Vandals damage Henley Park wetlands

TYRE TRACKS: Hoons rough up grass at Henley wetland. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Hoons broke into Henley Lake's wetlands over the weekend, tearing up the turf that is close to the home of many of Wairarapa's urban bird and wildlife populations.

Masterton District Council spokesman Sam Rossiter-Stead said the council was disappointed by the Saturday night hooning which has caused significant damage to the wetland's turf.

"This vandalism is extremely disappointing and has been referred to the police to follow up," he said.

"We believe they entered via a chain gate which was cut, but we are in the process of gathering more information.

"We will repair the damage to the grass when the area dries out."

Tom Ward from the Henley Trust said he was unaware of the damage until he went to the area on Sunday.

"I went there and checked on the Sunday afternoon," he said.

"When I went everything was padlocked up again, but we have had concerns about the gate being left unlocked for one reason or another in the past."

Mr Ward said that fortunately this instance of vandalism did not threaten the birdlife at the lake because of the location away from nesting grounds.

"Where they did the hooning was in the wetlands part rather than where the bird and wildlife are.

"We've had a few incidences of vandalism, graffiti, had things smashed in the past, it seems to come and go.

"A couple of men from the Mens Shed work to keep things in order and maintain the area.

"It normally tends to be worse during the school holidays."

Mr Rossiter-Stead has confidence in council efforts to prevent another episode of vandalism.

"We don't believe there to be any effect on the wildlife at this stage and we've taken steps to help minimise the chances of a repeat," he said.