By NICOLE VALICEK
ALTONA railway station is the top five station state-wide where myki machines have been the target of vandalism in 2012.
According to Public Transport Victoria (PTV) graffiti is the number one cause of damage at the Altona station with 19 myki machines targeted last year.
In 2012 there were 513 instances of vandalism recorded against ticketing equipment, with a further 410 instances recorded in the first four months of this year.
The top five stations for vandalism were Hastings (32), Westona (24), Hampton (21), Merinda Park (19) and Altona (19).
Since 2012 there have been 923 instances of vandalism recorded against ticketing equipment.
Vandalism across Melbourne’s public transport network cost $10 million per year, with damage to Myki machines costing $1 million of that.
PTV said vandalism is unacceptable and they will continue to work with police to track down and prosecute offenders, with its message to vandals “we are watching you”.
“CCTV is located across trains, trams and buses, authorised officers and protective service officers (PSO) patrol the network- if you vandalise public transport property it is highly likely you will get caught,” the spokesperson said.
Hobsons Bay Police Inspector Richard Paterson said any damage to property is a concern for police and the Hobsons Bay community.
Insp Paterson said patrol units are tasked to provide a visible police presence at public transport hubs and the Altona, Laverton, Newport railway stations are prioritised within the deployment of PSOS.
“Damage to any property is frustrating – there is no reason for it and only costs the community money and inconvenience,” he said.
“There are so many better ways to utilise that money for the good of the community.”
But despite the general unpopularity of the myki, statistics show that between October and December 2011 there were 934 instances of vandalism against the former Met ticketing equipment- 73 more instances of vandalism that that against myki equipment for 2011 and 2012 combined.
Public Transport Users Association’s Paul Westcott said depending on the type of vandalism a solution may be to modify the machines.
“It’s hard to believe they weren’t designed with the possibility of potential vandalism, clearly if they were that’s not good enough.”
Mr Wescott said another problem with the myki system is that once it’s out of action it causes real problems for passengers.
“Given machines are the only way people can interact with the system, if they’re not working because they’ve been vandalised it’s a huge problem for people wanting to travel,'” he said.
“We have a de-staffed system in which machines have taken over the role of people, and of course these machines sitting there on their own unguarded are clearly going to be vulnerable.”
