Tauranga City Council is reminding contractors to have controls in place to prevent sediment discharges into stormwater drains before drilling.
This comes after a sediment discharge occurred following drilling works breaking water lines on Otumoetai Road last week.

Sediment is often viewed as just dirty water however it can significantly alter freshwater and marine environments and sediment can also carry heavy metals and a range of other harmful contaminants with it.
Suggested controls are to use geotextile fabric over stormwater sumps or other filter system to remove sediment.

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

Water Supply:

• Parton Road water main upgrade is due to be connected over the next week and this will involve two more shutdowns. There should be no loss of water but some areas of Papamoa East will experience lower pressure than normal. Notification will be sent out to affected areas.
• The watermain replacement in Hillcrest Road and Cameron Street between Elizabeth and Spring Street is progressing. Apollo Street and Pamela Place are in progress and due to be completed in 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 February.
• The new Ohauiti High Level water supply reservoir is being tested. The reservoir is due to be into service in March.
• Otumoetai Watermain Upgrade - Connecting up in Pillans Road and installation in Ruston Avenue.
• Fire hydrant marking and servicing continues in the Papamoa Beach Road area and throughout the city over the next few months
• Backflow Surveys commenced 1 February in meter Zone 17 (Maungatapu) and Zone 20 (Welcome Bay). This survey will focus on commercial and industrial properties to ascertain if there are any potential operations that could affect the quality of our water network is a cross connection occurred. However, any home based operation such as hair salons will also be visited. The survey will take most of February and the contractor, (Norman M Ellis Ltd) has a letter of introduction and an Council ID card.

Drainage:

• Work continues on spraying of open drains in the city and is scheduled to carry through to the end of February 2010 throughout the district. The section of the Kopurererua Stream has been completed.
• Some minor concrete work to improve the walk access track between Rutherford Reserve and Pillans Road is being done.
• Work to repair the stormwater outlet off Chapel Street (near Service station ) is required as following up on road flooding in recent storm revealed the pipeline outlet to the harbour had collapsed causing it to block off the flow.
• Removable bollards are being installed to restrict unauthorised vehicle access to stormwater reserve sites off Awaiti Place and Graham Place
• Work continues at Bakels Edible Oils Ltd on replacement and upsizing of a small section of the sewer main within their yard off Hutton Place.
• Repair to the reclaimed water transfer main pipeline coating is required in two locations that were identified in a recent survey of the cathodically protected pipeline following recent harbour link bridge work. A section of newly established garden below the cemetery is one location. Plants and mulching etc will be temporarily moved to allow this work. The other location is in boat ramp car park below the Aerodrome Bridge.
• Two sewer blockages were reported and attended to this week. None caused any overflow to reach a waterway. The blockages reported were at Matua Life Care site off Tyndall Grove and at Pools Road.
• Smoke testing was this week done to follow up a reoccurring odour problem at a property off Hewletts Road and for possible stormwater cross connection at Fashion Island area, Papamoa as there were high flows recorded at the wastewater pump station during recent storm event.

Stormwater Pollution:

• A chemical spill involving a fumigant (Aluminium Phosphide) occurred at an industrial site in Maru Street involving response from Ambulance, Fire Service and Council and DOL. Maru Street was cordoned off and several businesses were evacuated. There had been a discharge to the stormwater system and the Te Maire Street open drain. The business concerned conducted a clean-up on site and contamination was removed from the stormwater line and open drain as much as was practicable. Booms that had been placed out as a result of a spill the previous week had contained much of the spill.
• A spill of what appeared to be paint (or possibly engine degreaser) occurred from a premise on Birch Ave. The wastewater had entered the stormwater system and possibly the Kopurererua stream. Citycare were called in for clean-up and the premises have been advised not to dispose of any washwater to the open yard area.
• Follow-up inspections of scrap metal dealers and auto dismantlers across the city have begun in response to audit reports detailing stormwater and soil contamination issues which have been provided to site occupiers and owners recently. This work is ongoing.
• In response to a number of wastewater overflows which occurred during the storm event of January 31st, water quality testing at all locations indicate acceptable levels. Health warning signage has been removed at all locations.

Waiari Water Supply Project:

• Three appeals have been received 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 is in discussions with the appellants and parties must report progress to the Environment Court by 26 February 2010.

Bulk Water Meter Installation Project:

• The bulk meter renewal project is about to get under way with a start being made on Mangatawa Reservoir meter.

Southern Pipeline:

• 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 3rd quarter of 2010.
• Work is continuing on detailed investigation for the Judea Link emergency management option
• 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.
• Work on extending the existing sewer in Maleme Street is complete with the exception of the final reinstatement.

