Sportsground going down as tenants say vandalism and lax cleaning takes a toll on community space
By Kirra Livingstone
VANDALISM is on the rise and maintenance standards are slipping at Beerwah Sports Ground, prompting Beerwah Lions president Rod Layt to call for an external caretaker to manage the now-defunct campsite.
Mr Layt said issues at the Sports Ground began after the campground ceased operations.
“When we had caravans in there and a caretaker, we never had a problem with vandalism or maintenance,” he said.
“There’s a job there – they can create a job for someone, they can create a house for someone to stay there and be the new caretaker.”
He said Sunshine Coast Council was falling behind on maintenance, particularly gardening.
“Back in December, a huge tree branch had fallen onto the ground, and it took council a month to come and remove it,” he said.
“When they came to mow, which is only fortnightly if we are lucky, they would go around the branches instead of taking them.
“At one point we had to mow around our shed twice because the grass was almost knee height.”
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said lessees of the Sports Ground were responsible for maintenance in their own spaces.
“The common areas of the grounds are maintained by Council’s Parks and Gardens team while the sports fields and surfaces are maintained by the sporting clubs as part of their lease requirements,” they said.
Mr Layt said vandalism had also increased since the campground closed.
“We always had our toilets unlocked, and we never had any issues with graffiti here until the campground closed,” he said.
“People came in and spray-painted the toilets, council came to repaint it and then installed gates and now lock them at night.”
The Beerwah Bulldogs clubhouse and Beerwah RSL sub-branch, both located at the Sports Ground, have also been targeted by graffiti vandals over the past year.
Mr Layt said the council should reinstate camping at Beerwah, citing economic benefits for the community.
“We need a campground because it brings so much money into our local businesses,” he said.
Division 1 councillor, Jenny Broderick, said people can still utilise the Sports Ground as a day area.