Burned wood, hot nails from Papamoa bonfire trashes beach

The Tauranga City Council said pallet fires such as the one on Papamoa Beach are especially bad because they leave behind large, hot nails. Photo / Bent Jensen

The remains of a bonfire on Papamoa beach has upset residents and raised concerns from the council.

The large pile of burned and unburned wooden pallets at Harrison's Cut was discovered by locals out walking along the beach early yesterday morning.

Sharp nails can be seen sticking out of broken wooden pallets after a bonfire on Papamoa beach. Photo / Bent Jensen

Resident Bent Jensen said some wooden pallets still had nails attached while others had burned away, leaving nails to become buried in the sand.

"There were all of these pallets that had not been burned, with nails sticking up. Obviously, somebody's had a good time but did not think about the people who came after."

Jensen said the mess made him and others angry.

Tauranga City Council manager of parks and recreation Mark Smith said it had received a complaint and had sent out contractors to clean up the mess.

"Council cleans up the remnants of beach fires often over the summer period. Pallet fires are especially bad because they leave behind large, hot nails.

"We also see a lot of broken glass and other dangerous debris. However, there is a coastal fire ban in place this year, so there hasn't been as much to clean up."

Smith said the council did not know who started the fire.