Dredging of the Whakatāne harbour entrance will begin soon to maintain the safety of the river and harbour.

Whakatāne District Council will dredge to deepen the channel and ensure it is in a workable state over the summer peak-use period. Low winter and spring rainfall, and reduced river flows, have meant the typical ‘flushing’ of sand from the channel has not happened this year, and discing dredging operations are necessary to prevent further build-up.

Regular monitoring of the channel will continue to assess the effectiveness of the dredging operation. and resources will be directed to any areas of continuing concern.