WHAKATĀNE District Council has given river users the all clear after a wastewater pipe overflow contaminated Wairere Stream last week.

A wastewater discharge into the stream, which flows into the Whakatāne River at Quay Street, was identified last Tuesday.

The council put warning signs in place on the river to warn people not to swim or gather seafood in the area from the isite building to The Heads and cleared a blockage in the pipe by midmorning the next day.

While further work is being carried out this week to install a new liner to the wastewater pipe that runs alongside the stream, daily testing of the river has been carried out to ensure the water is safe for swimming, fishing and whitebaiting.

Yesterday, a council spokeperson said the stream was back to normal and the team would be removing the signs in this week.

Repair work included a new liner to extend the lifespan of the pipe. The Kōhī Point Scenic Reserve section of Ngā Tapuwai o Toi Walkway was closed yesterday while work was carried out.