Threats, vandalism, trespassing becoming daily occurrence at Imperial Lakes for staff, volunteers

Landcare volunteers at the Imperial Lakes are constantly harassed, the group says. (ABC Broken Hill: Bill Ormonde)

Volunteers usually join a group as a way to give back to their community and help those around them. 

Unfortunately, for Broken Hill's Landcare volunteers, they are being routinely subjected to threats, harassment, and intimidation.

Since taking over control of the Imperial Lakes complex last year, the members who are out working around the site are dealing with trespassers and vandalism every day.

Cut fences, destroyed vegetation, and motorbike and car tracks are a common sight.

Landcare group president Simon Molesworth said there should be "no tolerance" for the anti-social treatment of those who are dedicating their time to a community project.

The fencing at the Imperial Lakes gets cut every night. (ABC Broken Hill: Ben Loughran)

"It's been causing heightened stress; it's a really unfortunate situation," he said.

"We have a duty of care to our volunteers while they go about what is in essence community work for the benefit of the community.

"Our people are already, only a few weeks into our ownership, becoming stressed and worried for their security."

Mr Molesworth said he had also been confronted with aggressive and rude people who are caught at the Imperial Lakes without permission.

The community group leader said the level of vitriol directed at the volunteers had been unbelievable.

The volunteers at the Imperial Lakes are constantly cleaning up litter. (ABC Broken Hill: Ben Loughran)

"Some of these people … to describe it in simple terms [have been] aggressive in the extreme," he said.

"Threatening, saying they would destroy our property, they would seek out our security cameras and they would crush them.

"They said whatever fences we put up they would cut and remove."

Mr Molesworth said the recurring incidents had been reported to the Barrier Police District.

The former lawyer also pleaded with the wider Broken Hill community to stand with the Landcare group in the carrying out of its duty.

Given the Imperial Lakes are privately owned by the Landcare group, another issue they face includes that if someone gets hurt they may not be covered by insurance.

Simon Molesworth, OA, KC, says the volunteers are feeling frayed and worried for their safety. (ABC Broken Hill: Alexandra Back)

"At the end of the day until the preliminary works are done so we can really determine what are the full risks, we're in uncertain territory," he said.

"That is why we haven't flung the gates open.

"Before then, we are not inviting people in … someone could be bitten by a snake, someone could have their foot caught in a submerged log."

The group is planning on transforming the once-derelict area into a nature park for the community and tourists.