The Dunedin boat harbour has been subjected to "regular and severe vehicle abuse" in the past few weeks, and the Dunedin City Council has called for public help to stop the problem.
Community and recreation services manager Mick Reece yesterday said vehicles had been "ripping the hell" out of grass verges in the area, and he called for the public to note registration numbers, and pass that information to police.
He urged people not, though, to take any other action if they saw the vandalism.
Mr Reece said the road had become more popular since the opening of the nearby Ravensbourne walkway/cycleway.
The boat-harbour area would be redesigned as the Forsyth Barr Stadium was developed, and while it was a waste of money to put too much effort into fixing the problem until that time, some sort of protection for grass areas, such as posts and chains, would be added in future.
The vandals had not always got away with the offending, Mr Reece said.
"Our requests for [boat harbour] users to promptly report offenders has had at least one successful outcome to date, and there is a likelihood of some reparation," he said in a report to yesterday's community development committee.
