Popular driftwood sofa to be removed from Mount dunes

Local resident Lois Hemsley is asking for the driftwood sofa to be left "for the enjoyment of all". Photo/Andrew Warner.

The city council has ordered the removal of a popular "driftwood sofa" built on top of dunes at Mount Maunganui - upsetting locals.

The structure was built at the end of March and sits in front of a pohutukawa tree looking out to sea.

Local resident Lois Hemsley, who visits the beach almost every day, is asking for the seat to be left "for the enjoyment of all".

The 75-year-old said the council could make a one-off dispensation for what was "a beautiful work of art".

"It is unique to Mount Maunganui. Anyone can tie jandals on fences or put locks on bridges, as I have seen in other parts of the world, but this is our own local unique piece of functional art for the enjoyment of all."

Mrs Hemsley, who has lived in the area for 55 years, said she did not know who built the sofa but would love to find out.

She said in the months since it had been there, many children and families had sat on it and that everyone was disappointed it was to be removed.

"Young and older couples have enjoyed the panoramic view. I have sat on it with my granddaughter and recently I sat there with a young man from Karlsruhe in South Germany and he had brought other tourists to enjoy time on it."

Mrs Hemsley said while there were plenty of wonderful man-made seats along the beachfront giving views of the bay, the driftwood seat was a unique piece of Kiwi design and ingenuity.

"Each piece of wood is unique. It is well-made and strong so is not a hazard. It could be inspected each year by the council."

Tauranga City Council parks and recreation manager Mark Smith said over a number of years they had been working really hard to restore the dunes at all of Tauranga's beaches back to their natural state, "which includes removing structures and encroachments".

"The dunes are a conservation area. Any structures there require a resource consent, as going through the process would mitigate any negative environmental impacts."

The council confirmed that they had ordered the removal of the structure, which was on Marine Parade halfway between Sutherland and Grove avenues.

Mrs Hemsley likened it to a box on the beach at Papamoa in which families can access spades and buckets and toys.

"Did they get resource consent for that to be left on the beach?

"Sadly someone tried to burn it down but it has been replaced for the use and enjoyment of families. Surely this can be left for all to enjoy too," she said.

"I applaud what the council is doing to restore the dunes but I feel they could have made this an exception."

Mrs Hemsley first heard about the driftwood seat being removed this week when an anonymous note was left on it saying: "Council will be removing this seat in a couple of weeks' time."

The note said: "If it is yours - feel free to move it to your yard. Personally, I think it's a really awesome seat and I've already asked the council to keep it here but they said no!

"I think it looks really great here but please remove it before council do. Sorry! I did my best!"

Mrs Hemsley said on a nice day after she has gone for "a good walk and a jog on the beach" she often goes up there, lays out a car boot sheet and lies on the sofa.

"Just lie on there and look at the sea and just relax."