THREE years of hard work by a dedicated group of residents, a memorial tree to a mate and pride in creating a shared community space destroyed in a matter of moments.
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And for what?
The volunteers who have worked tirelessly to upgrade the Coal Wharf reserve on the North Shore are devastated after an act of senseless vandalism has left the reserve in ruins.
Northside Progress Association president Kingsley Searle said the latest attack is extremely disappointing.
It appears as though access has been forced via the locked gate into the recreation area. The trees planted by volunteers have all been run over or broken off and a memorial tree honouring the life of Gordon Dick destroyed.
The area is a significant place in Aboriginal and early European settlement history.
"It's just senseless vandalism with no purpose," Mr Searle said.
Association secretary Narelle Milligan is rallying the troops and will call on Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to support their requests for better surveillance of the area and improved signage to deter illegal campers.
"We had been growing those trees for three years and we had a special tree to honour Gordon Dick. We were about about to order a plaque and a make a garden around it," Ms Milligan said.
"Two years ago it was macheted in half and we had pickets around it which has obviously drawn attention to the area. It has been chopped right out, we couldn't even find it."
Ms Milligan said while anti-social behaviour in the area has improved slightly and the community has worked hard to keep the recreation area open to the public, this latest act of vandalism has left them reeling.
The association has asked council to send out a tree surgeon to see how many of the plants can be saved. They are also calling on anyone who witnessed activity in the area on Saturday or Sunday night to contact CrimeStoppers or the local police.
The Coal Wharf project was made possible with the assistance of council, state and federal funding.
"We're now in danger of losing volunteers who are just so disheartened by the infrequent but constant vandalism," Ms Milligan said.
Up to 20 volunteers commit their time to the reserve.
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