Wharf closure angers locals and campers

Those who go to fish off the Tolaga Bay wharf will be disappointed this summer. Picture / Richard Robinson

Thousands of East Coast tourists will be let down this summer by what angry locals say is the unnecessary barricading of Tolaga Bay's famous wharf.

A Brisbane-based contractor has been criticised for ignoring the needs of holidaymakers by refusing to take down scaffolding on the 74-year-old wharf, which extends 660m out to sea.

Early this month Tolaga Bay camping ground owner Mike Brooker described the situation as "like going to Paris and being told the Eiffel Tower is closed."

"The wharf is an icon. The people turning up to camp here are spewing. Some of them have come here for the past 30 years to fish off that wharf. They turn up and the first thing they ask is 'what's the fishing like?' But they can't fish."

Mr Brooker said he would not be surprised if tourists or regular campers took matters into their own hands and moved the barriers and barbed wire themselves.

"There's a 60-year-old lady here who has heard about the closure and she's turned up with her bolt-cutters.

"He [the contractor] reckons he can't move it. Well, give me four guys and half a day and we'll see."

Maintenance and structural work has been under way since February, closing the wharf all year.

When the work began the community was told it would be completed within six months, Mr Brooker said. The contractor, Concure Australia, had worked on the wharf spasmodically during the year, leaving the job for up to 10 weeks at a time.

Four people had been employed, including two young locals. No work was taking place at present.

So far the wharf's upgrade had cost $760,000, although the contract was extended recently, which cost a further $225,000.

All the money had been raised by a community committee through donations received from organisations such as the Historic Places Trust and the Lotteries Grants Board.

Mr Brooker said the Gisborne District Council had shown no interest in contributing to the project. "They've given us one engineer."

Concure was maintaining that the wharf's re-opening over the holiday period was up to the council, while the council said the decision was over to the contractor.

"We just want somebody to take on some leadership."

Concure spokesman William Bonner did not return the Herald's calls.

Gisborne District Mayor Meng Foon said the council could force the contractor to open the wharf over the holidays, but it would not do so.

The issue was one of health and safety, he said.

"It doesn't make sense to because of the short period of time he's [the contractor] away over Christmas."