Fountain's bubble prank

APRIL 7: Funny or a felony? The memorial fountain near Jack Evans Boat Harbour after detergent was poured into it on Tuesday.

Crystal Spencer

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News in pictures - April 2010

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Poll

Was putting soap into the fountain at Jack Evans Boat Harbour funny or a felony?

This poll ended on 07 May 2010.

Funny

39%

Felony

17%

Who cares

42%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

FOAM gushed from the memorial fountain near Jack Evans Boat Harbour yesterday after about eight bottles of detergent were emptied into it.

The bottles were left scattered around the base of the fountain.

Unimpressed passersby stopped to watch the foam bubble into the park and float across the road.

Trevor ‘Big Trev’ Arbon, owner of Big Trev’s Water Sports, conducts his business next to the fountain, and said the foam was a regular prank.

“It happens all the time and it makes the harbour look like crap.

“I wish they’d stop doing it, especially since it’s in the Anzac fountain,” Big Trev said.

Tweed Heads Police crime co-ordinator Stuart Crawford said such acts were common.

“No-one has been detected doing this and it would be quite difficult to detect, but if someone was caught they would be issued with a fine.”

The Tweed Shire Council will not conduct a fountain clean-up, as the detergent disperses quickly through the system after going through the pump and filters.

A clean-up would only be necessary if foam escaped into the water system.

As Anzac Day approaches park-goers and business owners in the area remarked that it was disrespectful to see the fountain tarnished so close to Australia’s iconic day of remembrance.

It is suspected the incident occurred early yesterday morning. The substance should work its way out of the fountain system naturally, allowing the memorial to return to normal.