By ALESHA CAPONE
WYNDHAM City Council employees are cleaning up after graffiti vandals at an average rate of 12 times a day.
Figures released to Star reveal the council conducted more than 4680 graffiti clean-ups during the 2011/12 financial year.
This amounts to more than one clean up every two hours – or a dozen a day.
Wyndham’s director of infrastructure Maurice Stabb said the council has spent $500,000 on graffiti clean-up and removal across the 12 months.
Hoppers Crossing is the graffiti capital of the Wyndham municipality, with almost 1880 clean-ups conducted during the past financial year.
Werribee was next with more than 1320 clean ups, followed by Wyndham Vale just over 475 graffiti incidents and Tarneit at just below on 465.
Point Cook required just below 370 clean ups, while there were 135 carried out in Truganina.
In contrast, the council only had to clean up two cases of graffiti in Laverton North, 14 in Werribee South and 21 in Williams Landing.
During the past 12 months, there were more than 560 reports made to the council’s graffiti telephone line and email system.
Mr Stabb said the council was taking action to catch graffiti vandals in Wyndham and maintained
a graffiti database, including information on location, cost and tags.
“Wyndham City has collated three briefs on taggers who have been caught by Victoria Police in the last year,” Mr Stabb said.
“Wyndham City aims to remove graffiti as quickly as possible to deter further tagging.
“In addition to damaging community pride, graffiti also creates a negative perception of the municipality for residents, businesses and visitors.
“Skate parks, playgrounds and floodways are among the most commonly graffitied items in the municipality.
“In some high profile areas Wyndham City has undertaken preventative murals and tree planting.”
Graffiti can be reported to the council on 8734 2709, graffiti@wyndham.vic.gov.au or at www.wyndham.vic.gov.au
