Popular beach carves itself artistic niche

The bridge in Mission Bay is expected to be reopened next month. Photo / Dean Purcell

Repairs are under way on a popular piece of sculpture in Mission Bay while residents wait to hear if another prominent sculpture will grace the seaside suburb.

Auckland City Council is spending $70,000 repairing the Millennium Bridge, designed by sculptor Virginia King and Chris Thom, of City Design as a year 2000 project.

Selwyn Reserve at Mission Bay is also a possible site for Terry Stringer's Mountain Fountain, which is being relocated as part of the upgrade to Aotea Square.

The repair of the bridge, also known as Aramarama, has surprised locals, but not Virginia King, who is delighted the council is caring for the public artwork.

"It is a steel bridge, it had a very low budget and it was obvious it was going to need maintenance. All artwork does," said the sculptor, who was not paid an artist's fee for her work.

The $105,000 bridge has been a bare concrete plank since last month when its four pillar lights and railing rods were removed for repair due to damage from weather and some vandalism.

The bridge is expected to be back in use next month.

Eastern Bays councillor Toni Millar said she was as aghast as locals at the $70,000 repair bill.

"It's a heck of a lot of money. However, it is a very much loved part of the waterfront," Ms Millar said.

Tamaki Drive resident Diana Wells said: "It's a gross misallocation of Auckland City money. We weren't informed it was being taken away and three months seems a long time to fix a bridge."

A decision on the new site for Mountain Fountain is due to be made by the council's arts, culture and recreation committee on November 11.

Additional reporting by The Aucklander