No more puddles for pétanque

Signi cant delays are expected at the city’s Fifteenth Avenue intersection this weekend as contractors work to commission new tra c lights as part of the Cameron Rd improvements. According to Tauranga City Council, the team is preparing for the weekend commissioning of new tra c lights at the intersection from 6pm Friday, August 4, to 6am Monday, August 7. “ is work involves turning o the old lights and turning on the new ones.

between the northbound and southbound lanes of Cameron Rd will be fully closed. is means only tra c travelling on Cameron Rd will be able to go straight through the intersection.” the surface by about 250mm.

Tra c heading from Fifteenth Avenue to SH2 will be diverted along Fraser St to 17th Ave, to rejoin the northbound lane of Cameron Rd to SH2.

“ e centre of the intersection

Tra c heading from SH2 to Fifteenth Ave will be diverted onto Cameron Rd to irteenth Ave, Devonport Rd, to Fifteenth Ave.

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negotiate soggy grass, puddles or play on uneven terrain thanks to a facility upgrade by Tauranga City Council.

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Keith Overend, who has been playing pétanque at Kulim Park for four years, says the informal group has been getting together for more than decade. But in recent years, the dozen-odd participants – aged in their ‘mature’ years, says Keith – have had trouble accessing the site and playing in puddles. “It was clay base with ne grit on it – but it wasn’t a very good layer of grit.

“But the biggest problem was drainage; it used to pool in one corner and we’ve seen the terrain threequarters covered in water in heavy rain in the past 18 months. e grass was also sodden around the terrain – sometimes there were puddles, so access and sitting around between games became di cult.”

“ ey’ve also laid a new surface, which is more even and consistent – and is designed so surplus water will drain o the surface. So it should not pond at all now.”

TCC senior landscape architect Clinton Bowyer says council upgraded the petanque court as it is an established play facility at Kulim Park.

“It ts well with the basketball court close by as they both cater for active members of age groups other than young children. Most of our smaller parks tend to concentrate on activities for younger children in the form of junior playgrounds but in larger reserves there is a trend to create active areas for older age groups.

“For example, skateparks, basketball courts, cycle tracks, petanque courts etc.

“O ering the general public opportunities to stay active and participate in group activities is one of the aims of the Spaces and Places team, so it is great to see so many Tauranga retirees actively participating in sports like pétanque,” says Clinton.

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Keith says TCC announced an upgrade of the park – and initially wanted to shift the pétanque terrain to the main gates. “We persuaded TCC to leave it put, as it’s a good space, then somehow it got dropped o the upgrade list.”

However, Keith says TCC has since installed new drainage underneath the pétanque terrain and lifted

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Keith says a raised footpath has been laid from the pétanque terrain to the park entry “so we can access it with dry feet”. “We play every Wednesday morning from 9.30am, if ne weather – we’d love more players to join us! Especially now the pétanque terrain has been upgraded.” Keith says the group is very grateful to TCC for the upgrade – and now welcome all to play – “just bring your own chair and morning tea!”.

“It’s a very relaxed, friendly fun group.”

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