Residents encouraged to report illegal graffiti

Maroondah City Council is pleased to support a new initiative by Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region Sonja Terpstra to tackle illegal graffiti.

In a media release earlier this week, Ms Terpstra announced the Victorian Government had launched a new initiative which encouraged residents to report graffiti via a dedicated Facebook group - RAG! (Residents Against Graffiti) Croydon.

Maroondah Mayor Councillor Rob Steane said while Council already has a number of ways the community can report illegal graffiti across Maroondah, Council was pleased to support the initiative, and will respond to issues relating to Council property.

“Council has a dedicated Graffiti Removal Team and truck which is out and about every day in Maroondah removing graffiti from Council property,” Cr Steane said.

“Our team is constantly monitoring Council sites across the municipality and has an extensive network of contacts within the community who inform them of illegal graffiti which needs to be removed,” Cr Steane said.

“Council is also a member of the Eastern Region Graffiti Network and works with the Victorian Government’s Department of Justice on a graffiti removal program which sees offenders complete community work placement in Maroondah. As part of the program the offenders visit sites across Maroondah painting over graffiti on fences, laneways, underpasses and in parks and reserves. Having these areas cleaned up as part of the program means that Council's graffiti maintenance team can focus on removal of graffiti from Council assets and community venues,” Cr Steane said.

“Council also provides a purpose-built Community Graffiti Removal Trailer for community groups to borrow at no cost. The trailer was funded under the Victorian Government’s Community Crime Prevention Program and is available for community and sporting groups, such as Neighbourhood Watch, business groups, schools and scouts/guides, to remove graffiti in Maroondah, particularly on community infrastructure,” Cr Steane said.

“The easy to use trailer is fully-fitted with everything needed to successfully remove graffiti, including a high pressure washer, spray paint outfit, paint and protective equipment,” Cr Steane said.

For residents or businesses who unfortunately have to clean up graffiti from their own property, Council offers free graffiti removal kits which can be picked up from any customer service outlet or Council’s Operations Centre during normal business hours.

If the person is unable to remove the graffiti due to age or a disability Council will provide the service at no charge.

Cr Steane said the Victorian Government’s community-led Facebook group could also help to inform other government agencies and utilities of illegal graffiti on their infrastructure.

“While Council works to remove graffiti on our infrastructure as quickly as possible, we also often have residents report graffiti on property over which we have no authority to remove, such as railway bridges, along railway corridors and on signage and electrical poles,” Cr Steane said.

 “Council does not have the authority to remove graffiti on infrastructure owned by other government agencies, including Metro Trains, VicTrack, VicRoads; and other utility services such as power companies.

“However Ms Terpstra’s initiative provides another channel by which the community can report illegal graffiti, not only to Council, but for action by other government agencies and utility services, and we would certainly encourage them to remove graffiti from their infrastructure as soon as possible,” Cr Steane said.

To report illegal graffiti on Council property:

Graffiti is a punishable offence and Council encourages the community to report all incidents regardless of location to Victoria Police. You can do so by reporting illegal graffiti online using the VandalTrak website, where you can provide the location and send images.

For more information on graffiti removal in Maroondah or to find out more about hiring the Community Graffiti Removal Trailer contact Council on 1300 88 22 33.