Rakaia’s iconic salmon sculpture will be restored to its former glory for almost $300,000.
The need for a refurbishment was signalled to the Ashburton District Council in June last year when a structural and maintenance assessment showed the 12-metre-high statue needed a lot of work.
Councillors voted to spend up to $297,000 from the Reserves Contribution Reserve for the refurbishment.
The vote was a 6-3 split, which didn’t include a vote from Mayor Neil Brown, who had voiced his support for the project.
“It’s iconic.
“It’s been there for 30-odd years and puts Rakaia on the map.
“I think Rakaia would be disappointed if it disappeared.”
Brown said it had cost around $120,000 last time it was given a refresh around 2005, so accounting for inflation 20 years later, the cost probably stacked up.
If there is deterioration beyond what has been budgeted for, it would have to come back to council he said.
Richard Wilson was “appalled at the cost” but supported the restoration of Rakaia’s icon.
Councillors Rob Mackle, Phill Hooper, and Russell Ellis opposed it.
Mackle had suggested it needed further investigation to see if replacing it with a new salmon sculpture would be a cheaper option.
Ellis said the salmon sculpture “could be the only salmon left in our district” and the only chance for people to see one in 20 years time, but couldn’t support the “astronomical” cost.
Open spaces planner Bert Hofmans told the councillors the refurbishment would return the sculpture “to its original glory” and required some urgency.
He said there are patches of the fibreglass lifting, exposing the inner core to moisture, “and if we don’t do some remedial work now, we could be in for greater cost down the track or ultimately removal of the sculpture.”
The sculpture was built in 1991 for $44,893 by the Rakaia Lions Club and was gifted to the council around 2005.
Following the structural assessment last year, the project was put out for tender earlier this year, and only one proposal was received from Phil Price Sculptures Ltd, the original sculpture creator.
The tender of $215,000 was based on completing the refurbishment on site, but Phil Price Sculptures was concerned about the quality of work being on site compared to working in the controlled environment of his studio.
As well as the fibreglass repairs, he plans a complete repaint including undercoat, detailed colour coat, and a clear UV protective topcoat, estimated to take six weeks.
The proposal price did not include craning, transportation, sandblasting, cutting and welding of the support pole, estimated to be around $82,000, bringing the total budget to $297,000.
It was noted by Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan that there could be some savings with local contractors offering lower rates for the project.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
