Vandals have targeted Dubbo’s skate park with graffiti in a new attack of the kind that cost ratepayers more than $20,000 in 12 months for the precinct alone.
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The sight of red scrawl in spray paint disfiguring the popular asset met visitors there on Thursday.
Dubbo Regional Council confirmed it was the latest act of damage to the precinct and a hit on city coffers.
“Last financial year vandalism cost us $22,000 for Victoria Park alone,” manager of operations Craig Arms said.
“Regulars acts of vandalism include are spray paint, kicking in sprinklers and burning bins.”
He said the work to remove the red spray paint would cost one staff member at least three to four hours of work, but maybe more.
“Paint on concrete is never easy to remove,” Mr Arms said.
The red spray paint graffiti had been reported to the council on Wednesday, the manager said.
The Victoria Park precinct and its $400,000 skate park facility has been targeted by vandals numerous times in the past decade.
That’s despite the offer of a reward of up to $2500 for information leading to the conviction of a person or group committing acts of vandalism.
One attack alone in October 2013, where obscenities and scribble were plastered on multiple Victoria Park facilities left the council to contend with a clean-up bill estimated at $10,000.
This week the council once more condemned the attack, confirming it would be reported to police.
“We are very disappointed that this act of selfishness will come at a cost to the community however we take pride in our region and the majority of the community deserves an aesthetically pleasing environment,” Mr Arms said.
Council staff would be starting the removal process first thing and it would be cleaned off “the best we can”.
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