ORGANISERS have contacted police after a vandal used poison to burn an anti-Supercars message into the grass near Newcastle Foreshore, just days out from the official start of the Newcastle 500 event.
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Photographs taken from near Fort Scratchley at the weekend showed the words “super corrupt” were written on the park turf in what is believed to be weed killer.
A Supercars spokesperson responded to the weekend vandalism, saying the public had made their position clear.
“The overwhelming community support, reflected in massive ticket sales and the huge local interest, will do the talking in less than a week’s time,” the spokeperson said.
“Newcastle has and will vote with its feet.”
Read more: Newcastle Supercars 2017: The complete guide
The vandalism came just days after police declared on Friday they would intervene if banners or other modes of protest disrupted the “good nature of everyone” in the Supercars precinct.
“Now’s not the right time,” Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell said.
“I understand free speech – I understand that – but perhaps for the event itself just let people enjoy themselves and everyone will be happy.”
He said there was “nothing to suggest” residents planned to disrupt the race.
Acts of vandalism, both in support of and against the race, have occurred since early this year.
Tensions have been running high between advocates for holding the event in Newcastle and those who are concerned about its impact on the city’s East End heritage precinct.
