The Tauranga City Council is reporting the recent heavy rain has proved a good test for two recently modified catch pits, which a contractor had proposed as a redesign.

The catch pit is the chamber area around and underneath stormwater grate at the side of the road.

The modified design limits the opportunity for leaf debris to block the grates in heavy rain by allowing debris to follow into the drain instead of collecting on top of the grate.

This means stormwater goes where it is meant to go, which is into the stormwater system, instead of continuing down the road and overloading other areas.

Council staff are reporting the new design appears a good option for improving the efficiency of stormwater collection in some situations around the city.

This information from the Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, December 19, published below.

Parks

• Revegetation enhancement clearance works in Wairakei Reserve have been completed with the contractor responsible receiving positive feedback from the public. The planting of succession trees will be carried out through the area in April 2012.
• Street tree maintenance is being carried out in the Papamoa area this month and will be moving into the Bethlehem/Matua area next month.
• Construction is underway on stage two of the Bellevue Reserve overflow car park.

Transportation

• Annual Resealing Programme: Work has stopped for the Christmas holiday period.
• Bell Road: To allow Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) construction traffic to cross Bell Road, a temporary 50km/h speed restriction is in place, Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 6.30pm, until further notice. All TEL construction traffic will be on a controlled give way. Please take care when driving in the area.
• Devonport Road and Elizabeth Street: New countdown signals for pedestrians have been installed at the intersection of Devonport Road and Elizabeth Street. The new pedestrian signals display a countdown of how much time pedestrians have left to cross the road safely.
• Elizabeth Street Parking Building Early Bird Special: Early birds get to park in the Elizabeth Street Parking Building all day for just $7. So if you work in the city centre, make the most of our summer early bird special. Just make sure you are in before 9.30am and stay all day to be eligible for the discount.
• Forrester Drive: Work to install a wastewater rising main on Forrester Drive continues. Most of the work is being done off the road so disruption to traffic should be minimal but please watch for the temporary signage and take extra care when driving through the area. Work is expected to be completed prior to Christmas.
• Mount Road Closures for Summer Period: Marine Parade between Adams Avenue and Pacific Avenue will be closed overnight from 8pm to 6am from 26 December 2011 until 6 January 2012.
• Mount Road Closures for New Year's Eve: The Mount peninsula north of Salisbury Avenue/ Banks Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic from 2pm on New Year's Eve until 8am on New Year's Day.
• Mount Road Closures for Triathlon: Adams Avenue from Maunganui Road and Marine Parade to Pacific Avenue will be closed on Tuesday 27 December from 6am until approximately 12 noon for the Surf Breaker Triathlon.
• Parton Road: Construction activity for the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) continues. A temporary 30km/h speed restriction is in place Monday to 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.
• Route K Toll Increase: On 1 January 2012 the toll for cars and other two axle vehicles will increase to $1.50. The toll for all other vehicles will remain unchanged.
• Route K/SH29 Roundabout: The lane markings for traffic entering the roundabout from Route K have changed. Right turning traffic (to Hamilton) must enter the roundabout in the right lane only. Straight through traffic (to Rotorua) can use both lanes. Traffic using the e-TAG (electronic toll) lane needs to pay particular attention to the new lane markings.
• State Highway 2 (Te Maunga to Domain Road): Construction activity for the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) continues. A long term temporary 80km/h speed restriction is in place from Te Maunga to Domain Road until further notice. Please take care and stay alert when driving through this area.
• Ultrafast Broadband: Work to install Ultrafast Broadband is being done in Judea, the northern city centre area and Sulphur Point. Most of the work is being done off the road. The Ultrafast Broadband project is a central government initiative. More information about the project is available at www.ultrafastbroadband.co.nz or call 0800 342 735.

City Waters

• Two reported sewer blockages were attended to over the last week. One of these was the result of cable thrusting works in Selwyn Street, the other was a fat blockage in Valley Road.
• Domain Road wastewater pipe leak last Friday morning turned out to be a major pipeline break on the 450mm diameter trunk rising main. This pipe services most of Papamoa south of Domain Road. Work commenced on investigation to determine the fault, planning to repair this and then the actual repair meant working long hours over the weekend, quite a bit of traffic control and wastewater flow management required. The repair was completed at approximately 8pm Sunday night but we then had to wait until early Monday morning for the newly concreted repair anchor to harden. Restoration on the site is continuing.
• Temporary repair to the leaking ocean outfall wastewater pipeline that previously ruptured is being monitored. Detail design to complete a permanent repair at this location continues with work not expected to commence early in New Year. Resource consent is required before construction of a new chamber can commence.

Democracy

Council – Monday, 19 December - 1pm

• Objection to Council's Wastewater Discharge Levy: This report contains information from staff in response to an objection to Council's Wastewater Discharge Levy from the BoP Vintage Car Club.
• Windermere Park: The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic has made an approach to Council seeking agreement to progress a land swap to enable the expansion of the Windermere Campus. This report seeks direction from Council on whether they would like to progress this matter further.
• SmartGrowth Project Plan and Strategic Issues Paper: To consider the recommendation from the SmartGrowth Implementation Committee for approval of the SmartGrowth Strategic Issues Paper and Project Plan.
• Stormwater Capital Works Bulk Fund Programme Review: The Stormwater Capital Works Bulk Fund programme has been reviewed for the draft 2012/22 Ten Year Plan with an emphasis on addressing flooding issues in the Mount Maunganui industrial area.
• Representation Review: Council has the option to undertake a Representation Review prior to the 2013 Local Authority Elections.
• Proposed Licence – Masonic Park: To consider a request from an adjoining owner for a Licence to Occupy a small area of Masonic Park, to allow access and outdoor dining.
• Schedule of Documents Executed Under Seal: This report provides information to Council on the documents that have been executed in the period 1 November 2011 to 5 December 2011.

(All other business is conducted in Confidential)

Councillor Workshop – Thursday, 22 December – 9am – Te Awanui Harbour Room

• Marine Precinct: To provide an update on progress.