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IN minutes vandals defaced a Rutherglen landmark that the community has been trying to save for five years.
Two-metre high graffiti tags now cover the base of the town’s iconic “wine bottle” water tower.
“I’m not happy,” Friends of the Wine Bottle member Stephen Ronnfeldt said.
“It’s the first time the wine bottle has ever been targeted and it’s been sitting there since the early 1900s.
“There are a lot of unhappy people in the community about it.”
Police believe the damage was done on Friday night or the early hours of Saturday morning.
Mr Ronnfeldt said it was “very disheartening” the icon had been senselessly vandalised while he and many others in town were working hard to save it.
Since 2007 the tower has been under threat of being pulled down.
Despite more than 1100 signatures in favour of the tower collected in 2009, Indigo Council has been considering if it can afford more than $724,000 for repairs and maintenance over 25 years.
“These tags are an eyesore,” Mr Ronnfeldt said.
“Someone thinks it’s fun, but it’s no fun for anyone else.”
Acting Sgt Phil Ryder, of Rutherglen police, said they rarely encountered problems with graffiti in the town.
“I haven’t been here that long, but graffiti is certainly not a common thing at all, we’ve got a pretty good group of young people,” he said.
“It’s very disappointing to see a Rutherglen landmark defaced in that manner.”
Sgt Ryder said the same vandals were believed responsible for more offensive graffiti at Rutherglen’s Apex Park over the weekend.
If anyone has information they are urged to contact Rutherglen police on (02) 6032 9612.