HOON drivers have targeted the Millicent community, ripping up grassed surfaces and causing headaches for sporting clubs and residents.
In recent weeks a number of locations across town have been targeted by so-called “burnout bandits” who have left innocent locals to deal with the aftermath of their actions.
Bolton Oval was among the grassed areas on the hoon drivers’ hit list with doughnuts and skids damaging the playing field.
Millicent Baseball Club president Michael Pink expressed his disappointment regarding the incident, adding it was not the first time it had occurred.
“It has happened a couple of times … the recent incident was not the first time it has happened,” he said.
“Bolton Oval is mainly used by the baseball club, so we are left to deal with it and there is not much you can really do unless you catch them.”
Michael added the club was going to look at fencing in the playing diamonds to prevent vehicles from driving onto the fields.
“Currently we are doing an upgrade with our club rooms and if we have money left over we will fence our diamonds,” he said.
“Incidents like this are really frustrating, we spend a lot of voluntary hours maintaining the field and the grass, then you get people that do this and wreck the surface of the playing field.
“We just have to leave it until it grows over.
“Hopefully we can get cameras down there and catch them.
“Otherwise we will have to replace the gate and lock it, which means everyone will miss out.”
Michael encouraged community members and residents in nearby houses who notice people driving inappropriately on Bolton Oval to write down their number plates and report them.
Also targeted by the hoons was the grassed area next to the Belt Road walking track.
Mayor Peter Gandolfi described the perpetrators as “idiots” and said they should face the consequences of their actions.
“I would say it is rare, but we do have the odd occasion when there is a blood red moon and some people turn into idiots and these idiots are simply vandals,” he said.
“I would encourage members of the public who witness such idiotic behaviour to report them to the police and with anyone convicted of hoon driving and damaging council parklands, council will pursue the costs of repair to vandalism on behalf of the ratepayers.”
Millicent Police acting Senior Sergeant Rick Errington said Millicent Police were aware of the burn-outs, which were executed on Bolton Oval and the grassed area on Belt Road and reminded locals hoon driving would not be tolerated.
“Police remind drivers who decide to behave in this manner it does constitute the offence of misusing a motor vehicle in Section 44B of the Road Traffic Act,” he said.
“The person found behaving in this manner will have their car impounded for 28 days and be charged with misuse of a motor vehicle.
“If anybody has any information on these incidents, please contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.”
