Lifeguards have branded a $1.5 million artificial surf reef at Mount Maunganui as an expensive and dangerous flop.
They say the reef has been intensifying rips and should be removed before next summer.
Two big rips were now being produced on either side of the three-year-old Tay Street beach reef with sand scoured out to twice the normal depth to 4.5 metres on the shore-facing end of the reef, Omanu director of lifesaving Allan Munday told the Bay of Plenty Times.
"It has been a complete flop and not delivered what it was going to deliver. No one would shed a tear if it disappeared tomorrow."
The reef, 250m off shore, was also ignored by surfers after failing to produce the promised surf breaks.
Raglan company ASR which designed the reef said it was not performing well as it had never been completed to specification.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council said it was arranging a meeting on the issue with interested parties.
