Whanganui Year in Review, October 2020: Election drama, vandalism and still NZ s most beautiful city
30 Dec, 2020 03:30 PM
3 minutes to read
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Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer failed to take Te Tai Hauāuru on election night. Photo / Bevan Conley
October 7
Children in Gonville were left high and dry on October 7, as vandals set alight the playground at Lorenzdale Park on Swiss Ave overnight.
The vandals caused around $90,000 damage, with the play equipment expected to cost upwards of $60k, with the matting worth a steep $30k.
Lorenzdale Park in Gonville was set alight on October 7. Photo / Bevan Conley
Revealed: How much vandalism cost Whanganui District ratepayers in 2020
16 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM
3 minutes to read
Whanganui District Council spent over $37,000 on vandalism this year. Photo / Bevan Conley
Fifty-five incidents of vandalism cost Whanganui ratepayers more than $37,000 in 2020 with everything from toilets and playground matting to doggy doo bins taken to by vandals across the district. But the cost could grow once the repair bill following October s arson at Lorenzdale Park is added.
The figures, released by Whanganui District Council to the Chronicle under the Official Information Act, show that the most expensive incident of vandalism was the deliberate oil spill at Kowhai Park in November, costing the council $5,963.41.