A report has been prepared for this month's City Council meeting recommending the further investigation of two streets Bridge and Jellicoe to establish which would be the most suitable pipeline route for the proposed ocean outfall.

Beatty, Caspian, Godwit and Heron streets have been identified as the least likely options for the pipeline route. It is considered important that residents of these four streets know about this decision early, so as to reduce uncertainty.

At this stage no further investigation will be made into these streets unless Bridge and Jellicoe streets prove unsuitable after further investigation and consultation.

The report has assessed the merits of using Bridge St or Jellicoe St as potential pipe routes. Although Bridge St is a better route from a technical point of view, Jellicoe St is seen as an option that would be far less disruptive to the community.

On this basis, staff are recommending that both are further investigated to identify any extra issues for each street as a pipe route, and develop possible solutions to overcome those issues. The full Council will discuss it at its monthly meeting, from 2pm on Thursday, 24 April.

Depending on what the Council decides, meetings will be held in May and June with residents, businesses, community groups and other users of these streets in order to:

• Evaluate the streets as pipe route options
• Understand issues specific to each street
• Confirm what is negotiable
• Seek agreement
• Identify alternatives if no agreement.

The last day for submissions about pipeline routes is 20 June. In July the Council is expected to make a decision in principle about the most suitable route.

The final decision on the pipeline route will be based on consultation with the community, consideration of the ecological and oceanographic studies once that information is available, and cost.

• On the web, see www.ccc.govt.nz/oceanoutfall