SUBSTANTIAL damage was caused to the Branxholme Recreation Reserve sometime between last Thursday night and Sunday morning, leaving the oval in poor condition.

Branxholme Police senior constable, David Tongon, said it appeared a car had been driven through the netting behind the goal posts and around the oval multiple times.

“It looks like they’ve used the football oval as a bit of a racetrack to hoon around causing substantial damage to the whole oval,” he said.

“They’ve gone through the mesh net at the back of the goal posts and ripped the net apart.

“(The car has been) driven around and around the oval numerous times.

“The ground has been dug up substantially by the vehicle.”

Branxholme-Wallacedale Football Netball Club vice president, Daniel Menzel, said the club was disheartened to see this behaviour from members of the community, especially after the successful rodeo event on February 11.

“Considering we’ve just had a very successful rodeo event and that’s our biggest fundraiser … it’s just disappointing to get to this point,” he said.

“We’re disgusted, we’ve tried to put on a good show and bring in the community and then it’s just extremely disappointing that this happens.

“One person or a number of persons have gone out there and caused physical damage which puts the club back another position.

“We had nearly 5000 people here so we put on a bloody good show and then it comes back to this and now we’ve got to have more volunteers out there putting more effort in.”

Mr Menzel said the damage could potentially prevent the club from holding games on the Recreation Reserve while they wait for repairs to be completed.

“Cricket won’t be played there and potentially we won’t have the oval now fit for round one which is the biggest disappointment because we’ve got round one there, so we’re probably going to have to play that away now,” he said.

“We had guys that went down there the night before and levelled everything, so all the soil was all levelled and all perfect and now it’s all been ripped up with divots everywhere.

“Not to talk about the financial aspect of it all now.

“It’s just idiotic really.”

Sen Const Tongon said the vandalism was reported to police Sunday morning and anyone with information is urged to come forward.

“We’re seeking any information in regards to who could have been in that vehicle,” he said. 

“Anyone who has seen or heard anything is urged to contact Branxholme Police Station, Hamilton Police Station or Crime Stoppers.

“Including anyone with information on similar incidents in the vicinity.

“They’ve done a lot of levelling work so it’s upsetting considering the rodeo was to raise money for the club and now they’ve got to spend a lot more money to repair it,” he said.