Facility damaged

Last week the Roys Peak communications facility was broken into and damaged during a snowstorm,  costing the already financially stretched owner, the Upper Clutha Radio Telephone Association, thousands of  dollars.

Chairman Ian Brown said the perpetrator might have been a tourist hiking the  Roys Peak trail who got caught by the change in weather.

While the  equipment did not appear to have been damaged,  a charger had been unplugged and the door left open, allowing snow  to sweep through the facility. As a result, multiple helicopter trips had been taken  to the facility to fix the problem, which cost about $4000. Last month  the ODT reported the association was desperately seeking funding to upgrade the facility, which provides  VHF communication for several organisations as well as coverage in  civil emergencies.