THE damage bill to repair the Tamworth Regional Playground after it was hit in a one-night vandalism spree will top almost $100,000.
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The Leader can reveal a quote obtained by Tamworth Regional Council to repair the skywalk and associated works at the Kable Ave precinct will tally $97,053.
The skywalk has been out of action and cordoned off to the public since the May incidents.
Two quotes for the works – which will see a Corocord expert flown out from Berlin to carry out the repairs – have not been formally tendered in court, but have been shown to solicitors for the trio – aged 17 and 19 – charged in connection to the vandalism.
According to the quotes, the goods from Berlin will need to be supplied and installed with internal and external ropes needed for the skybridge.
New rubber wetpour will also need to be installed as part of the repair works, which details costings for temporary fencing, air freight and labour and a security guard while the works are carried out.
It comes as the cases against the trio charged over the vandalism spree had their cases adjourned in court in Tamworth.
William Ross Burgess and Hayden John Whitney are facing a combined 16 charges for a string of alleged incidents between May 15 and into the early hours of May 16.
A 17-year-old co-accused, who cannot be named, is also facing nine charges for his alleged involvement but had his case adjourned on Tuesday.
They stand accused of a raft of charges including using bolt cutters to cut cables at the Tamworth Regional Playground, as well as torching a bin and breaking into a council-owned shipping container.
All three were due to enter pleas in court this week but Magistrate Peter Miszalski was told solicitors and the prosecution needed more time.
“There is some outstanding representations, I think they will be largely successful,” police prosecutor Sergeant Matt Pawsey told Tamworth Local Court in the case of Whitney, who also had his bail varied during the brief proceedings.
Whitney and Burgess’ cases were adjourned to later this month, while the 17-year-old will return to court in August. All three remain on conditional bail.
But any order to foot the bill rests with the court and already there is some dispute about how much can be recovered.
The children’s court cannot make compensation orders for some charges against juveniles, while magistrates are restricted in how much they can order an offender to pay, if convicted in the local court, if the damages are not the result of personal injury or death.
Police allege the trio also trespassed at the botanical gardens, destroyed a council padlock, as well as garbage bin at the Tamworth Lookout.
The teens also allegedly stole a $1500 6x4 box trailer from Tamworth Shoppingworld and then dumped it a few blocks away.
Whitney is also accused of destroying a padlock at Supercheap Auto and breaking into a fenced storage yard at Bunnings Warehouse in Taminda on the same night.