By TANIA PHILLIPS
VANDALS have been on a spree at Pratten over the past week causing major damage to number of curve alignment markers (CAMS).
Nine sets of markers were damaged and posts cut in the early hours of Thursday at the southern end of the intersection of Leyburn-Cunningham Road and Condamine River Road.
Southern Downs Regional Council’s Director Engineering Services Peter See said curve alignment markers are used to highlight sharp curves on the road network.
“The CAMS signs are an important road safety measure and if they’re missing, either from theft or vandalism, it potentially puts road users’ lives at risk,” he said.
“Furthermore, the cost to repair and replace the signs that have been damaged and stolen since June 2015 is nearing $20,000.
“Council notifies deliberate acts of vandalism like this to the police and council and the Queensland Police Service have been working together for some time in relation to the vandalism and theft of signs, with police running an ongoing investigation.
“Last week’s incident is only one of several acts of vandalism or theft of CAMS and other signage that have occurred in the Pratten area,” Mr See said.
* Mid-January 2016 – several signs were cut down near the Leyburn-Cunningham Road and Pratten Ryeford Road intersection and it is believed there have been another half a dozen signs stolen in the same area;
* 20 November 2015 – several signs were cut down near the Leyburn-Cunningham Road and Pratten Ryeford Road intersection. About a week or so later the same thing occurred;
* 1 October 2015 – another 18 CAMS were stolen from the intersection of Leyburn-Cunningham Road and Condamine River Road;
* Late September 2015 – a site board was stolen from the Leyburn-Cunningham Road and Pratten Ryeford Road intersection;
* 9 September 2015 – another nine CAMS were stolen from the intersection of Leyburn-Cunningham Road and Condamine River Road;
* 9 July 2015 – discovered a further 12 CAMS missing from Dalrymple Creek Road and Talgai West Road intersection;
* 1 July 2015 – discovered 25 CAMS signs had been stolen from the intersection of Leyburn-Cunningham Road and Condamine River Road; and
* Mid-June 2015 – 13 CAMS signs were stolen from the Dalrymple Creek Road and Talgai West Road intersection.
The CAMS are repaired by Southern Downs Regional Council on behalf of the Department of Transport and Main Roads because they are located on roads managed by the council under a maintenance contract.
The council urges anyone with information about the vandalism or theft of the CAMS or other signage to contact the Queensland Police Service through Policelink on 131 444, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or by calling into their local police station.
