Repair is set to start on one of the few remaining sites on the Whakatāne River damaged after the 2017 flood and storm event.

The work will see the replacement and repair of the rock armouring along the Whakatāne River downstream of the Landing Road Bridge.

The work will mean use of the Warren Cole Cycle/Walkway will be controlled at times. To ensure public safety, parts of the river reserve, the cycle/walkway and the Eivers Road Reserve will be restricted for public use while works are being carried out. Users are asked to pay attention to signage.

Local residents are asked to avoid the area at the very end of Eivers Road and particularly keep an eye out for truck and machinery movement around the reserve, cycle/walkway and Eivers Road.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Project Manager Paula Chapman said the works are programmed to start next week on site access to be followed by rock placement. She expects the the job will be completed by Christmas assuming the weather and ground conditions remain favourable.

'The rock armouring on the town side of the river was damaged during the floods in 2017. This medium priority repair is important to support the town's flood defence stopbanks.”

'We just ask that people out and about in the area take extra care for the next few weeks and the contractors will be extra vigilant as well. If residents have any questions or concerns, please call Bay of Plenty Regional Council on 0800 884 880.”

On completion, reinstatement works will tidy the area including any paving damaged and it will be returned to normal access and use.

The 2017 storm and flood event caused damage to 520 sites across the region's river and drainage networks leading to a repair budget of $45m. The majority of highest priority works have been completed. The balance of high priority sites, and the remaining approx. One hundred sites assessed as lower priority are scheduled for repair by June 30 2022.