Council's $7k fence blunder

Fences were installed by Napier City Council around BBQ areas last month before being removed at a cost of thousands of dollars. Photo / Supplied

Fences were installed on Marine Parade by Napier City Council before being swiftly removed at an "astounding" cost to the taxpayer of almost $7500.

Blue Water Lodge owner Thomas Whitehead said he was surprised when the fences sprang up around BBQ areas last month.

"They were absolutely ugly - they lasted about two days. Then on Sunday at 6.30 at night a big team of them pulled everything out."

A council spokeswoman said at the time the fences were put up to protect surrounding plants which had been damaged.

But once they went up they were "deemed not to be suitable - more from an aesthetic reason than anything else, and so we've removed them and are looking at other options".

When asked for details under the Official Information Act by Hawke's Bay Today, council chief executive Wayne Jack said the combined cost of installing and removing the fences was $7487.

It was a mixture of contractors and council staff who did the job and "the work was only just completed when the fences were removed," Mr Jack said.

New Zealand Tax Payers' Union spokesman Ben Craven said the blunder was "definitely not a good look" for the council.

"It's astounding. People expect value for money for their rates. It does sound over-the-top, and someone needs to be held accountable."

Mr Whitehead said the money "could have been better spent [elsewhere]".

"Seems some people don't care about the amount of ratepayers' money they waste.

"For many people that is a lot of money. This could have been better spent."

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton declined to comment on the situation.