The assault of a youth coach and a dog biting a young touch rugby player come amid fears of escalating violence linked to the homeless camp at Dunedin\u2019s Oval sports ground.<\/p>\n
Otago Touch Association chairman Thys McCurdy said he believed the rising violence was due to an increase in the number of people sleeping rough around Kensington Oval.<\/p>\n
The homeless camp – known as “Tent City” – had also spread further from the tree line.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s getting to the point that it\u2019s starting to affect the health and safety of our people.”<\/p>\n
On Wednesday evening, a youth touch coach was left drenched in Jim Beam after an intoxicated man threw a can of alcohol at his head.<\/p>\n
Police later arrested the man in a nearby street.<\/p>\n
“It could have really hurt him – it\u2019s just something that we don\u2019t want to see.”<\/p>\n
Mr McCurdy said the incident followed a touch rugby player being bitten by an off-leash dog mid-game last week and having to be taken home.<\/p>\n
Luckily, the dog bite appeared to be minor.<\/p>\n
The owner – who had previously been seen around the homeless camp – immediately grabbed his dog and ran away.<\/p>\n
It was difficult to know how to address the situation, Mr McCurdy said.<\/p>\n
“What can you do with that situation? They\u2019re so transitory that by the time that we contact the police, they\u2019ve probably packed up and moved on.<\/p>\n
“We only have referees on each of our fields … but there\u2019s lots of people wandering around – some intoxicated.<\/p>\n
“There\u2019s only so much we can do.”<\/p>\n
When Tent City originally started to appear, the people sleeping there were fairly respectful, Mr McCurdy said.<\/p>\n
However, for some reason, something had changed and antisocial behaviour had begun to escalate.<\/p>\n
He was “very worried” and wanted something to be done about it – but had no idea what could be done.<\/p>\n
“It becomes a police matter each time there\u2019s an incident, but that is pretty much all we can do – I\u2019d welcome options.<\/p>\n
“The trajectory it\u2019s going in is not a trajectory that we would like to see continue for the safety of our people.”<\/p>\n
The toilets at the ground – which are left unlocked and open 24\/7 – were becoming very close to unsanitary, he said.<\/p>\n
“Effectively, our people can\u2019t use those toilets, and the problem is escalating.<\/p>\n
“I suspect this is going to be something that\u2019s going to continue unless something happens.”<\/p>\n
Mr McCurdy\u2019s comments come after Football South chief executive Dougal McGowan said in June having to check the ground for needles and broken glass before children\u2019s matches was making families increasingly anxious.<\/p>\n
He demanded action from the city on homeless people camping at the sports ground, saying he was concerned they were not only creating danger for young footballers, but still living in abysmal conditions.<\/p>\n
Mr McGowan said it was frustrating a better answer for housing had not been found after “two years now with no solutions”.<\/p>\n