Freezers filled with broken snags have been ordered to be dumped, angering Scott Williams, after the power went out at Bacchus Marsh Recreation Reserve.
But the outages were more than just a minor glitch; Last week something sinister happened.
“(Last) Thursday evening someone went to the Racecourse Reserve and broke into the distribution boards up there, and they stole all the high voltage cables between each of the distribution boards,” Mr Williams told ABC Ballarat Breakfast radio.
But the Bacchus Marsh Soccer Club chairman’s anger is about more than just a few sausages as five different clubs have now been affected by the disruption at the venue.
Police are investigating the copper theft at Bacchus Marsh Recreation Reserve. (Provided: Facebook)
The thieves took more than 400 meters of copper wiring from the club – proceeds that could be worth thousands of dollars.
It has effectively destroyed the electricity supply system, and it is not the first such incident in the area.
“I understand that our former facility on Masons Lane was completed several years ago,” Mr Williams said.
“It was definitely done by someone who knows what he is doing. High-voltage cabling is not something you just play around with.”
Clubs are feeling the pressure
Robert Young is the president of the Bacchus Marsh Harness Racing Club, which also holds meetings at the recreational reserve.
He said it could take months for the reserve to become operational again, with the process now beginning to replace the wiring.
“The groups cannot operate at all because there is no power at all,” Young said.
“We were fortunate: we have training trials here and we were fortunate to be able to bring in some generators.
“It was just enough to organize a kind of skeleton day for our people who test our horses here.”
Copper thieves send the city into an internet blackout
At a time when regional sports clubs are already suffering from the cost of living crisis, this is an expense that is causing quite a headache.
“Paying for the electricity for the morning would (normally) only be a matter of a few dollars. But for us, building three generators costs $70 to $80,” Mr Young said.
“This particular copper wire is about 30 millimeters in diameter, so there would be quite a few kilos in the length… it would be a significant amount.”
Taking to social media, Moorabool Shire Council expressed its disappointment at the theft.
“Restoring power will require significant work, including pulling and routing cables to reconnect these locations. This is also an incredibly complex and costly job for the municipality and a major inconvenience for the affected clubs,” a message said.
“Bacchus Marsh Police have been notified and electricians are currently on site to assess the work required.”
As for trends
Crime Stoppers Victoria CEO Stella Smith told ABC Statewide Drive Victoria that copper wire thefts are increasing across the state.
“Copper is used to provide electricity. So it’s actually very important to our critical infrastructure. So when the copper cable is stolen it causes power outages,” Ms Smith said.
“It also poses safety risks to anyone who comes across an exposed cable. The reason they do this is the price: it can fetch anywhere from $10 to $15 per kilo.”
Copper wiring can run anywhere from $10 to $15 dollars per kilogram. (ABC News: Brendan Mounter)
In Victoria, anyone dealing in scrap metal, including copper wiring, is required to keep records of their transactions and be registered as a second-hand dealer.
They are also not allowed to pay or receive cash when buying or selling scrap.
Ms Smith said the legislation would not stop the transactions.
“So it’s largely sold to unscrupulous scrap dealers,” Ms Smith said.
“(Police) say copper is being stolen from public lighting, from the grounding points of the poles, the grounding points that connect the poles to houses or to the streets, (and) also from the ice detection systems on the highway.
“And it can cause all kinds of problems for people. You know, if you’re driving down a large portion of the highway and there’s no public lighting, there’s an increased risk for everyone who’s on the road.”
Anyone with information about copper thefts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.