The grounds of Collins Park are regularly being badly damaged by late night drivers performing fast and dangerous manoeuvres and council staff fear someone will be hurt in an accident as vehicles roar around the bridge pylons and creek bank area.
The damage repair bill is costing ratepayers and the activities are occurring more often, a council staff member said.
Nearby residents have complained about the noise of vehicle engines and activity in the early hours.
Council outdoor staff are regularly finding the area near the creek bridge torn up as vehicles perform wheelies, and mud is splattered across outdoor table and chair settings.
Cars are being driven around and under the bridge pylons and around a ‘course’ marked out with a traffic cone, council staff said.
Fires have been lit in the table settings with damage to the shelter roofs
“These grounds and facilities are for local people and visitors to enjoy” a council staff member said.
“But they are being destroyed.
“What sort of a picture of Narrabri does this present to travellers?”
Council’s community facilities manager, Ms Helen Carroll said the council was concerned about the dangers associated with the late night vehicle activity.
“It is not only the damage to the park lands, but what concerns us is the potential for an accident” Ms Carroll said.
“While these young people may think they are having a great time, and a bit of a yahoo, they could crash into the concrete bridge pylons and if they misjudge the slope they can end up in the creek.
“It is a risky activity.
“And the damage means additional time the staff have to spend there repairing and cleaning up.
“We don’t have a huge team and we have to be as efficient as possible with the time we spend on different areas so it is very frustrating to be having to clean up and do additional repair work when we could be doing other things. And the cost comes back to the ratepayers” Mrs Carroll said.
“This activity is increasingly becoming an issue.”
“It is a small group of people who are mucking it up for everybody else. The park is a high profile location and this is the impression visitors get of Narrabri when they see the damage.
“Council has a great parks and gardens staff, locals who genuinely care about the town and the way it is presented and they do take it personally” Ms Carroll said.
