FIGHTING OUR CORNER WITH TRANSIT NZ

The Engineering Services Committee will be making a strong submission to the Transit New Zealand 10 year plan, which is about to start its final approval process.

TDC Engineering Services Manager Peter Thomson says, 'Our highest priorities are still the Ruby Bay Bypass and the McGlashen Avenue/State Highway 6 intersection. We have been working on these projects, especially the bypass for a number of years and will be making the strongest possible submission to help move these projects up the priority list.�

The recent increase in the cost estimate for the Richmond intersection project has disappointed committee members. Because Transit now estimates the upgrade will cost $6.7million, they feel that the project could be left way down the priority list.

'It will be extremely disappointing if other projects that haven't been around as long end up jumping the queue, � Mr Thomson said.

The submission, that will reflect Council's strong desire to get these projects underway, must be submitted by 16 March 2005. A series of public hearings will follow before Transit NZ makes its final recommendation to Land Transport New Zealand in May. The final approved ten-year plan is due to be announced at the end of June.



MOTUEKA BYPASS TO BE DISCUSSED

The Motueka Community Board has passed a recommendation asking that the Engineering Services Committee set aside budget to fund a feasibility study into building a bypass road around Motueka Township. Following this request, a suggestion has been made that Transit New Zealand be invited to share with the Community Board the information they gathered during the 1990s when they did considerable research into the options for creating a bypass. Transit NZ staff will be invited to a forthcoming Community Board meeting to begin the discussion process. Although it is now too late to get this project considered for the ten-year plan, the discussion could possibly lead to consideration of other options such as creating a heavy traffic bypass to keep trucks out of the main street of Motueka.



MORATORIUM ON DOVEDALE WATER

Following a request from the Dovedale Water Users Committee, the Engineering Services Committee has imposed a moratorium on new connections to the Dovedale Rural Water Supply. The moratorium has been introduced while the ability of the existing supply to meet increasing demand is assessed. Several water users on the Dovedale supply have experienced difficulties getting sufficient water. The scheme now needs to be fully investigated and plans made to cope with the increased demand in the area. Council hopes to report back to the Water Users Committee on this as soon as possible.



CHANGES TO WILLOW PROTECTION WORKS

Investigations have begun into how Council can better manage the maintenance of willow trees along riverbanks. The willow trees are used to prevent erosion during floods. They cover the length of 850kms of riverbank in the district.

However the fast growing trees need constant maintenance, which is a costly and time consuming process. A ten-year programme is to be established with the aim of replacing the current front line 'crack willow� species (which is also susceptible to the pest Willow Sawfly) with a smaller willow species.

Other varieties of trees, including natives may then be planted as a second line of defence. Willow clearing and maintenance currently accounts for more than $470,000 of the Engineering Services annual budget.



MURCHISON WATER STUDY COMPLETED

Monitoring to detect water pipe leaks in Murchison has been completed. Results now indicate that daily usage is at an appropriate level or 450m3 a day, compared with a peak of 550m3 a day at the same time last year. Breakages in the 40mm supply pipes are being detected regularly but are also repaired quickly so water leakage is minimal. Council staff will now investigate whether it will be more cost effective to completely replace the pipes that are susceptible to leaks or to continue with the on-going maintenance.



TAPU BAY PIPE LAID

The new Tapu Bay Pipeline is now in place. Connection work has been completed at Tapu Bay and connection work at the Riwaka end will be done in the next few months. Once this is complete the new main will be connected into the system and the old main pipeline will be disused and filled with fresh water.



For more information contact:

Peter Thomson
Engineering Manager
Tasman District Council
Phone 543 8440