Hardest hit
THE cost of vandalism to Townsville ratepayers and taxpayers is staggering.
Latest statistics reveal it is costing the Townsville City Council and the State Government about $ 5000 a week to clean up graffiti and repair damage done by vandals.
This year there have been 164 incidents of graffiti vandalism reported to the Townsville City Council, with a clean- up cost of nearly $ 30,000.
That figure did not include the cost to repair damage to parks and other council infra- structure, such as broken windows, sprinklers and bollards, caused by intentional acts of destruction.
The Department of Education and Training’s statistics reveal that in the past 11 months, 80 incidents of vandalism at state schools have been reported, costing the community $ 106,143.95.
In one incident, a state school in the city had multiple windows broken with a repair bill of $ 9678.
In the 2015- 16 period, 150 incidents of vandalism at state schools were reported at a cost of $ 77,067.13, and in the 2014- 15 period, 84 incidents were reported with a repair bill of $ 70,182.06.
Deputy Mayor Les Walker said between January and June this year the council spent $ 29,944.57 to clean up graffiti vandalism.
Last year, the council spent $ 68,082 and $ 92,692 in 2015 to clean up graffiti vandalism.
“It is simply wilful damage which is unsightly and unnecessary and the cost to remove it from council assets is significant,” Cr Walker said.
“The money spent on fixing damage to facilities is money that could go towards other valuable community projects.”
Cr Walker said security patrols, CCTV cameras and lighting had gone a long way to reducing reports of graffiti and vandalism to public buildings and assets in recent years but any incident cost ratepayers.
“Our goal is to clean up graffiti and repair acts of van- dalism to public property quickly as possible,” he said.
“We are particularly conscious to remove graffiti which includes profanities or indecent content as well as vandalism that may make a facility unsafe or unusable.
“We want to send a strong message that we won’t tolerate these acts. Not only is it unsightly, it drags down the standards of a community and the image we want to project.
“The council will continue to do what it can to catch these offenders but we need the assistance of the community to continue to report incidents to us and police.”
A Department of Education and Training spokesman said most vandalism incidents to state schools in the Townsville as Top suburbs for graffiti since January 1: South Townsville ........... 14 Kelso ................................ 11 Kirwan .............................. 11 Townsville City ............... 11 Aitkenvale ...................... 10 Heatley ........................... 10 Mundingburra ................ 10 Condon ............................. 9 Garbutt ............................. 9 Mount Louisa................... 8 area involved broken windows or doors, holes in walls and broken lights.
“The department aims to minimise incidents of arson, vandalism and theft through targeted security strategies,” he said.
“This includes promotion of the School Watch Program and the School Security Handbook, ongoing partnerships with the Queensland Police Service and Protective Services and field- based School Security Advisors.”
Security patrols and alarm systems are also used.
To report suspicious activity at a school phone 131 788 or for suspicious activity elsewhere call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Editorial, page 18