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Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 58, 23 July 1974, Page 1

Vandals doing "wheelies" have ripped up the turf on three Taupo reserves in the last few days. The borough is concerned over the incidents. Fences may have to be erected to protect the reserves if the damage continues, said the parks and reserves supervisor, Mr Barry Hickling, yesterday. The latest attack happened on Saturday night on the grass north-east of the control gates bridge. Mr Hickling says the damage will take months to rectify. He asks that any information on this and the other incidents be given to the police. Last week cars were deliberately run over the Gillies Avenue and Mere Road reserves. The Gillies Avenue park, adjacent to the Heidelberg Hotel was the worst hit. It is the second time in - the past few months this reserve has been damaged. Residents heard a car, thought to be a small green saloon, doing wheel spins in a tight circle at 1.15 a.m. on Friday. "The car was there for under a quarter-of-an-hour and it sounded like he was tearing around and

around," said one resident. When this has happened before, the Taupo Borough Council has approached Heidelberg owner Mr Brian Moore. But Mr Moore says the people are "definitely not

from the Heidelberg." Mr Moore said he is one of the first to agree that patrons park on a small area of the reserve. "But the people who have done this damage are nothing to do with us," he said. Mr Moore believes a

decent form of kerbing or a small wall would stop cars being driven on to the grassed area. He has even suggested erecting a screen from the Heidelberg's boundary to stop his patrons parking on the reserve.