Waverton: Balls Head Reserve crime wave sparks closure calls

One of Sydney’s most picturesque parks in the midst of a crime wave with illegal rubbish dumps, drug use and fires prompting a shock closure.

Boom gates are set to be installed at a popular Sydney Harbour reserve in a move to curb vandalism and crime.

North Sydney Council released plans to block cars coming and going from Balls Head Reserve at night after recording 18 instances of illegal activity and “anti-social behaviour” at the park over the last 12 months.

The behaviour has ranged from illegal dumping of rubbish to graffiti and multiple illegal fires which the council said “fortunately did not start a bushfire”.

A photo showing three truck loads of waste dumped at the reserve.

The reserve would be closed by installing two sets of boom gates at the exit and entry points of the Balls Head loop road with gates to come down from 10pm before reopening at 6am, seven days a week.

Lynne Cook, the convener of the Balls Head Reserve Bushcare Group, believes the spike in crime could be down to the relative secludedness of the headland – the largest managed reserve in the North Sydney council area.

“There’s been an increasing use of Balls Head Head as it’s become more developed and it’s attracted a lot more people who go down at all hours,” she said.

Incidents have included seats removed from picnic areas.

The reserve has become a magnet for firebugs.

A council report showing incidents at the reserve included native plants pulled out from the ground in February this year including varieties of rare sphagnum moss estimated to take five years to recover.

Acts of vandalism meanwhile ranged from damage to picnic areas, seats snapped off their footings and thrown onto the banks of Sydney Harbour and graffiti sprawled over toilet blocks.

Three truckloads of green waste were found dumped at the reserve in October, along with separate incidents of mattresses and household goods, and multiple syringes found in areas including picnic areas.

Fire and Rescue crews have also been called to the reserve on multiple occasions, including to extinguish three separate fires lit in the park on one night in July last year

The damage bill has been estimated at $9125 over the past year and has also caused impacts on ecosystems that support wildlife habitat.

“Balls Head Reserve is a highly valued community asset that is being negatively impacted by ongoing, regular bouts of vandalism and anti-social behaviour, particularly during night-time hours after ranger patrols cease,” the council said.

A map showing where the boom gates will be installed.

“In addition to the costs, there is also an increased risk of injury or harm that bushland and other council staff have to deal with when cleaning up dumped waste materials, including hypodermic needles, broken glass and fire ash.”

The boom gates will cost up to $32,000 to install and will be closed by rangers each night.

In the event cars are locked inside the reserve, the council said its security services could let vehicles out on a user-pay basis similar to measures at Manly Dam.

The council’s environment reference group will vote on the proposed measures at a meeting this week.