VANDALS used a fire extinguisher to graffiti inside the red slide at Gordon Park playground and left broken glass near picnic tables before dawn on Friday, 25 September.
A phone call triggered a swift response from Nambucca Valley Council (NVC), which arranged a clean-up just in time for the Uniting Supported Playgroup at 10.30am.
Local parent Emma Collie, who is associated with the Friday playgroup, happened upon the scene around dawn and immediately alerted NVC via the emergency line.
“They asked if it was an urgent job and when I told them we were holding a playgroup at Gordon Park later that morning I was told that where children are involved it’s considered urgent,” she said.
Tim Woodward, Head of Green Space, which is the parks and gardens maintenance arm of Council, speedily arranged the clean-up by calling on Zane Doolan from Bowraville, who ensured the playground was fit for children to use by pressure-cleaning equipment and removing glass.
“Within three hours of the call our worker was on the job and completed the clean up before 10.30am,” Tim Woodward told News Of The Area.
“Vandalism of our parks happens a lot more than people think, for instance, we have replaced gates at Bowraville playground six times already and can’t bear the ongoing costs.
“We hope more people report vandalism promptly by calling Nambucca Valley Council or our emergency line 1800 26 27 28 out of hours, or using our council Antenno App where even photos and location can be uploaded,” he said.
By Sharon JANE
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