Vandals have twice scaled the plant’s perimeter fence in the night and sprayed red paint over the buildings and trucks, poured oil over the driveway, and discharged fire extinguishers.

The laundry was broken into and laundry powder and paper towel strewn around the plant. Staff members were left to clean up the mess and paint.

Eurobodalla Shire Council’s water and sewer manager Brett Corven said security measures at the plant would be increased, including extra security patrols of the area by the council’s contractor.

“Staff have also discussed the vandalism with nearby residents and we hope that spreading the word around town might put a stop to it,” he said.

“While it’s frustrating and costly to see our plant vandalised, we’re also concerned for the safety of whoever is doing this. There’s a reason why treatment plants are fenced.”

This is the third community asset to be damaged by vandals in a matter of weeks, with the playing fields at Tuross Head’s Kyla Park Oval destroyed by hoons and a mural at North Broulee defaced with graffiti.

Local artist Ritchey Sealy painted the mural of Broulee Island on the back of the North Broulee toilet block several years ago as part of a revamp led by the Broulee Women’s Boardriders. Senseless vandals last month defaced the artwork by spray-painting profanities across it in pink writing.

Vandals the same week destroyed the playing surface on Kyla Park Oval at Tuross Head, leaving the council ground staff devastated and AFL players scrambling to move fixtures before their season has even started. The surface was torn up by vehicles hooning on the wet grass , leaving the field a muddy mess that will potentially take months to repair and cost around $10,000. Read more

Residents with information about any of these incidents should contact their local police station or call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.