By NICOLE VALICEK
HOBSONS Bay City Council spent $300,000 in the last two years on graffiti removal and tackling the problem in the city.
The council has reinforced its commitment to cleaning graffiti by continuing to support the Graffiti Management Policy and Strategy.
The policy establishes the council’s responsibilities for cleaning up graffiti through a range of actions including engagement, education, eradication and enforcement.
The policy provides help for residents and business owners to remove graffiti from their properties with free graffiti removal kits and paint vouchers.
From July 2012 to May 2013, 23,340 square metres of graffiti was removed at a cost of $303,000.
Approximately 85 per cent of graffiti was removed from council’s properties, 12 per cent from private premises and one per cent from service authority assets.
Councillor Peter Morgan said graffiti in the city was unfortunate and that the council could put the money used to clean graffiti to better use in the municipality.
Councillor Wilson said it was not an easy fix but the council would have to keep “chipping” away at the problem.
“We’re not alone as a municipality – if you travel from west to east you’ll see graffiti in all other municipalities. It’s disappointing that it happens, we just have to keep chipping away at it.”
The council has now issued around 140 graffiti kits to individuals and two graffiti cleaning kits to trader groups.
The council said they were working closely with police and had provided them with access to the council’s graffiti database so they could track offenders.
The council also aims to remove graffiti from council assets within five days of notification and within 24 hours if the graffiti contains racist, offensive or obscene material.
Hobsons Bay Mayor Angela Altair said graffiti was a world-wide problem.
“In our own backyard we need to be diligent,” she said.
