Ballina Touch Association cancels senior’s game after ‘large quantity’ of needles found dumped at Saunders Oval

A Northern Rivers footy game has been cancelled for safety reasons after a “large quantity” of needles were found discarded on a sports field. Here’s what we know.

Saunders Oval, Ballina. Picture: Savannah Pocock

A Northern Rivers touch football game was cancelled for safety reasons after a “large quantity” of needles were found discarded on a sports field.

A Ballina Touch Association committee member found the needles on the grounds of Saunders Oval on Swift St at Ballina on Wednesday night.

The club was forced to ditch a senior’s football game set to go ahead on Wednesday.

Association volunteer Brad Izzard confirmed the find and said “the safety of the players is paramount”.

Needles were dumped on the field. File image.

“A large quantity of needles were found … It stops our games from being played,” he said.

“The whole senior’s competition was supposed to start tonight and it’s been cancelled.

“The competition has had to be rescheduled for next week.”

Needlestick injuries can lead to the transmission of serious bloodborne infections including HIV and hepatitis A, B and C.

Bins are easily accessible at Saunders Oval.

Mr Izzard said the club has not faced a similar sharps problem before.

It’s not clear exactly how many of the needles were found on the field.

Ballina Shire Council said reports were received of needles discarded on the oval – and workers were quick to act.

“Council staff were on site immediately and safely removed a large number of needles from the area,” a spokesperson said.

A public toilet block at the sports field. Picture: Savannah Pocock

“In discussion with Ballina Touch Football, Council made the decision to close the sporting fields to ensure public safety.

“Additional monitoring for needles is currently being undertaken in this location.”

A NSW Police spokesman said Richmond Police officers were aware and attended the oval.

Police took a look around, but did not find more needles.

Ballina Shire residents took to social media to express their disgust, one particularly vocal commenter labelling those responsible “f--king putrid junkies”.

“Several hundred people won’t be playing touch tonight thanks to these dogs,” the outraged man said.

“Very little seems to be done about them and the problem is getting worse since the floods.”

It was suggested the needle users needed to “dispose of their s--t properly and have a little respect for the community and children that use the area”.

The community is outraged about the needle discovery. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Ballina Shire takes part in the Community Sharps Collection Program with help from chemists, its Problem Waste web page states.

“The program is of great benefit to the community, offering Ballina Shire residents and visitors a safe collection point to dispose of self-administered sharps waste in approved personal use sharps containers,” the council states.

Anyone who finds a dumped needle anywhere in NSW should phone the Needle Clean Up hotline on 1800 633 353.