Eco vandals hit

By Paul Pickering
A HILLS environmental group fears that local youths have turned Belgrave Lake Park into a playground for ecological destruction.
Appalled by the behaviour of loitering schoolkids, the Friends of Monbulk Creek and Belgrave Lake group has made an impassioned plea for community assistance.
Group convenor Robyn Paull says that the sustainability of the park is being jeopardised by disrespectful young hooligans.
From her nearby residence Mrs Paull has witnessed an increasingly worrying series of incidents.
Mature native trees have been hacked down with knives and newly planted trees wrenched from the soil.
Bags of weeds collected by the group have been slashed open and their contents littered throughout the park.
“This is stupid, needless destruction of vegetation and trees that we might not be able to replace,” Mrs Paull said.
She has also seen trail bikes being ridden through regeneration areas and jet-skis and speedboats being lowered into the tiny lake.
“This is an environmentally sensitive area,” Mrs Paull said.
“It’s the corridor between the Sherbrooke Forest and Monbulk Creek.”
Mrs Paull believes that the presence of anti-social youths has changed the tone of the area.
“Instead of being a family friendly area, it’s now like it’s been taken over by hooligans,” she said.
After being contacted by Mrs Paull, Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn conveyed the group’s concerns at the Shire of Yarra Ranges council meeting last Tuesday.
“This is a sad indictment on the community,” she told the chamber.
“We are doing the whole community a disservice if we let this continue.”
Despite an increased police presence at the park, no positive identifications of individuals or vehicles have been made.
Senior Sergeant Bob Raaymakers of Belgrave Police is keen to work with the shire to restore order to the park.
“The general public have a right to use amenities in the local area, so we’re concerned about any anti-social behaviour,” he said.
The shire is in the process of organising a meeting of interested parties, including the friends group, nearby schools and police.
Council officers will also conduct a risk assessment of the area in order to ensure the safety of park patrons.
Mrs Paull welcomed the proposed forum, noting the need to address a perceived disrespect for the local environment.
With the influence of global warming, the friends group is concerned that community apathy will place undue stress on the environment.
“We’re looking at solving this by educating the kids,” she said.
“The regeneration of native plants is struggling.
“We really need to look after what we’ve got.”