A cash reward is being offered to anyone with information in regards to vandalising local infrastructure in Richmond, Queensland.
Richmond Shire Council Mayor, John Wharton, has taken to Facebook to express his anger and disappointment over the vandalism of park infrastructure at Lake Fred Tritton.
On Friday evening of January 5, it is alleged that vandals had driven across the matting floor of the water park, only missing council infrastructure by six inches.
The vandal then proceeded to do wheelies on the lawn between the water park and the playground.
Cr Wharton said it beggars belief that anyone who lived in the community would do such willful damage to the very infrastructure that makes Richmond a different place to live than most of western Queensland.
“If they had of damaged the water park facilities, it would have been closed for the rest of the school holidays, as our council workers are still on leave, and highly likely that no new parts would have been available for months,” Cr Wharton said.
“Council staff and management work very hard to provide and maintain our lifestyle assets and it is a stain on their good work when people with no brains at all willfully damage the very facilities that we are all proud of.”
The police have been notified and are investigating this incident, along with a few other incidents involving motor cars around Richmond.
“I will give fair warning now, that if it can be proven who damaged the water park, council will be prosecuting those involved,” Cr Wharton said.
There is also been a major increase in broken glass in the streets of Richmond and at Lake Fred Tritton, Cr Wharton said this was from people throwing stubbies out of windows of cars.
“Lake Fred Tritton is a public place and the police can charge anyone who drinks alcohol in the area,” he said.
“The police have been understanding and lenient on families and groups who do consume alcohol while enjoying the facilities, however this will now cease, and we only have the idiots, (once again) who have spoilt it for everyone else.
“If you get booked/charged by the police for consuming alcohol in a public place, you can thank the people who have created this problem.”
Cr Wharton said if anyone had any information that would lead to the prosecution of the vandals, please contact him on 0427 777 660.