By KATH GANNAWAY
THIEVES who stole the timber tops off tables and seats at the Ada Tree Picnic Area have registered a new low, according to the Department of Environment and Primary Industries.
In an unprecedented night raid, the tops from three picnic tables and 10 seats were stolen from the popular but remote spot in the Yarra State Forest near Powelltown, leaving just the the ‘legs’.
The theft happened overnight between 5pm on Thursday 26 September and 9am the next day.
DEPI Forest Management oficer Joy Harte described the theft as “a new low”, and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“The table tops and seats were bolted to the wood,” Ms. Harte said.
“In the past, we have seen gates and locks removed from seasonal road closures that are put in place to protect roads from use during the winter period, but we have never seen vandalism like this.”
Ms Harte said vandalism, illegal dumping and stealing seriously affected people’s enjoyment of the State Forest and cost tens of thousands of dollars to clean up and fix.
“Last year, DEPI went through 60 padlocks in an effort to keep the roads closed and re-vegetate the forest,” she said.
“The Ada picnic shelter cost $35,000 to build and will most likely cost more than $10,000 to fix.”
DEPI uses cameras in some parts of the forests to detect illegal activity, and there are substantial penalties for stealing from public land.
Anyone with information is urged to call DEPI on 136 186.
