The clean-up bill for the latest graffiti attack on Dubbo's skate park is likely to total about $4000 to $5000, Dubbo City Council has reported.
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Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson yesterday called the vandalism of the popular facility "disappointing".
He did not rule out safety cameras at the skate park, but said they would be dependent on the receipt of additional funding.
The graffiti in white and pink spray-paint left on the skate park added to city-wide vandalism costs that had already reached $25,000 since July, council parks and landcare services director Murray Wood said.
In 2013-2014 the total was $102,000.
Poisoned cricket pitches at Victoria Park No. 1 Oval were also being treated as vandalism by the council.
The bill of between $30,000 and $40,000 to dig up and replace the pitches was in addition to other vandalism costs, a council spokesman said yesterday.
The mayor yesterday echoed Mr Wood's frustration at the latest strike on the skate park.
"It is disappointing to see repeated graffiti and vandalism of community property," Cr Dickerson said.
"It appears this incident was opportunistic and council appreciates the help of local police in investigating the matter.
"While the skate park has been the site of repeated vandalism other playgrounds, parks and facilities have also been targeted.
"At this stage the emphasis is on minimising the opportunity for potential vandals to access materials and reminding the community to report suspicious behaviour to the police if they think a crime is being committed.
Closed circuit television (CCTV) was suggested by readers of the Daily Liberal's Facebook page yesterday and Cr Dickerson said it would come down to funding.
"There are currently 27 CCTV cameras operational across the city and these have proved to be an important crime prevention tool," he said.
"The skate park would be considered a possible location for CCTV but that would be dependent on additional funding for new cameras becoming available."
The extent of the latest graffiti on the skate park meant the council was likely to have to rely on contract cleaners for the full clean-up, which could take up to a week, the council reported in the wake of the incident.
