By Jed Lanyon
A tourism information touch screen in Healesville was smashed on the night of Monday 15 July in an act of vandalism.
The visitor information digital kiosk sits on the footpath outside The Memo and was used by visitors to navigate the area to find locations of interest such as landmarks, restaurants and hotels.
A spokesperson from Yarra Ranges Tourism said that costs for the screen and its installation were over $20,000 and that they hope the screen can be repaired rather than replaced.
The video screen features a security camera, which was also targeted and damaged.
The Yarra Ranges Tourism spokesperson said they hope that Police can find the vandal using footage from the screen as well as surrounding CCTV cameras in Healesville.
The digital kiosk was funded by a state government grant and the Yarra Ranges was the first tourism region in Australia to receive the video screens that are similar to those found in shopping centres.
“It’s such a shame because it’s a great pilot project.”
The screen has now been covered to protect the shattered glass.
If you have any information about the incident, please contact Healesville Police on 5962 4422.
