Vandals target new pool
• Three people near the swimming pool letting off extinguishers.
By Tony Scott,
November 24, 2021
The yet-to-open redeveloped Scottsdale Aquatic Centre is the latest target of vandals in the town.
At least three people were captured on surveillance cameras wandering through the recreation grounds towards the pool complex late last week.
They are seen carrying and letting off fire extinguishers.
Later fire extinguishers and a bicycle were found thrown into the pool, windows smashed at the kiosk and graffiti on the new waterslide.
Dorset Mayor Greg Howard said the council was getting exasperated by the vandalism.
The $7 million dollar redevelopment of the pool is due to be formally opened next Wednesday with a gala public opening on Saturday December 4.
But the council’s Director of Works and Infrastructure, Dwaine Griffin, said if any damage was done to the pool infrastructure it would have to be closed until repaired.
“We’ve got to ensure the health and safety of the pool users, so if parts had to be replaced there could be quite a delay, as there is with many deliveries of that nature at the moment.”
He said advice had been sought from police again about how areas might be protected from vandals’ attention.
Sergeant Brent O’Mahony said an option canvassed with the council had been the issuing of trespass notices.
“Police are conducting an investigation and identifying some people of interest from the surveillance footage.
“If trespass notices are issued we have power to ensure compliance and they can be made retrospective.
“But I want to reiterate we support good and appropriate community behaviour.”
A trespass notice could be made for a number of designated council-controlled areas and would be in force for 12 months.
Councillor Howard said targeting a community asset like the new pool was nonsensical.
“I hope that a bit of peer pressure builds on these people and they see they’re threatening something the whole community benefits from.
“The new pool is a $7 million asset that should not be put at risk by this sort of anti social behaviour.”