Creswick residents have been left devastated after vandals targeted the town’s new splash park, which is yet to be officially opened.
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Vandals destroyed a pole at the splash park which controlled the flow of water between Monday night and Tuesday morning, rendering the park useless until a replacement is installed.
Located on Albert Street, the splash park had its first day of operation on Thursday and was not due to be officially opened until December 3.
The vandals also damaged a backboard of a basketball ring at the new complex which is located an the old bowling green site.
Creswick councillor Don Henderson described the behaviour as “mindless criminal damage” which had “deprived the kids of the town”.
“The damage is not necessarily of a financial nature, but on the first hot day of summer kids won’t have their splash park,” Cr Henderson said.
“Kids in Creswick have been hanging out for something like this for years, and it only takes one or two to destroy it for everybody.”
The pole has since been removed from the splash park, with a replacement expected to be installed in the coming weeks.
Cr Henderson said while he was confident the splash park would be back up and running in time for the official opening on December 3, it would require the council to spend extra money which “should be spent on other things”.
“What has to happen is we have to design a great big more robust post which people can’t tear out,” Cr Henderson said.
Leading Senior Constable Simon Barker said anyone with information about the crime was encouraged to contact police.
Leading Senior Constable Barker said while the vandalism was an isolated offence, community anger was justified, “especially when it’s a newly erected feature in town”.
