Graffiti draws ire, $90k clean-up bill

TOWNSVILLE ratepayers have been slugged with a cleanup bill worth nearly $100,000 for the removal of graffiti.

There were 174 incidents of graffiti reported between July 1, 2019 and May 31, which cost ratepayers about $90,000, according to Townsville City Council data.

The five most targeted suburbs were Kirwan with 30 incidents reported, Mundingburra with 16, Heatley with 13, Cranbrook with 13 and Rasmussen with 11. The most vandalised piece of public property was Heatley Park, with eight complaints received.

Community and Cultural Development Committee chairperson Ann-maree Greaney said the council invested resources into keeping public places appealing and found the vandalism “disappointing”.

“Council then incurs a cost to clean up this graffiti, which is money that could be spent on new and enhanced facilities to make our city an even better place to live,” she said.

“There is research which shows that murals and other street art projects act as a deterrent to tags and other illegal/unauthorised graffiti.

“That’s why council has implemented its street art program. Not only does it help to deter illegal graffiti but it helps activate our public spaces.”

Mount Louisa resident Nikki Hosking was visiting the park at least once a week with her two children before the global COVID-19 pandemic and said she had noticed considerably more graffiti in Townsville since moving from the Sunshine Coast.

“Driving through some areas you notice a big difference,” she said.

“It’s not a good thing. I think if they can find out whoever has done it, they should be the one to clean it up.”

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said graffiti should not be tolerated in Townsville.

“It’s the last thing residents and visitors want to see and it detracts from the city,” he said.

Mr Harper said some young offenders had been put to work to remove graffiti in Townsville as organised by the Department of Youth Justice.

“For example, in October last year they helped clean up and beautify a large shed at the athletics fields in Kirwan,” he said. “Community service work is an important device to hold young people to account.” >>Anyone with information about graffiti in our community should contact Policelink on 131 444 or the council on 134 810.