Playing surfaces torn up, fences rammed at Hume sports reserves
Hoons are doing burnouts on sports reserves across Melbourne’s north, leaving playing surfaces as mud pits and repair bills running into the tens of thousands. And the senseless destruction has ramped up over the past fortnight.
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Vandals in vehicles are ramming fences and doing burnouts on popular playing reserves across Hume, costing the council tens of thousands of dollars to repair.
Mayor Carly Moore told the Leader the “disgusting” acts of vandalism had ramped up in the past fortnight.
“Our residents have every right to be angry that some of our most popular reserves have been deliberately targeted in this way,” she said.
“There’s absolutely no excuse for this type of idiotic behaviour.”
Locked gates were rammed, fences destroyed and playing surfaces ripped up at Craigieburn’s Highgate Recreation Reserve and Aston Fields in the past two weeks.
Lakeside Drive in Roxburgh Park, Greenvale’s Recreation Reserve and McMahon Reserve in Sunbury were also targeted.
“We’re scratching our heads as to why people would be so thoughtless and inconsiderate,” Cr Moore said.
Craigieburn homeowner Selen Rif said vandals were “rampant” in the area, but residents were “too afraid” to report the hoons to police.
“Highgate is a disaster — stupid kids on motorbikes doing wheelies and laughing while families are there with there kids,” she said.
“We need it patrolled especially in sunny days and late in the evenings.”
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Marina Grobisa said she would hear burnouts every night in Broadmeadows.
“Meadowlink was only just opened and the same happened, they found a gap and off they went — without fail from 11-12am you can hear cars doing burnouts,” she said.
“They are bored and have no respect we need more surveillance cameras.”
Victoria Police is investigating the series of incidents.
Anyone with information should phone Hume Council on 9205 2200 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.