By Jesse Graham
HEALESVILLE kids have been left with a mudpile for a BMX track until spring, after someone tore up the park area in a four-wheel-drive.
Healesville resident, Stacey Kinsmore, contacted the Mail earlier this week and said the BMX track on Don Road, next to the skate park, had been torn up by hoons.
Covered in gouges from wheels, possibly from a four-wheel-drive, the track and the grass surrounding it was looking worse-for-wear when this reporter visited the site on Thursday, 13 August.
Ms Kinsmore said she noticed the damage when visiting the track with her children on Sunday, 9 August, and reported it immediately to Healesville Police.
She said it appeared the drivers drove a vehicle over the jumps at the track and did burnouts around the surrounding grass, as well as driving on the nearby soccer field.
“It’s made a bit of damage,” she said.
“I’m sure they could still ride on there, but they’ve gone up and over – you can see where they’ve come off of the road.
“It’s fairly bad – I don’t know if they’re going to have to re-do the jumps.”
The deep tyre marks, while mostly superficial, were filled with water in parts and scarred the whole track.
Healesville Police Acting Sergeant, Tim Stewart, said that police were “aware” of the damage, but that they had received no official reports.
“No one’s reported anything to us about it,” he said.
Sgt Stewart said that anyone with information regarding the damage can contact Healesville Police on 5962 4422 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
He urged residents to call 000 immediately when in need of police assistance, or to report crimes that are underway.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Environment and Engineering, Mark Varmalis, said the site would cost about $1200 to fix and that repairs would have to take place during spring.
“We are extremely disappointed with the damage to the site, which will be difficult and costly to repair during winter when the ground is so wet,” Mr Varmalis said.
“Repair works will involve topdressing and reseeding or rolling, and will take place during spring, subject to weather conditions and access to the site.”
