Controversial Tay St surf reef to go

Hibiscus Surf School co-owner Rebecca Manning supports the removal of the artificial reef. Photo/John Borren

The controversial $1.5m artificial surf reef installed at Tay St is to be removed because it poses a serious risk to swimmers.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council announced the decision yesterday.

Regional council deputy chief executive Eddie Grogan said the reef, which was constructed between 2005 to 2008 but never completed, had created a large hole which affected waves and currents and increased the frequency and intensity of rips, posing a serious risk to swimmers.

The five-year consent granted for the reef lapsed in 2010 and while the Mount Reef Trust, which was dissolved in 2010, would have liked to see the reef completed it was not in a financial position to maintain, manage, re-consent or complete it, he said.

The council's review of the reef recommended it be removed in a staged process, as removing the largest geotextile containers at a cost of about $60,000 would likely eliminate health and safety and environmental issues.

Long time surf lifeguard, Omanu Surf Club member and critic of the reef, Allan Mundy said the news had "made his day".

"That's great. It's been a real problem since it was put in. I think there's going to be an expense but in the long run it's going to benefit beach users," he said.

Mr Mundy said the construction of the reef had caused the water to suck out on either side of the structure digging holes which were about 4.5m deep and making it more dangerous for swimmers.

Both the Omanu and Mount Maunganui surf clubs had been forced to increase their patrolling of the Tay St area because of the increased danger since the reef was built, he said.

Mr Mundy was also a keen surfer and said the reef had "never produced a surfable wave".

The reef had also destroyed the foredunes on the beach and would eventually erode the dunes away to the point the grass bank would need to be reinforced, he said.

Mr Mundy expected the dunes and sea floor would return to their original state after it was removed.

Hibiscus Surf School owners Guy Shuttleworth and Rebecca Manning were also pleased the reef was being removed.

"I think it'll be a good thing," Mr Shuttleworth said. "It's never worked. It's definitely made more rips, more currents."

Tay St dairy owner Pete Grindrod also supported the move to get rid of the reef.

"It's never worked. In fairness, it's created nothing but a rip. It's quite a popular part of the beach and it's made it quite dangerous," he said.

Richard, a Tauranga surfer and kiteboarder who would not give his last name, said it was better for swimmers if the reef was removed.

"It's a nasty rip and when we're kiting it's a hazard," he said pointing to where the reef protruded from the water between waves.

The designer, Raglan-based ASR, could not be reached for comment.

Work would start as soon as a contractor was selected and weather permitted.