takitimu Drive.

Transportation

• Cameron Road: Depending on weather, repairs to the road surface will be taking place on Cameron Road between 22nd Avenue and Munro Street this week. The work will be done at night to minimise disruption to traffic. Please expect minor delays and take care when driving in the area.
• Domain Road/Tara Road intersection: Construction activity for the Tauranga Eastern Link continues. A permanent 50km/h speed restriction is in place. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the area.
• Fraser Street/Esk Street: Southern Pipeline pipe laying and reinstatement is continuing on Fraser Street between Esk Street and Harrier Street. Traffic management will be in place. Please take care when driving though this area.
• Parton Road: Construction activity for the Tauranga Eastern Link continues. A temporary 30km/hr speed restriction is in place Monday - Saturday from 6am to 6pm. A manual stop/go control will be used when large trucks need to cross Parton Road. Expect minor delays and please take care when driving in the area.
• Speed Limit Changes: Watch for the new speed limit signs on parts of the following roads: Totara Street, Mount Maunganui; Cambridge Road, Bethlehem; Ohauiti Road, Ohauiti; Oropi Road, Oropi and all of the streets at the Mount from Salisbury Avenue north.
• State Highway 2 (Te Maunga to Domain Road): Construction activity for the Tauranga Eastern Link continues. A long term temporary 80km/h speed restriction will be in place from Te Maunga to Domain Road until further notice. Please take care when driving through this area.
• Tara Road: Construction of the new roundabout at the Parton Road intersection is progressing well. Traffic is now using the new roundabout. There will be stop/go traffic management on Tara Road towards the end of the week while work relocating services across the road is carried out. Watch for the new road layout and please take extra care for the next few weeks while the road surface is unsealed.

Note: Cable laying for the ultrafast broadband project is continuing in the Avenues area. The work is off the road so the effect on traffic should be minimal. This is the start of a citywide, five year ‘roll out' by central government to provide ultrafast broadbrand to all households.

Venues & Events

Baycourt Community & Arts Centre

• Thursday 1 September – Saturday 3 September (7.30pm) – Calendar Girls - The TelstraClear Season of Calendar Girls by Tim Firth. Tickets available from www.ticketdirect.co.nz or by phoning 577 7188.

Event Support

Venues and Events involvement in the TECT Arena is increasing. Ticketing, Event Crew and Technical Teams are all experiencing an increased workload while supporting the TCVL and TLL staff with events over the next couple of months.

Event Facilitation

The Tauranga Arts Festival launched their programme for the 2011 Festival on Thursday 18 August, ticket sales were heavy on Friday, which bodes well for the festival being a success.

Other

The 'Summer Allocations' (allocation of Sports Fields to specific sports users based on their applications, the booking prioritisation, and venue availability) will be completed next week. This will also include the finalisation of many of the event bookings for the summer period.

An audit of the Training Grounds (Tauranga Domain and Baypark) was carried out on Friday 19 August with respect to Rugby World Cup. There are a few minor issues to be worked through in the next two weeks prior to their first use as training facilities for Rugby World Cup, there is nothing of significant concern.