Vandals destroying Yeppoon

SITTING on the Yeppoon beachfront in a covered shelter yesterday which had palings missing, sharp broken pieces jutting out and large nails exposed, Ray Carrick and Sharon Matthews hardly blinked an eye.

Camping on the coast with their children, Jade Matthews, six, Zye Carrick, five and Shanae Carrick, 11, they said they were used to seeing such vandalism of public places in the region.

Regular visitors from Rockhampton, Ray said he was ‘used’ to seeing things like broken playground equipment, dirty facilities and pieces missing from public seating.

“We come down often and see it, and get blasé, but you feel for people who have travelled a long way,” Ray said.

“It definitely makes an impact on where you go, and where you come back to.”

Sharon said they had also noticed damage in Bell Park, Emu Park, particularly to the playground area.

“Often it is just left really dirty as well,” Sharon said.

“It makes it unpleasant for other children.”

They blamed both boredom and alcohol amongst the youth.

“This happens at night when we are not here,” Sharon said.

“It is just destruction, it is mindless.”

“Council make the effort to put these things in, and others come and ruin it.”

And it is not just council property in Yeppoon that has been the target of vandals.

On Friday night Yeppoon police and fire crews were called to the Stoney Creek camping grounds in Byfield National Park after receiving reports a barbecue had been blown up.

Acting Senior Sergeant Joe Aboud said campers alerted police to what they thought was initially a gas bottle fire at the public barbecues around 11pm.

Instead police found someone had set fire to the barbecue, which contained a gas bottle.

“Someone has poured an unknown liquid on the barbecue,” Acting Senior Sergeant Aboud said.

“There were concerns for safety, if the gas bottle had ignited.”

Luckily, no one was injured this time, and fire crews reported the gas bottle was still intact.

Police interviewed campers in the area are still investigating the incident.

The area will continue to be monitored by National Parks and Wildlife officers.

Anyone who witnesses incidents of vandalism can contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppers.com.au