VANDALS STRIKE AT WORKSITE
VANDALS have smashed windows, slashed tyres and poured paint over thousands of dollars worth of construction equipment – likely delaying an $80 million Gold Coast community project.
According to a Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman the site of the $80 million Pimpama Sports Hub was targeted by vandals on Saturday night.
Unfilled blockwork on the construction site was also smashed, amenities were damaged and fences and barricades pulled down.
Heavy machinery, including a tipper truck, was damaged, and lewd images and offensive messaging was spray-painted across the site.
Local councillor Donna Gates said the northern Gold Coast attack was likely to have an impact on the progress of the project set to be completed in mid-2021.
“I am quite devastated, the project was going so well despite the bad weather,” Cr Gates said.
“They were pretty well on target and this will just put them back as this is a lot of machinery to replace.
“It is ratepayers funds going towards this project, how can you make sense of the act when it is a project for the community?”
The head of the PimpamaWillow Vale crime watch page Doug Kirby said the response from the community had been strong.
“It is pretty disappointing, everyone is very angry,” Mr Kirby said. “As a community we can just hope the company have got their own cameras, and realise that if they can’t catch them they can at least post the footage so we can help identify them.”
Mr Kirby said a majority of the community believed the attack was carried out by a teen group.
“It could be bored kids, when you look at what was painted it screams youth, but then again it could be activists. The biggest issue is if they do get caught, there will be a lack of punishment. Unfortunately these kids out there are taught at school what rights they have and that even if you don’t have any respect, you can’t be touched by the law.”
The contractor ADCO Constructions have advised they will increase security measures, but the site was fully fenced and locked at the time of the attack.
The incident is being investigated by police.
The project is located on the corner of Bull and Rifle Range roads.