A new covered viewing platform is being built at Minden Lookout to replace the original structure, which was removed last year due to safety concerns.

The popular sightseeing location near the corner of Minden and Junction Rds is 286m above sea level and has panoramic views over Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Matakana Island and the surrounding coastline.

The new single-storey structure is being built around the existing stone plinth and viewing dial and is expected to be finished by the end of January.

It is designed to meet modern building code requirements and one of its key differences from the original timber platform will be its steel roof beams.

A new accessible path will also be built to make the platform easier for everyone to reach.

Under the Kaimai Reserve Management Plan 2025, the council has committed to working with mana whenua to include heritage information at the lookout site in the future.

The original two-storey lookout structure was built in 1977 by the Ōmokoroa Te Puna Lions Club, now the Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Club, and handed over to the Tauranga County Council in October 1978.

The platform was closed in March 2023 for a structural investigation and removed in early 2024 after it was deemed unsafe.

A plan showing the Minden Lookout rebuild. Image / Supplied

Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Club was involved in the design process for the new $220,000 structure, which is being funded from Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Facilities and Reserves Asset Renewal Fund.

“We’ve worked closely with the Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Club to make sure the new design meets modern safety standards while respecting the history of this much-loved community facility,” said Peter Watson, the council’s reserves and facilities manager.

“Minden Lookout is a popular spot for both locals and visitors. The new platform means everyone can continue to enjoy the panoramic views safely.”

Ron Stephens of the Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Club said the original platform was designed to benefit the whole community, providing a comprehensive view of the Bay of Plenty.

The club raised $6650 and received $2850 in donations to build the structure, and the Tauranga Electric Power Board shifted the power lines so they would not interfere with the view.

There was also a donation box on-site, which raised hundreds of dollars for what was then the Royal Foundation for the Blind.

“Since its completion, many families and tours have used the lookout to show off the Bay of Plenty,” Stephens said.

“It served the community well for a long time, and it’s great to see a new platform taking its place. It carries on what the club set out to do all those years ago, and wonderful to know this special view will continue to be enjoyed by future generations.”