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| June 2001 |
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Vandalism costs thousands a year
A plea has been made for the public to help Council staff catch the vandals. The bill for vandalism at Council leisure centres alone is expected to top $100,000 this year. Queen Elizabeth Two Park is facing a bill for damage totalling $47,000, the Waltham, Halswell, Sockburn and Centennial Pools have costs totalling $20,000 and Pioneer Stadium $10,000. In addition to vandalism the Council faces high costs in combating graffiti around the city. In one instance at Queen Elizabeth Two Park 70 litres of paint were used to cover graffiti. An estimate of Council costs for graffiti removal up until the end of June this year is $340,000. Vandalism at Council facilities comes in all shapes and forms. Children’s play equipment has been burnt on one recent occasion and in the Botanic Gardens buildings have been set on fire. At Queen Elizabeth Two Park tussocks and sprinklers have been removed or kicked by vandals. Vandalism in the Botanic Gardens-Hagley Park alone is estimated to cost about $42,000 every year.
Major problems in the Gardens are the theft of plants and play equipment, damage to signs and damage in glasshouses at weekends. Toilets are frequently damaged. Toilet-roll holders and paper are continually being removed or damaged. In addition, toilets are completely blocked with clothing and other materials. This usually means a plumber being called to clear the obstructions. Coppers down pipes have been removed from buildings in recent months (not for the first time) and windows broken. The worst vandalism in the gardens last year was two fires being set in buildings and statues damaged in the conservatories. The Gardens’ carpenter spends about two and a half days a week repairing broken fences and barriers and repairing damage caused by other vandalism. From January to April materials alone for the carpenter’s work have cost about $5407. The estimated costs of vandalism to the Gardens and Hagley Park are:
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