By VANESSA CHIRCOP
HOBSONS Bay City Council has increased its commitment to removing graffiti from Hobsons Bay.
The council moved to amend a Building and Facilities Management contract to include the Management and Removal of Graffiti as part of the lump sum component of the contract.
The amendment will see a graffiti removal technician employed by the council.
The council’s current budget for graffiti removal is $313,900, with parts of Harrington Square, Laverton and Altona Meadows being the most prevalent targets for taggers.
Cr John Hogg said it was disappointing that a small group of people could cause so much damage. “It’s very distressing to me that a mere handful of people can cause so much negativity for all of us,” he said.
“When I think of how many footpaths we can build and infrastructure and things like that it’s kind of the dark side of council business I think.”
Cr Hogg encouraged residents to call the police or contact the council when they witness someone vandalising in Hobsons Bay.
Cr Angela Altair said the council’s initiative would be embraced by the community.
“Graffiti isn’t too bad in our city but is seriously bad in some areas,” she said. “It’s not going to resolve it because they do come back.
“But every single expert agrees the best way to tackle graffiti and to have lasting impact is to remove it straight away.”
