Mayor Rob Ford raged against Sugar Beach at city council on Tuesday.

In a fiery speech on the council floor, Ford called the beach a “complete waste of taxpayers’ money” and “hard to find” on the waterfront.

The Waterfront Toronto beach — complete with pink umbrellas that cost $12,000 a piece and rocks with a price tag of $500,000 — has been in the spotlight in the lead up to council’s debate on a waterfront strategic review. Council ended up approving the review Tuesday in a 31-6 vote.

“When we first heard about this people thought we were joking spending ($416,000) on pink umbrellas. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a joke,” Ford told council. “That includes the bulb and lighting for maybe — maybe if we have a great summer - five months.

“And then we’re paying $530,000 for two rocks from Quebec.”

Ford said the city couldn’t afford the beach that was completed in 2010 before he was elected mayor.

“There is obviously nobody watching the waterfront or the people that are (watching) are irresponsible with taxpayers’ money,” he said.

“I have not found one person ... that supports spending $12,000 on pink umbrellas on the waterfront.”

He claimed he sees no evidence of the waterfront on his almost daily drive on the Gardiner Expressway.

“I don’t see a waterfront — I see congestion and condos,” Ford said. “Where is this beautiful Sugar Beach? And if it is a tourist destination it is very hard to find.”

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong — who first raised the alarm around Sugar Beach spending — welcomed a review.

“I believe we need to look at the way the waterfront is being developed,” Minnan-Wong said.

Other councillors, including Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, defended Waterfront Toronto and Sugar Beach.

“Waterfront Toronto has deliberately chosen the high brand,” Kelly said.

Councillor Paula Fletcher called the waterfront criticism a case of “knowing the cost of everything but the value of nothing.”