Pirate ship arson attack to cost $3000

Damage following the arson last year.

An arson attack on the pirate ship at the new Lions Playground at Windsor Park in Hastings on Friday morning will cost $3000 in repairs.

This ship was a replacement for the much-loved pirate ship, at Splash Planet, which was gutted by fire last Easter.

It is the second time in just nine months the pirate ship had been targeted.

The Hastings fire service was called to the park at 7am Friday.

A fire service spokeswoman said the fire was small and it took about half an hour to extinguish.

Minor damage was caused from the fire which was lit underneath the wooden pirate ship, a Hastings District Council spokeswoman said.

The council estimated the cost of the attack to be about $3000 which included damage to the timber structure, a climbing rope and artificial turf.

Police and the fire service were continuing to investigate the incident.

Hastings district councillor Sandra Hazlehurst said it was very disappointing after all the hard work put in by the Hastings Host Lions Club and council to complete the new play area, which was officially opened on November 29.

"We have zero tolerance for vandalism," she said. "We are in the middle of setting up neighbourhood support groups in the Mayfair area so there will be eyes and ears on what is happening in the park. The community is absolutely loving the playground and we're not going to allow a few troublemakers to ruin it for us."

The pirate ship was expected to re-open Friday afternoon.