1800 city graffiti tags
Citizen’s audit tracks scale of vandalism
A GEELONG resident’s audit of graffiti in the CBD has revealed a staggering 1800 spray-paint tags, leading to calls for a community-wide response to curtail the scourge.
Gary Robertson scoured an area bordered by Malop, Bellerine, Myers and Gheringhap streets and could not believe the vandalism.
But graffiti is not only happening in the city. Mr Robertson can often be found removing graffiti near his Wandana Heights home and along the Geelong Ring Road.
Now, after countless hours removing eyesores while also battling arthritis, he concedes he is fighting a losing battle.
Mr Robertson and fellow anti-graffiti crusader Dennis Blake say it is time for government, affected groups and the public to be part of a united community response.
“I believe that without an accord with all affected parties, nothing will change and our city and surrounds will continue to look like a ghetto, looking very much like a place that you would not want to live in,” he wrote in a letter to all three tiers of government.
“In my opinion, the city should take the leadership role and bring all the affected parties to the table.”
Mr Robertson and Mr Blake said removing tags promptly was a proven way to counter the vandalism, but they needed an army of volunteers and government support to do so.
“Community groups have many retired people among their ranks and, in a perfect world, the city would recruit these people, supply them with a petrol pressure washer, tank and instructions and let them all loose,” Mr Robertson said.
The City of Greater Geelong has been forced to double its graffiti removal budget in the past two financial years to $500,000.
But of the 1800 tags in Mr Robertson’s audit, more than 1630 were on private property.
The city offers paint vouchers to affected businesses and residents, but since the program started in mid-2019 only 41 vouchers had been issued, CoGG director of city services Guy Wilson-Browne said.
Western Victoria MP Stuart Grimley backed the call for an accord.
“I would envisage it would consist of representatives from all levels of government and community, as well as police and key businesses regularly affected,” Mr Grimley said.
“It will take a whole-ofcommunity approach.”
A former policeman, the MP said in his experience it was difficult to apprehend graffiti offenders.
“In the instances where they are apprehended and charged, the sentences imposed by the judicial system are clearly not sending a message,” Mr Grimley said.
Mr Wilson-Browne encouraged the community to report graffiti on private property to police via the online reporting page or by calling 131 444.
“Residents can contact our graffiti team on 5272 4319 or via graffiti@geelongcity.vic. gov.au to obtain a paint voucher or report graffiti of public property,” he said.