Torbay left with cleanup costs after raucous May 24 party trashes private property
A private property in Torbay has become a dumping ground after a May 24 party — and it's not the first time the site was left with a massive cleanup after the long weekend.
Gosse's Meadow at Great Pond was left with mounds of trash, over a dozen pieces of furniture and two large fire pits.
There were also some troubling findings at the site, including a pellet rifle, a full case of pellets and homophobic graffiti spraypainted on the walls of a makeshift shelter.
It's a big concern for Torbay Mayor Ralph Tapper who says the town will help with the cleanup costs.
"You can't expect the landowner to put up with this every year," said Tapper. "We've got to get our own heavy equipment in here to get this heavy furniture out.
"This property owner is going to be left with the bill ... and he can't afford it. We're going to help out."
Location, location, location
The meadow is in a secluded area surrounded by forest and nestled at the top of Great Pond, just off Bauline Line.
The location adds to the mayor's worry for safety and he calls on local residents to help put an end to the partying.
"The roads leading to this is in a residential neighbourhood," said Tapper. "They lit some large fires here as well."
Tapper urges anyone with knowledge of a situation like that to contact the town or police directly.
"We'll notify the RNC or our own security and nip this in the bud before it gets too late into the night."
Beside the cost, the safety of those left to clean up the mess is a factor.
"You never know what you may find here. At these parties there's more than alcohol obviously. We've found needles ... in other areas of town. It's a safety factor for our staff as well.
Someone has to clean it up
While the organizers of the party are not known, Mayor Tapper says he has some idea of who was in attendance.
"Well there are some indications," he said. "We were told, but it's unconfirmed, that there was a particular high school from St.John's that did organize this party.
"But we're left to clean up their mess."
The cleanup is expected to take a few days and will begin next week with an estimated cost of $4,000.
