CELEBRATIONS at an 18th birthday party at the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage Water Park on February 3 left a damage bill of more than $1200.

Police attended the Water Park twice and eventually shut the party down.

“There were at least 120 people near the Boat Ramp, and many appeared to be intoxicated,” said Constable Benjamin Kent. “Many of them were gatecrashers and the majority appeared to be juveniles,” Const. Kent said.

Bottles had been smashed and thrown into the water, saplings had been uprooted and signs were destroyed.

“Broken glass was everywhere. They even brought couches down and left them there,” he said.

Cleaning up the mess is likely to cost in excess of $1200.

“It’s disappointing to think such a great community asset has been treated with such disregard,” said Goondiwindi Regional Council Mayor, Cr Graeme Scheu.

People can apply to council if they wish to hold functions at the Water Park, and are usually asked to provide a bond.

“We don’t want to penalise the majority for the bad behaviour of a small minority,” he said.