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Police, parks officers are fed up with damage to property
Written by ALEX BAIRD.
MYRTLEFORD police have hit out at "maverick" hunters for damaging a shelter at the West Buffalo section of the Alpine National Park this month.
The incident, which saw a public shelter damaged to the tune of $7000, has local police and Parks Victoria staff up in arms.
Parks Victoria senior ranger, Craig Hore, said the incident, which is believed to have occurred on the weekend of July 3 and 4, was "extremely disappointing".
Vandals cut down the shelter with chainsaws and then proceeded to tip it over and remove three heavy timber supports.
After discarding the roof, the vandals then pulled the concrete foundations from the ground.
"This type of behavior is very disappointing," Mr Hore said.
"We spend $1500 a year on padlock replacement and $4000 on repairing gates on top of any other damage caused by vandalism and people entering closed roads.
"Seasonal road closures occur to protect road surfaces during winter months and for the safety of drivers and it’s disappointing when people break into these roads."
Mr Hore said joint patrols between the police, Parks Victoria and Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) were continuing.
Sergeant Paul Evans of Myrtleford police said the issue was ongoing and the most recent incident was the final straw after a spate of similar incidences.
"It has been an issue in Myrtleford for some years - gates and fences have been damaged," he said.
"It’s disappointing - people are taking advantage of the remoteness of the area."
Police and Parks Victoria authorities are cracking down on hunters who they believe have caused the damage.
"We had an operation last week where we intercepted a number of vehicles heading away to hunt," Sgt Evans said.
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