Breaking News
Council war on graffiti
Kelly Robinson
8 May 2008
WARRINGAH Council is planning an all-out assault on graffiti, targeting private property for the first time.
The proposal, part of the council's 2008 Strategic Community Plan, will see tags and spray-can vandalism removed from both public and private houses and businesses in high-profile areas.
The program will aim to deter graffiti offenders from defacing private and public property by removing the vandalism as soon as possible.
Studies from around the world have shown vandals are deterred from painting on walls and fences if they do not have a chance to admire their work in public places for long periods of time.
The council has yet to determine the program's details, but time frames for removal will be swift. Previously, removing the paint from private houses and fences was the responsibility of the owner.
Graffiti is currently only removed from council-owned buildings. But under the new scheme, residents will not be charged for the service.
The $300,000 pilot program will run for 12 months and is included in the council's draft 2008-2009 budget.
Warringah administrator Dick Persson, who announced the program at a council meeting on Tuesday night, said the strategy was aimed at deterring vandals.
"Removing it quickly will send a clear message to graffiti artists," he said.
"This project, for the first time in Warringah, will address private property as well as council facilities. "
'We will be focusing our efforts on high profile precinct areas or urban centres, main road precincts, council buildings and public assets.
"Council will also be targeting publicly accessible private property in high profile areas. We appreciate it is often difficult for property owners to engage contractors to remove graffiti and council will not be offering this free service to residents and businesses."
Other councils across Sydney have been cleaning graffiti from private homes, including Randwick Council.
Randwick Mayor Bruce Notley-Smith said the program had been extremely successful in the area.
"The program was started in 2005 and has reduced the amount of graffiti around the area," he said. "The policy requires council to remove the graffiti from private property within five days." The council's draft Community Strategic Plan will be on display and a community hearing will be held on June 11.
If approved, the graffiti removal program will start in July.
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