It’s been a tough 16 months for the Central Coast Steam Model Co-Op at Narara.
Unable to operate since March 2020, due to COVD-19 restrictions, the family favourite attraction in Showground Rd has been targeted in recent weeks by a spate of vandalism.
Co-Op president, John Gordon, said the vandalism had seen drainage pipes smashed, a security key box damaged, and the destruction of specialised draughts boards.
“We have had no income since March last year,” Gordon said.
“Our member subscriptions are coming in but that provides only around $350 each year and we have continuing expenses including insurance, lawn maintenance and electrical repairs to our mowers.
“Our bank account was reasonably healthy at the start of COVID, but we’ve had nothing to top it up with and we’re just about running on empty.”
Gordon said the attraction was subject to regular acts of vandalism but a recent spate of attacks, seemingly perpetrated by one person, had been especially concerning.
“We have CCTV footage of an individual smashing drainage pipes to our large water tank and damaging a security key box,” he said.
“But the most disappointing thing was the destruction of two tiled draught boards set into two of our concrete tables.
“These were built by Mick Farrell, who was a founding member of the club some 39 years ago and were a memorial to him following his passing a couple of years ago.
“We call them Uncle Mick’s tables – and every single tile on the draught boards has been smashed.“
Gordon said operating under COVID-safe rules had proved impossible for the attraction, even before the current strict lockdown.
“Providing QR coding proved too difficult with so much open space and maintaining social distancing just about impossible,” he said.
“Normally we could carry up to 12 adults on a train, but with social distancing we could carry only three unless they are all members of the same family – and that is just too difficult to police.”
Gordon said while the attraction was regularly subject to vandalism, the latest attacks were “by far the worst”.
“We constantly have people damaging our point levers, but this was another level,” he said.
“We have footage of a person smashing pipes to our water tank with a hammer and trying to break a hole in the bottom of it with a steel rod.”
Gordon said police were currently investigating the vandalism and barbed wire had been placed around the security area.
“The land is owned by Central Coast Council but we built all the infrastructure and maintain the lawns to keep the area open to the public for picnics,” he said.
“Even when we’re operating we only charge $2.50 for a ride the first Saturday of each month.”
“We are trying to provide community activity at no cost to Council.”
Gordon said a local plumbing firm had done the Co-Op a special deal on pipes to replace the smashed pieces, but even so the repairs would cost at least $500.
He said the attraction was unlikely to reopen before “sometime” next year and appealed to anyone with any information on the vandalism to contact Brisbane Water Police.
Terry Collins