Late night skids to burn out

Tauranga City Council is looking into ways to further secure Memorial Park from being the target of a spate of illegal burnouts that have destroyed the park's grassed area.

In the last two weeks there have been a number of late-night incidents of people drinking and performing burnouts or doughnuts in vehicles on Jordan Field, between Devonport Rd and the Tauranga Rowing Club.

Tauranga City Council parks coordinator Peter Mouldey at Jordan Field. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Jordan Field is part of Memorial Park' s 11 hectares of land sitting located on Tauranga Harbour's edge between 11th and 7th Avenue.

Tauranga City Council parks coordinator Peter Mouldey confirmed council had received reports from concerned Devonport Road residents over the incidents.

He understands those responsible are taking their vehicles over the curb onto the field via the Memorial Pools.

'This happens from time to time when the ground is a bit slippery and they [drivers] think it's a bit of fun. It is generally not in Jordan Field, but it's happened in other fields of town,” says Peter.

'Sometimes it will happen for a couple of weekends then it won't happen again, so we try not to go to the expense of fencing everything off because up until now we haven't required that.”

The majority of the damage is superficial but there are a couple of wet areas that may require some soil to be brought in.

'The rest is superficial and the grass will grow back and after a couple of mows, you won't even know.”

Acting Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Sergeant Mike Owen says this set of incidents has not been bought to police's attention but police closely monitor a number of hot spots throughout the city.

'There tends to be certain places like Memorial Park that they will frequent,” says Mike.

'Generally the public are quite forthcoming with phoning up and advising where they are or where they see them if they are in big groups.”

If caught drivers face charges of operating a vehicle causing sustained loss of traction and having their vehicle impounded.

If convicted the driver faces a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment, $4500 fine and disqualified from driving for a minimum of six months.

Depending on the circumstances they can be charged with wilful damage and be imprisoned for a maximum of three months.

Peter says if the issue at Jordan Field continues, TCC will look into installing bollards to prevent damage, and work with police to keep an eye on who is using the area late at night.

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3 comments

easy answer

Posted on 12-08-2014 12:59 | By s83cruiser

CCTV. Motion sensor activated camera. Snap a picture of every car that comes and goes after 6pm. No brainer really. would be cheaper that restoring the grass every time this happens. And don't give me any crap about invasion of privacy. If a person comes and goes and doesn't create damage then they have nothing to fear. Only the guilty need worry.


Sad eh?

Posted on 12-08-2014 13:56 | By Watchdog

These guys will probably all be on the dole as well. Crush their cars.


Hunting cameras Peter

Posted on 12-08-2014 14:03 | By GreertonBoy

From hunting shops or 'spend bay'you can buy small camouflaged cameras that are activated by movement... one or 2 of these where they are coming in and out will get the number plate or photos of the occupants, what time they are doing it etc... They can be left for a week or more as they only operate when something moves in their field of view. They work great for the donation bin illegal dumpers too...


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