With the assistance of Mount Isa Mines through the Glencore Community Assistance Program the four front doors of the shed were replaced with much more secure, cyclone rated roller doors and the other three permanently secured shut.

The grant was an agreement between Mount Isa Mines and the Athletics Club for the project costing nearly $11,000 to try to stem the tide of break-ins which were happening on a near weekly basis.

Club spokesperson Ken Dickson said the ‘wind lock’ style of door has a unique locking mechanism in the tracks making it substantially more resistant to being able to be pushed in.

“The frequency of the break-ins at the shed was getting ridiculous, we were getting callouts virtually every Friday night and even some mornings due to the internal alarm sounding,” Mr Dickson said. 

“The doors had been damaged so many times that they were like Coke cans and very easily bent.” 

Mr Dickson said generally all they were breaking in for was to steal soft drinks and Zooper Doopers.

“But we would still have to go down to repair the damage, do the police reports and reset the alarms.”

“As volunteers that’s not exactly the job you sign up for, so hopefully with the combo of the security alarm from Carland Security and the roller doors the shed may now be way more trouble than it’s worth to get into.”

Mr Dickson added that it’s a little sad that clubs and businesses like Mount Isa Mines and Carland Security have to pay for the ‘entertainment’ of some of the less desirables around town.

“We really do appreciate the assistance we’ve received and are thankful for the help in protecting our equipment which is used not just by us but the wider community and the district schools.”