Help us stamp out graffiti

AS YOUR local Cheetham Ward councillor, I drive around our community in Geelong’s eastern suburbs each week, trying to make sure that the council is fixing local problems and issues. I see this as an essential part of my role as your local representative.

Over the last two years, I’ve noticed an increase in damage to property through vandalism and illegal graffiti.

We live in a beautiful city boasting so many idyllic public spaces, so it’s incredibly disappointing when these areas are vandalised and damaged through acts of graffiti.

The City of Greater Geelong is responsible for removing graffiti on all Council-owned properties – from buildings, public toilets, rotundas, barbeques, and playgrounds through to street furniture, footpaths, bike paths, council signage and fencing.

In the last financial year alone, the City responded to 517 graffiti removal jobs. And that’s not accounting for the significant number of graffiti incidents that police responded to on private properties.

Unfortunately, we have seen a steady rise of graffiti across the city. This takes away from the great work that Council and our local community groups put into creating vibrant, welcoming, safe and beautiful spaces for all of us to enjoy.

And it wastes resources – Council and law enforcement agencies – that could be better used on other important issues.

Council’s graffiti management team do a great job, working tirelessly to remove graffiti in public areas, responding to reports of offensive graffiti within 24 hours (whenever possible), and other material within five business days.

But we can all play a part in stamping out offensive and illegal graffiti, by reporting it when you see it.

You can report it via email to [email protected], by calling the hotline on 03 5272 4319, via the Geelong City App, the City’s Website, or the Victorian Graffiti Register app (available on Apple and Android devices).

Of course, graffiti isn’t unique to public areas with private properties also being targeted by vandals across the city.

If your property has been graffitied, you should report this to Victoria Police.

You can also apply to Council under our paint voucher program.

This program assists property owners by providing a four-litre tin of colour matched paint, a roller, paint brush, tray and drop sheet to paint over vandalised areas.

In some instances, the City can support property owners with graffiti removal, on unpainted brick (not sandstone or other highly porous surfaces), unpainted wood, exposed concrete and untreated metal surfaces.

Some of our neighbouring Councils have implemented proactive and preventative approaches to deter graffiti through graffiti management plans.

I’m working with Council exploring similar solutions for the City of Greater Geelong’s updated Geelong Graffiti Management Strategy.

It is up to all of us to stamp out graffiti in our city so that we can all take pride in our buildings, parks, public spaces and homes. It is only with the support of the whole community that can we successfully reduce graffiti in Greater Geelong.

For more information, head to geelongcity.com.au/graffiti

Cr Melissa Cadwell

Cheetham Ward, City of Greater Geelong