Between June and October this year, the Moss Vale Community Garden has had five incidents of trespassing.

According to Southern Highlands police, cannabis and “remnants of white powder” were found during the most recent incident on Saturday, October 20.

Volunteers said the kitchen was also vandalised and items were moved around.

Food supplies, produce and goods have been stolen in the past, volunteers said.

While it is unknown who is trespassing and what their circumstances are, one line of inquiry for police is that the perpetrators are possibly homeless.

The community garden also had another spate of trespassing incidents several years ago.

Coordinator Jill Cockram said the incidents put a damper on the volunteers’ spirits.

“I think I cried the first time,” Ms Cockram said.

“Every time I come in the gate now I think ‘what am I going to find when I come in the kitchen?’

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“It’s just disappointing, we’re all giving our own time as volunteers and this happens.”

Ms Cockram said the community garden benefited various groups.

This includes school groups, Duke of Edinburgh participants, people living with disabilities, the elderly, and over 55s who need to do volunteer work to receive their Centrelink payments.

Volunteers are familiar faces at community markets as well as home and garden shows, selling seeds to raise money for the garden.

“Everyone is welcome regardless of age, creed and ability,” Ms Cockram said.

In a bid to deter further incidents, volunteers are now looking to install a second-hand CCTV camera and approach council for lighting at the front and back of the garden.

Southern Highlands police are also increasing patrols in the area.

Email info@mossvalecommunitygardens.org.au if you have a CCTV camera you can donate to the volunteer group.

You can also drop into the garden in Railway Street, Moss Vale on Monday or Thursday.

According to the latest quarterly NSW Bureau of Crime, Statistics and Research (BOSCAR), incidents of trespassing were decreasing in the Wingecarribee Shire.

From June 2016 to June 2017, the Wingecarribee had 64 reported incidents.

From June 2017 to June 2018, the shire had 54 reports of trespassing. 

Meanwhile malicious damage to property remained stable compared to the state average.

Wingecarribee Shire Council media and communications coordinator David Sommers said vandalism repairs in general cost thousands of dollars.

“The cost to the community is considerable because not only does the community wear the repair costs,” Mr Sommers said.

“It also diverts council staff away to clean up and repair the damage instead of tackling upgrades or new community projects.”

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However Mr Sommers said in general, when compared with surrounding areas, incidents of public vandalism across the shire was relatively low.

Vandalism is reported to different authorities in the community, including council, police and Country Link.

“Once council receives a report of vandalism the job is issued to the appropriate team,” Mr Sommers said.

“This could include any number of staff including our open spaces team (CBD overnight crew), parks and gardens staff or cleaners.”

Incidents can be reported a number of ways.

Incidents to private property can be reported via the NSW Police Force Community Portal online or by calling 131 444.

Incidents of vandalism involving council property can be reported by calling 4868 0888, emailing mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au or visiting www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/contact.

If you have a smartphone, you can download a free app called ‘Snap, Send, Solve’ that allows you to take a photo and send it to council in minutes. 

The app is available from the App Store or Google Play.

If you have any information about trespassing or vandalism at the Moss Vale Community Gardens contact Southern Highlands police on 4868 1222.