Vandals have twice taken to a newly installed fence at the disused railway tunnel at Helensburgh, five weeks after it was erected.
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A Department of Industry Lands and Water spokesman said it was “disappointing” metal bars had been bent and snapped, to gain access to the Metropolitan Tunnel easier when the gate is locked.
Although it has been revealed the gate was not locked during one occasion.
“The Department (who owns the land) is ... currently looking at options to have it repaired,” they said.
“Community members from the local Landcare group have been generously donating their time to open and close the gate to give public access to the tunnels.
“The Department is working with a local volunteer group to explore more formalised management of the tunnels to provide the best possible combination of public access and heritage and environmental protection.”
It’s going to be a long exercise to get them back to what they were. I can remember five or six years ago you could walk in without a torch.
- Warwick Erwin
The barred aluminium fence with flattened spikes was installed in early June to help preserve the heritage site and its dwindling population of glowworms.
Neighbourhood Forum 1 are a community group working with the department to have full control on looking after the site.
Spokesman Warwick Erwin said the gates are to stop people lighting flares and sparklers, and generally causing environmental harm.
“It’s going to be a long exercise to get [the glowworms] back to what they were,” he said. “I can remember five or six years ago you could walk in without a torch.”
The gate was locked throughout June to help kick start glowworm regeneration.
A trial of timed access ran from July 3 until 21 with opening times throughout the day and on Saturday evenings.
Mr Erwin also said one of the vandalism acts happened during the day when the gate was closed but unlocked.
At present the popular tourist attraction will remain open during daylight hours. Mr Erwin said as it is now a gated property those caught on the wrong side of the fence when the gate is locked can be arrested for trespassing.
The Sutherland to Wollongong train line was built between 1884 and 1886 to service the region’s coalfields and farms. There are seven tunnels between Waterfall and Otford, collectively known as the Helensburgh Tunnels.