Bamboo theft disappoints

EMMA SPILLETT

espillett@kiamaindependent.com.au

SEVEN Mile Beach Holiday Park manager Tim Risby has been left with a bitter taste in his mouth after thieves targeted the park last week.

On Friday morning, Mr Risby and his wife, Carmen, woke to find seven semi-advanced clumping bamboo plants had been ripped out of the garden at the front of the Gerroa park.

The bamboo trees were planted about six months ago to provide a natural screen for the popular children’s jumping pillow on the beach side of the park.

Mr Risby said that although some people would call the incident “petty theft”, he is extremely disappointed the plants were removed.

“We nurtured them through the cold winter months and were just beginning to see them grow,” he said. “It’s a unique plant and a very unusual thing to take … thankfully they didn’t remove everything, but now we have to start from scratch.”

Last week’s incident comes on the back of another robbery at the park several months ago where a large boat motor, two Yamaha motorbikes, TVs and electrical equipment were taken.

Mr Risby believes a “professional outfit” performed the theft.

“We didn’t hear anything and they were large items that were removed,” he said. “It was around the same time some tractors were stolen in Berry … how do you steal a tractor?”

Mr Risby said the recent crime spate in Kiama and Gerringong was the worst he had seen in the area.

“We had some minor incidents here before, but nothing on this scale,” he said.

“We’ve been here on and off for 10 years and while we’ve seen Eskies taken and the odd fishing rod, where it’s not too much of a drama, what’s been happening is very disturbing.

“People think of it as little-old Gerroa – we haven’t got the wool over our eyes and we lock up and patrol the park, but we like to think we’re not an extension of the city and it feels like now the city is slowly creeping in.”

Mr Risby said the increase in crime in recent months could have a negative impact on visitation to the area.

“It really starts alarm bells ringing,” he said. “We’ve had everything from big items to plants taken … what will be next?