A fence at the new penguin underpass and fencing affixed to a gate at the base of the breakwater at the edge of Tourism Waitaki's Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony drew ire on social media at the weekend.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher joined a chorus of protest about the fence erected by the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony, writing on his mayoral Facebook page ''It has to go!''
Yesterday, he said he would meet Tourism Waitaki general manager Jason Gaskill today to discuss the fence.
''I'm looking to get the fence lowered, part of it,'' Mr Kircher said.
''I totally understand what they are trying to achieve, which is to stop people from putting off the penguins from using the underpass. But I think they can achieve that without having to block the view to the extent that it is. Penguins can't really jump that high, so they've gone a little bit overboard ...''
Mr Gaskill said penguins were using the underpass and the fencing was intended to be permanent.
''The fence and gate already existed. Colorsteel was simply put on them. So nothing new was constructed at either location. On the gate by the colony, a section of existing fence was reinforced and stabilised as it was at risk of falling,'' he wrote in an email yesterday.
Local historian and retired engineer Bruce Comfort, who has advocated for the breakwater extensively since moving to Oamaru 12 years ago, said he was aware ''a lot of people'' were concerned, but he understood the need for the fencing at the base of the breakwater.
''[Tourism Waitaki] has an obligation to . . . make sure that people aren't looking in at the penguin colony for nothing,'' Mr Comfort said.
''I know it seems a gross overkill with the small number of people and the potential loss of revenue, but it's the right thing to do as a business.''
At the weekend, Mr Kircher expressed surprise the project was supported by council officers without discussion among elected officials.
