- Colac Bay's iconic surfer statue may be replaced due to ongoing maintenance challenges.
- The Southland District Council pledged $35,000 as a loan for the project’s costs.
- Fundraising efforts will help cover the remaining costs for a new, more durable replica.
Colac Bay, a small coastal town in Southland, may soon be saying farewell to its iconic surfer statue. The towering figure, built in 1999 to celebrate the popularity of surfing in the area, has struggled with maintenance issues over the years, despite intermittent support from the Southland District Council.
The council initially allocated nearly $27,000 for upkeep between 2001 and 2004, but turned down further requests for funding in 2008 and 2019. Most recently, it pledged $35,000 by way of a loan to support either repairs or a potential replacement.
Local resident Lana Winders confirmed that conversations with the council were ongoing, with a replacement now being the preferred solution over what she described as “expensive repairs.” Winders highlighted that the community was eager to maintain the same design concept, featuring a surfer on a wave, as it remains an important symbol of Colac Bay’s identity.
“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,” she said.
Winders also spoke directly to Southland District councillors at a recent meeting held at the Colac Bay Community Centre, where she shared a history of the statue. She explained that the original sculpture took two years to construct at a cost of $41,000, but a last-minute fibreglass coating, which could have significantly improved its durability, was omitted due to funding constraints.
“Caretakers were left with the burden of maintenance not envisioned at concept stage,” she noted.
Southland District Council’s acting chief executive, Vibhuti Chopra, confirmed that repairs were no longer a viable option for the existing statue. She added that the council had provided preliminary concepts and cost estimates to the Colac Bay and Districts Progress League, which would consult with the Oraka Aparima Community Board before making a final decision on the direction to take.
If the community decides to proceed with replacing the statue, the $35,000 loan will be used as part of the project’s funding. The remainder of the costs will be covered through local fundraising efforts, ensuring that Colac Bay’s beloved surfer statue remains a symbol of its coastal spirit.
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