A small Southland community could soon be waving goodbye to its one-of-a-kind surfer statue.
There are hopes the now-tattered Colac Bay/Ōraka town icon will be replaced by a replica that can better weather the elements.
Built in 1999, the towering structure pays homage to the popularity of surfing in the coastal township, located about 50km from Invercargill.
But it has struggled with maintenance issues over the years, which Southland District Council has intermittently assisted with.
The organisation committed funding of almost $27,000 for maintenance between 2001 and 2004, but declined requests in 2008 and 2019.
More recently, it promised $35,000 by way of a loan.
Colac Bay resident Lana Winders said conversations were happening with the council on a replacement, which was now the preferred option over “expensive repairs”.
The project would make use of the loan money, with the rest being made up through fundraising initiatives.
“We’re really keen to stay with exactly the same theme … a surfer on a wave. It’s a really important part of our identity in Colac Bay.”
Winders said the council had come to the party with part of the cost, but the community would launch a significant fundraising effort to bridge the gap.
On September 18, she gave Southland District councillors a first-hand account of the situation when the council held its meeting at Colac Bay Community Centre.
She told those gathered it took two years to build the original surfer at a cost of $41,000, but funding limitations prevented a last-minute fibreglass coating which would have improved durability.
“Caretakers were left with the burden of maintenance not envisioned at concept stage,” she said.
Southland District Council acting chief executive Vibhuti Chopra confirmed repairs were no longer viable for the statue.
Chopra said her organisation had presented concepts and estimated costs to the Colac Bay and Districts Progress League, which would come back to the Oraka Aparima Community Board with the direction it wanted to take.
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