Specialist scaling contractors were working on the cliff face above Herepuru Road late last week assessing its stability and potential future risks.

The work comes after a slip closed Herepuru Road at the State Highway 2 end on October 6.

Crews are now working to clear the slip material and make the area safe, but Whakatāne District Council says there is no confirmed timeframe for reopening the road, which is prone to slips.

Council manager transportation Ann-Elise Reynolds said the specialist scaling contractors’ role was to remove loose or unstable material in the area affected by the slip that could create further risks.

Their work also helped identify what needed to be done to make the site safer and support the next stage of recovery.

She said the completion of the scaling work and engineering assessment marked an important milestone in the recovery effort.

Crews are now progressing to the next stage, which involved clearing slip material from the road.

Herepuru Road will remain closed while the work continues. Photo Troy Baker E6214-01