Swell idea takes its time as Mount reef delayed once again

A diver walks across a sandbag that has just been filled on the second stage of the artificial surf reef being built at Mt Maunganui. Picture / Alan Gibson

Work on Mt Maunganui's artificial surf reef is taking longer than expected again, with today's scheduled completion of the second break now put back to this weekend.

Mount Reef Trust executive David Neilson said technical difficulties had caused the latest delays in the $1.5 million project.

"We've had pipelines break and block and bags rolling over in the swell," he said yesterday. "Nothing is straightforward with this side."

Divers have been working on the reef's second, right-breaking side since September 15, using two diggers, two barges and two pipelines to lay giant bags and fill them with sand.

A team of up to 10 divers from Bay Underwater Services are working 15 hours a day to get the second break completed.

"We just want to get it done and get it finished," said owner Rob Campbell. "It's just been hanging over our heads for too long."

He was conscious of criticism that progress had been slow, but said the project was the first of its kind and construction methods had to adapt along the way.

He also assured surfers the reef was making waves. "We're proving it now," he said. "We're parked almost on top of it and there's a swell."

Mr Neilson praised Mr Campbell and his team for enduring tough conditions.

When not in the water, he said, they were stuck on the 4m by 8m barges.

"It's not exactly a hotel. It's like being marooned on Survivor island."

A good sense of humour, sunshine, an orca and a pod of dolphins had made life more pleasant, but the team had also had visits from less welcome visitors - sharks, including a 4.5m mako spotted on Monday.

The reef is 250m off Tay St, five minutes drive south of Mt Maunganui's main beach.

Some of the bags on the reef's first side are still only partially filled. It is hoped a storm will wash away a build-up of sand, so that side of the reef can be completed.