Skatepark damaged just weeks before opening

The Winton Skatepark has been hit by vandalism just weeks before the project is scheduled to open.

The concrete surface on several areas of the park has been scoured, after the construction site was broken into at the weekend.

This is the second time in the past couple of months that damage has occurred and skatepark committee chairwoman Dawn Brocks said she was very disappointed.

’’Overall it’s very concerning – to undo the hard work that’s been done.’’

It had taken the committee, and the local community, seven years and thousands of hours of hard work to get the $390,000 project off the ground and Brocks said people were really upset about this latest incident.

‘‘There’s been huge community concern about this.

‘‘People don’t want to see the skatepark getting damaged close to the opening.’’

Skatepark builder Dave North, who has been working onsite for more than six months, was devastated.

‘‘I’m just gutted. There’s been a massive amount of effort go into so this project and then to come back and find that it’s damaged is frustrating.’’

He discovered the marks around the park at the weekend. ‘‘The concrete work had been done on the Saturday and then it was damaged by Sunday’’.

‘‘I’d put a sign up and timber across the area and they’ve deliberately jumped over and onto the wet concrete. They’re young ... and they don’t think about the damage they’re doing.’’

Costs would prohibit the affected surfaces from being replaced, he said.

‘‘We’re just going to have to accept it as damage.’’

Police had been advised and would step up patrols in the area.

Brocks thanked the community for their patience with the project and pointed out that there were only six concrete pours left until the park was opened.