BEGA Valley Shire Council staff are outraged over continued vandalism at the old Bega Racecourse.
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Council’s manager of urban design and reserve planning, Mr Mark Canaider, said the clubhouse and bar had been extensively damaged in the latest attack, which is believed to have occurred recently.
Police have been notified and investigations are continuing.
Every window has been smashed in the first-floor clubhouse and all of the fittings ripped from the ceiling and walls.
The building has also been damaged by fire.
Mr Canaider said vandalism at the old racecourse had started soon after council bought the site in early 1999.
A fire, which destroyed one of the timber buildings in 1999, is believed to have been deliberately lit.
Mr Canaider said council had taken a number of measures to prevent vandalism, including boarding up all the windows, but to no avail.
He said he was particularly disappointed about the on-going vandalism given that the purchase of the racecourse had been identified as a community priority.
Mr Canaider said council would now have to spend money making the area safe and that many people failed to understand that while council had acquired the facility, it would need assistance from sporting clubs and community organisations with the management of the area.
Council administrator, Mr Rod Calvert resolved earlier this year to sell a portion of the old racecourse by tender after identifying the land as being surplus to council’s current and perceived future recreational needs.
Preparations for the sale are currently being finalised.
A plan of management will be prepared for the area of land to be retained by council, to be known as the Old Bega Racecourse Reserve.
Mr Canaider said the process was extremely time-consuming given that council had to prepare plans of management for more than 250 reserves throughout the shire.
Council bought the 42-hectare racecourse site after the Bega District Jockey Club relocated to the new Sapphire Coast Turf Club track at Kalaru.
A number of local sporting groups supported council’s decision to buy the racecourse and indicated at the time that they would be willing to make use of the site.
