Demolition work being undertaken on The Strand in Whakatāne is progressing well and should be completed by the end of next week.

Richard Mahy Contracting Limited was commissioned to remove three buildings, from 132 to 142 The Strand. Two of the buildings are owned by the Whakatāne District Council and are being removed to make way for the Strand Plaza redevelopment, which will see the construction of a community space including seating (which can be removed to accommodate community events), decking, trees, bicycle stands and bollards. The plaza will also feature a covered walkway section along The Strand frontage. One of the buildings, 132 to 134 The Strand, was privately-owned and will be rebuilt as retail space.

Native timber and metal cladding removed from the site has been sent for recycling, with some of the remaining material being donated by the contractor to Community Resources Whakatāne (CReW) for repurposing. Heavy demolition began on Monday 7 April 2014, after workers had ensured that the work would not affect adjacent buildings. The contractors have recorded their appreciation for the level of cooperation shown by pedestrians and nearby businesses.

The entire Strand Plaza project is expected to be completed by 1 October 2014.