Parks and Leisure

• Mount Maunganui Sports Centre - Kitchen upgrades works start this week. Due to be completed by end of first week of March.
• A sea-lettuce dump at Main Beach was most untimely due to National Surf League Event in the weekend. Contractors removed 363 tonnes over the course of the week. The surf club Events Manager was extremely happy with the results and service. EBOP and TCC have a collaborative agreement to cover the costs associated with sea-lettuce management. These costs are significant and unpredictable. DMI Contracting are our preferred contractors due to outstanding customer service and a comprehensive H & S plan.

City Projects

• Work is continuing on the development of Cambridge Park (the old Cambridge Road landfill site). The new water line that will supply water to the public toilets is in the final stages of testing prior to being connected to the reticulated system. The Tauranga BMX Club are continuing to develop the site of their new track with clay fill being imported from the roadworks at Bethlehem.
• Mount Greens - Earthwork of the main site is continuing.
• Angle parking along Tawa Street has now commenced and will carry on for next two months.
• Angle parking along Matai Street will commence in April.
• Kopurererua Valley Development - Asplundh contractors have started the clearing an area of willow below Tom Muir Drive in preparation for a stormwater pond/wetland construction next year.

Tauranga Indoor Sport & Exhibition Centre:

• Foundation construction is continuing this week. Thirty cement/soil mixed piles have now been constructed. Drainage work is continuing around the perimeter of the building site.

Transportation

• Temporary Changes to Bus Stops: For the next few months all Bay Hopper Tauranga buses will stop at, and depart from, Durham Street near Baycourt instead of Willow or Wharf Streets. This temporary arrangement is in place while essential roadworks are done on Wharf and Willow Streets. Signage directing people to the temporary bus stops is in place and information is available on buses, in your local library and in the Council Customer Service Centre on Willow Street.
• Kairua Road Reconstruction: Major road works are under way on Kairua Road between number R194 and the intersection with Welcome Bay Road. The work will involve some earthworks to improve bends, reconstructing and resurfacing the road, installing new kerb and channeling, and upgrading stormwater and a watermain. Some disruption to traffic can be expected at times and there will be speed restrictions in place. The work is expected to take about 10 weeks to complete.
• Route K Resealing: South bound access onto the toll road (Route K) will be affected by resealing work scheduled for Monday 22 February 2010 between 5am and midday. The work involves resealing about 700 metres of the road and is weather dependant. Traffic heading south from the city towards Tauriko and Hamilton is advised to use State Highway 2 to Bethlehem and then via Moffat Road. Access to Bethlehem and State Highway 2 via Takitimu Drive and northbound lanes into the city will not be affected.
• Takitimu Drive: Roadworks have started on Takitimu Drive between the Elizabeth Street roundabout and the Waihi Road off ramp.The work is to complete the road maintenance and resurfacing which was started before Christmas and is expected to take about four weeks to complete, depending on weather. There will be a 30km speed limit through the work site and lane changes will be in place so motorists should expect delays, particularly at peak times and if possible use an alternative route.
• Wharf /Willow Streets: Major road works are due to start on Wharf and Willow Streets later this month. The work will involve reconstructing and resurfacing the road and installing new kerb and channelling. Additional work includes upgrading the sewer, stormwater, watermains, and some parts of the footpath. While these road works are underway, the BayHopper Tauranga buses will operate from temporary bus stops on Durham Street.
• Coopers Road / Farm Street: Work to remove existing speed humps and replace them with speed cushions is continuing. There is traffic management in place so please take care when driving through the area.
• Hynds Road: The speed humps removed prior to Christmas are being replaced with speed cushions. There is traffic management in place so please take care when driving through the area.
• Bethlehem Roundabout: Construction of the new roundabout on SH2 at Bethlehem west is underway. Work is expected to be completed by the end of June. Traffic management and site screens will be in place but only minimal delays are expected in the early stages of construction. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the work site.
• Parton Road: Work is continuing with footpath construction, kerb and channeling, installation of street lighting and construction of the road surface underway. Work is expected to be completed by late May. There will be unsealed sections and temporary speed restrictions will be in place.
• Local Road Resealing: The local road resealing programme is underway and will continue until late March. Generally this work will involve minimal disruption to traffic.
• Andrew Place/Shelley Street: Work to install new storm water pipes is continuing. Some minor disruption to traffic is possible.
• Vale Street: Work to reshape Vale Street between Baden Street and Landscape Road to form an overland stormwater flow path during severe storms is underway. Currently kerb and channel is being laid in Vale Street between Baden Street and Hinewa Road. Disruption to traffic is expected to be minimal. The footpath will be closed on one side of the road from time to time. Please pay attention to signs and take care when driving in the area. Work is scheduled for completion by October 2010.