Wanaka River Journeys jet-boat driver Brent Pihama said he had not been close to the structure while the work was being carried out but he was looking forward to it being completed and freeing up more of the river for jet-boat use.
"It will simplify a lot of people's lives, and [harbourmaster] Marty Black's life," Mr Pihama said.
Otago Regional Council director of environmental engineering and natural hazards, Dr Gavin Palmer, said last week work was progressing well and "all continuing to go well, should be completed in the next week or so".
The protection works has been the scene of serious jet-boating accidents and recreationalists lobbied for many years to have it removed before the ORC finally resolved to do so last year.
The protection works were built in 1976, using old railway irons, but a big section has long been regarded as ineffective in protecting nearby farmland from floods.
Another section was backed up by rock walls and willow tree planting by Mt Aspiring Station farmer John Aspinall.
That has been successful in protecting against floods and will remain.
Queenstown Lakes District Council harbourmaster Marty Black said as soon as the protection works were removed, he would apply for a five-knot speed restriction at the site to be lifted.
That would allow jet-boats to continue up the river to the boundary of the Mt Aspiring National Park, which is near a swing bridge leading to a tramping lodge close to Raspberry Flat.
