More destruction of DOC facilities...
I was utterly appalled and disgusted to read about recent vandalism to a number of huts down in Fiordland NP. It is only the first week out of Covid Level 3 restrictions and already we have scumbags destroying DOC assets in acts of senseless idiocy. There were also six SAR call outs around the country over the weekend so it would have been a busy time for DOC, the Police and the rescue services...
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| Lake Manapouri looking across to Shallow Bay |
Two huts were vandalised over the last weekend with broken doors and forced locks at Moturau Hut and significant damage caused to the flooring, bunks and furniture at Shallow Bay Hut. Both of these huts are on the Kepler Track and sit about 1.5-2 hours from the road end at Rainbow Reach. My understanding is that it will cost several thousand dollars to repair...money which is ultimately coming from your tax dollars.
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| Moturau Hut on the Kepler Track |
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| The Moturau Hut toilets were extensively damaged... |
I visited both of these huts earlier this year when I walked the Kepler Track and Shallow Bay in particular is a lovely and well liked late 1950's hut on Lake Manapouri. The two huts are only 30 minutes apart so I would surmise the damage was caused by the same people.
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| Lovely Shallow Bay Hut is just off the Kepler Track |
The Police are looking for any information about the vandals with a view to prosecuting them. What the vandals might not realise is that there are security cameras at the carparks on BOTH ends of the Kepler Track and at the docks at Manapouri and Te Anau!
They will have DNA evidence and fingerprints to follow up as the bastards left rubbish and broken bottles around which make great objects to finger print. The chances of the perpetrators getting away with their crimes are very slight.
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| There are cameras monitoring both carparks for the Kepler Track |
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| There is also a camera monitoring the Rainbow Reach bridge... |
I hope they prosecute them to the severest limits of the law.
