We come across too many cases when public parks and facilities are not available to the public and the reason that is given is vandalism if they are open.
This means we need more policing of these facilities not to have them locked up and unusable.
The examples I’m aware of are:
[ul]Roma St Parklands – maintained at huge public expense but made very inaccessible by locked gates and parking areas at night
Toilets in public places especially Wahminda Grove and underneath The Hills Community Centre.
The D’Aguilar Range National Park for use for overnight camping – they have a problem with vandalism even in the daytime and also with arson[/ul]
People who vandalise public facilities provided at great cost for the enjoyment of the community impose a difficult choice: a need for much more policing or the facilities underused and the community denied pleasurable access.
The other area that is under-resourced with public facilities is Keperra. You can just hear the excuse: “Yes but they get damaged.” That isn’t a reason for not providing facilities for the use of law-abiding citizens. It is a good reason for firm policing.