Vandalism leads to domain gate

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Publication title: Southland Express

Tuatapere Domain is set for a new gate in the hope it will stop people tearing up the local field

It follows the installation of CCTV cameras at the site last year in a trial to reduce wilful damage and boost security for the nearby pump station.

With several incidents occurring after the cameras’ installation, the Southland District Council found they had not eliminated the problem.

That included one incident in June last year when the grounds were ripped up by a vehicle which also crashed into a storage building, causing significant damage.

When police requested to review footage from the reported incident, the council could not pull identifying features because of camera quality, security lighting and poor weather.

The cameras had also proven impractical because council staff had to travel to the domain to get footage, and only once the privacy officer had approved a request by police.

Tuatapere Te Waewae Community Board chairwoman Anne Horrell said police expressed a preference for a gate which they would likely take...