A track record of arson

THIRD TIME UNLUCKY: Pakuranga councillor Dick Quax with the damaged materials that were set alight by arsonists last Saturday.

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Things have gone from bad to worse at the new all-weather athletics track in Lloyd Elsmore Park.

Arsonists have attacked the construction site in Pakuranga for the third time, causing major damage.

Last year a digger, building material, and office facilities were deliberately set on fire on two separate occasions, causing $75,000 worth of damage.

Shaun Goudie, managing director of Sports Technology International, the construction company building the track, says it’s been incredibly frustrating, and the total cost of damages is now up around $100,000.

Howick fire officers were called to the latest blaze at about 2.30am last Saturday to find stacks of pallets containing bags of recycled tyre rubber used to seal the track well alight.

Drums containing 200 litres of liquid resin were cut open and poured over the track, leaving a huge mess.

Pakuranga councillor Dick Quax has been involved with the athletics track since day one, and cannot believe the site has been targeted by vandals yet again.

"To be frank, I’m bloody annoyed.

"The fact that it has happened not once, not twice, but three times is just ridiculous. I’m absolutely furious."

The million-dollar track was meant to be finished six months ago. Mr Quax thinks it’s likely it still won’t be finished in time for the start of the athletics season in March.

"It’s depriving young people of a community facility they should have had access to by now. It’s likely that they won’t be able to hold any events there until October now.

"It’s hard to understand the mindset of somebody who would do this. These people are mindless, brainless idiots with nothing better to do than create havoc and damage."

Papatoetoe fire station officer Colin Dawson, who also attended the fire, says the pallets were well alight by the time they arrived.

"It was lucky we got it under control quickly, because all that plastic burning is not good for the atmosphere."

Sergeant Keith Olsen says police are investigating the arson and have given it priority.

"This is not the first time the athletics club has suffered damage of this nature. It is a community resource, and a lot of people have an interest in what goes on there."

- © Fairfax NZ News