At the Projects and Services Committee, elected members were updated on progress on the Southern Pipeline that is to take wastewater across the city to Te Maunga Wastewater Treatment Plant.

This is to cope with Tauranga's anticipated growth for the next 50-100 years. Long term, Chapel Street Wastewater Treatment plant could become a major pumping station with all treatment being done at Te Maunga due to a lack of room to expand the existing plant at Chapel Street.
One of the big problems in handling wastewater is what happens in a breakdown situation. At the moment there is only about 45 minutes storage capacity, if the pumps don't function. Four hours is needed. So staff presented an option of a 2.5 metre diameter tunnel similar to the Pillans Road storm water tunnel to run from Graham Park under 10th Avenue to the major wastewater pumping junction at Memorial Park. That's the shed you see between QEII hall and the swimming pool. The alternative solution is a large storage tank at Memorial Park to provide the required storage capacity.
On a vote of eight to two with Catherine Stewart and Murray Guy opposing, the committee agreed for staff to cost out the tunnel option and refer back to council for a final decision.
I remember the case of the disappearing sewer pipes when the original system was installed in the 60s. Memorial Park was originally swampy. It is not good construction ground and on the surface (no pun intended) a tunnel is a sensible option. Either way, we were told the city is in for an estimated additional $6.6 million in the future for wastewater storage and a rising main (this pumps uphill) from the existing Judea pump station to Memorial Park. We have already had sewerage overflows into the Waikareao estuary this year as storm water flowed into the wastewater system.
The hard questions are: to what extent does council future proof our infrastructure? Our forebears did what they could but never envisaged Tauranga's out of control explosive growth.

Green at Mount
Mount Greens development on the large open area on Totara Street is progressing. It will include six croquet lawns, three lawn bowling greens and one artificial green, plus a brand new Cosmopolitan Club. Once complete, it will allow Blake Park to be reconfigured, over time, and Coronation Park also plus May Street Reserve. A number of elected members note if this project was suggested right now it wouldn't get to first base.

This sporting life… and rubbish
The Indoor Sport and Exhibition Centre is ready to go to tender once issues surrounding control of the site are ironed out with the Speedway promoter. It's progressing positively, staff advise.
Staff report only 10 per cent of the city's rubbish is now collected in council rubbish bags. Paper bags are to be phased out over the next few months and black plastic bags will take over – at an increased cost from $1.70 to $1.95.
As an aside, when you compare rates, don't forget to add in the cost of rubbish disposal compared to those councils that still collect their own rubbish. In my estimation if council was still doing it, you could add another $350 or so (minimum) to your rates. Around $25 per ratepayer is included in your general rate for solid waste disposal now.

Moving right along…
At a strategy and policy meeting we heard submissions from mobile shop traders on proposed updating of rules.
By and large, it looks like we have got the balance between mobile traders and rate paying traders at fixed locations. Six mobile traders will be allowed on Marine Parade over Christmas; an increase of two. These licences are tendered. New standards of presentation will be required – for instance exposed generators thundering away all day won't be allowed. Mobile Traders will be allowed on The Mall between Prince Ave and Leinster Ave – mainly to serve summer evening people watching cruise ships leaving – but under existing rules – 30 minutes in one spot, for example.

SunLive on the beat
As council got back to the perceived humdrum of running the city, media attendance has dropped off at meetings. I note increased attendance from SunLive and The Weekend Sun reporters. Other media now phone up to find out what happened but for some reason they don't ring me. They miss a lot by just phoning up.
We had a debrief on the nine to 10 month, 10 year plan process. Bearing in mind government requires this, I thought staff did an excellent job on the 10 year plan. It's not our fault or theirs that we go through this in such detail. I think three years of detailed planning is sufficient with broad brush planning for the ensuing seven years. We have got to get costs down.

Real grassroots feedback
Next year we will start the budget process for the annual plan with a fixed rate requirement stated and as things get added or subtracted to the programme, elected members will be aware of the effect on rates. At the moment it all gets added up at the end.
I always advocated for starting with a fixed figure but it never got majority support. It should have the effect of hardening some tummy muscles on levels of service and new projects – especially as next year is election year. Make no mistake, if the city is to keep ticking over, there aren't any white rabbits or silver bullets out of the projection for rates over the next two to three years.
I've been speaking to clubs and organisations and its interesting getting real grassroots feedback and generally I am impressed at the widespread understanding of the situation council is in and the way forward being proposed. Of course, that's not everyone.

Dogs do wash
Staff have been approached by a private company about a ‘doggy delight dogwash'; a self service coin operated dog wash unit. It runs similar to a carwash. You select shampoo/conditioner and dial up a spray nozzle to spray your dog; $10 for 10 minutes. Council would receive rental for the lease of the space just like the boat wash at the ramps. What next?