'Disappointing': 4WD vandals tear up popular Arthur's Pass campsite

The Department of Conservation is appealing for public information after a popular campsite in Arthur’s Pass National Park was torn up by 4WD vandals. Aerial photos supplied by the Department of Conservation (DOC) show extensive damage to the area from four-wheel drive vehicles, believed to have occurred on August 1 just before 4 pm. DOC operations manager Leeann Ellis said the picturesque campsite was used by thousands of people annually, including Coast to Coast racegoers and support staff in February every year. She described the serious damage to the site as "incredibly disappointing". "The vehicles have left deep tyre tracks over a large area, compacting the soil, creating wide ruts and making the site much more susceptible to erosion in heavy rain.