The building of the flood wall along Whakatāne’s Commercial Wharf is part of stage three of Project Futureproof, which is already well under way on either side of the wharf buildings.

Project Futureproof is Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s project to improve flood defences in the Whakatāne central business district.

Stages one and two include works along Kakahoroa Drive and Quay Street.

Stage three includes the area of the Whakatāne riverbank between Quay Street and the eastern end of Mātaatua Reserve.

Earthworks are being carried out at Mātaatua Reserve and the former Army Hall site between Quay Street and the wharf shed and sportfishing club complex.

At the former Army Hall site, now the property of Ngāti Awa Group Holdings, where the Commercial Wharf begins, the flood wall is being raised as it was along Quay Street.

At the Mātaatua Reserve, the stopbank is being raised.

Due to potential dioxin contamination of the site, the regional council won’t be removing and replacing the stopbank as it did along Kakahoroa Drive.

The stopbank will be topped up and extended on its landward side and earthworks will be limited to the surface layer.

Works around the Whakatāne Sportfishing Club, and the current Gibbo’s on the Wharf and Iceman will not begin until later this year.

Construction will align with the fishing club relocation and Whakatāne District Council’s demolition of the Gibbo’s and Iceman building.

The regional council said though access to Mātaatua Reserve would change over the next few weeks, there would still be plenty of space for recreational activities in the reserve and overflow parking for boat trailers and vehicles.

Access on to and along the wharf from Quay Street would remain open.

The Whakatāne River walkway would remain open except for a small section going past the Mātaatua Waka.

A temporary unsealed path alongside the river would remain open while those with mobility issues requiring a concrete footpath could use the Muriwai Drive path.