Vandals wreak havoc at pool

VANDALS left a path of destruction through the Tweed's newest public pool after an early morning rampage.

The unidentified trespassers broke into the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre in Murwillumbah on Saturday and littered the main pool with pot plants, tables, chairs and rubbish bins.

The large lane rope reel was also dumped in the pool and graffiti scrawled on the cafe window. Divers vacuumed the pool earlier this week to clear the water.

Tweed Shire Council Recreation Services manager Stewart Brawley said it was a shocking display of disregard to the community and the new facility.

"This type of behaviour in the community is not tolerated," Mr Brawley said.

"Many community members use this facility. Since its opening in November the aquatic centre has had outstanding attendance figures."

The centre had more than 12,300 visitors throughout%December.

Mr Brawley said there was not a large amount of permanent damage. The clean-up, however, was significant.

"There was some damage sustained to the shell of the 50-metre pool as a result of plant pots being thrown in," he said.

"We are still investigating the full extent of that damage. Hopefully this will not force us to close the pool to complete maintenance in the summer months ahead."

A Tweed Shire Council spokeswoman could not put a price on the damage.

She also wanted to thank Brass Monkeys and Tweed Valley Triathletes, who arrived at the pool on Saturday morning for their regular session and assisted council workers in the clean-up.

"That's the community doing the right thing," she said.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are already in use at the centre and council will now review and increase their security level at the pool. Tweed Heads police attended the scene on Saturday morning.