It's been a busy few months for the Mercury Bay Community Board who have a number of projects on the go in the area.

These works include the Buffalo Beach rock wall and the sandbag wall at Brophy's Beach, fixing the safety issues along Bluff Rd, and refurbishment of the Coroglen Hall and Saleyards Building.

Work to extend the Buffalo Beach rock wall by 120m is now underway. Photo: TCDC

A planned extension of the Buffalo Beach Rd rock wall saw work start last week.

Community Board chair Paul Kelly says the rock wall will be extended by another 120m which will take it past the toilets opposite Halligan Rd to the Buffalo Monument.

'This extension will cost $633,100 and is expected to be completed by June,” says Paul. '[While] the tender to install a sandbag wall at Brophy's Beach has been tendered and works will start mid-year.”

The Bluff Rd between Kuaotunu and Matarangi has been closed indefinitely due to health and safety concerns around the Bluff overhang.

This month the board supported an option to blast the overhang and once a cut slope has been formed, install a rock fall mesh netting .

'The estimated cost is $330,000,” says Paul. 'The Board has requested the work be district funded and is a priority for Year One of the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan.

'Other priority works at Dalmeny Corner to Hot Water Beach will be in Year Two and council will approach the NZ Transport Agency to get additional funding for health and safety improvements at Dalmeny Corner.”

Paul says the board has also allocated $17,000 to help with painting and finishing works at the Coroglen Hall and Saleyards Building.

The money is from the Board's Discretionary Fund which is currently unspent.

'Heather McPhee and the Coroglen community has done some fantastic work in improving this area and it's a great example of our Community Empowerment model.”

For more information about the Mercury Bay Community Board visit: www.tcdc.govt.nz/Your-Council/Councillors-and-Community-Board-Members/