Editorial: Wave pool brilliant attraction

Certainly the Junior Bike Track has proved popular but is not going to attract tourists. Photo / Duncan Brown

The proposed artificial wave park for Napier would have to be the best idea the council has come up with in a long time.

Certainly the Junior Bike Track has proved popular but it's not the type of thing that is going to attract tourists.

Somewhere to go surfing at any time of the day would be one of the few attractions for people in their 20s.

These are the people who complain that there is nothing to do in Hawke's Bay.

It would be a huge drawcard for surfies from all over New Zealand.

Unlike the latest attraction on the parade which has caused rather a lot of controversy.

The $320,000 Graham Weaver-designed feature, which stretches over a series of levels 50m long beside the National Aquarium takes out a long stretch of prime real estate.

But did we really need another fountain? And did we really think people would stay out of the water?

It's become an attraction all right ... but for all the wrong reasons.

The water is not treated but the kids really don't care about that.

All they see is somewhere to cool down ... after all the sea, just metres away, is not a safe option.

So let's hope this wave garden gets the green light and soon.