The Warburton Trail was trashed by vandals recently which resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damages.
Upper Yarra resident Frank (who requested for his last name to remain anonymous) was riding on the popular bike track on 1 May when he came across several gateposts ripped out of the ground in different locations.
Frank said whoever committed the acts of vandalism were “deadbeats” and that the damage was disappointing to see.
“I was riding along the track and some deadbeat has ripped all the posts out where the gates are, so it’s just some blatant vandalism,” Frank said.
The destroyed gateposts were found at Healesville Kooweerup Road, Woori Yallock, the east end of Woori Yallock Station and Sunnyside Road Seville East.
Frank visited the Yarra Ranges Council Civic Centre to report the vandalism to try and bring some attention to it.
A council spokesperson said the damages would cost the council “several thousand dollars” worth in repairs.
“We’re extremely disappointed that several fences have been damaged along the Warburton Trail recently. Repairs are underway on the fences, and are expected to cost several thousand dollars.”
Frank said the size of the gateposts and the extent of the damage would’ve required a powerful tool of some sort.
“They must have had some sort of fairly powerful implement because when they snapped the post off, the post was about 8 inches or 200 mil square, and they just snapped it off and it just splintered up out of the ground.”
“They couldn’t have done it manually, so whatever they’ve used, it would’ve had to have been some sort of implement or a vehicle to do that,” Frank said.
The council said it urged those with information to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
“We encourage anyone with information about the damage to contact Victoria Police or Crime Stoppers Victoria,” the council spokesperson said.
