“This appears to have been caused by individuals who have managed to access the area.
“So that is really disappointing,” Wilson said.
Damage caused by vehicles illegally accessing reserves “does occur from time to time”, particularly during winter when the grass is soft, Wilson said.
Wilson said the damage created “unnecessary work and costs”.
The affected area would need to be “smooth[ed] out” before new grass seed could be sown when temperatures warmed up.
Acts like this affected both the reserve and the people who enjoyed it, Wilson said.
“Tikitapu is a much-loved community asset and an important recreational destination for both locals and visitors.”
The reserve at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) will need to be smoothed before new grass seed can be sown. Photo / Annabel Reid
Wilson said the damage had been reported to police and urged anyone who witnessed similar behaviour to safely record identifying details and report it.
Police told the Rotorua Daily Post earlier they had not yet received any reports about the damage.
An employee at neighbouring Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park said employees usually finished work around 7pm and had not reported any issues.
Damage caused by vehicles illegally accessing reserves is more common in winter. Photo / Annabel Reid
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.