Popular fishing spot the Kaituna Mole will undergo maintenance this winter before re-opening in time for the summer months.

The mole hasn't undergone any major maintenance since it was first built in 1958.

It was originally built to act as a coastal structure to maintain the river mouth in a fixed position, but later became a recreational facility as well, says Bay of Plenty Regional Council environmental engineer Brad Harburn.

A condition assessment carried out showed the mole was reaching the end of its asset life cycle, so major maintenance is needed to extend its lifespan and for it to continue to serve its purpose as a coastal structure, says Brad.

BOPRC have commissioned the maintenance that will involve adding new sheet pile facing with an anti-abrasion coating in front of the current facing, re-capping the concrete deck that will lead into the carpark and adding new handrails and benches.

'We're going to be improving it while we're there, so that we leave a better product than what we started with,” says Brad.

The mole itself will be closed while construction is underway, but the beach around it and the carpark will remain open.

The upgrade on the Kaituna Mole has a budget of $1.9 million, with $1.425 million from the $23 million the government invested in Bay of Plenty flood protection projects last year.

Construction is set to begin at the end of June with the goal of it being open in November.