Explosion in graffiti cost

KINGBOROUGH Council is considering a sixfold increase in its graffiti-cleaning budget after an explosion in the amount of vandalism in the area.

Deputy Mayor Jo Westwood says she is concerned at the graffiti appearing on council-owned property — and the cost to ratepayers of removing it.

KINGBOROUGH Council has been forced to consider increasing its graffiti-cleaning budget sixfold as a rise of vandalism hits the region and the deputy mayor says “enough is enough”.

At its council meeting tomorrow, council will vote to increase money allocated to removing graffiti from $5000 to $30,000.

So far this financial year council has spent almost $10,000 removing graffiti from council-owned infrastructure — up from the $1700 in 2017-18.

Deputy Mayor Jo Westwood is leading a community safety committee to address the issue.

“It is very disappointing that council needs to use ratepayers’ money to remove graffiti,” she said. “Graffiti is vandalism, not art.

“I am very concerned about the increasing amount of graffiti across Kingborough.”

Cr Westwood said residents and businesses were fed up.

“There has been growing concern and frustration from the community regarding the increase in graffiti and tagging, particularly in the Kingston and Blackmans Bay areas,” she said.

“It costs time and money to remove graffiti and businesses are frustrated and annoyed.”

In January, the council set up a graffiti reduction working group to help property-owners tackle and remove graffiti.

High profile sites have been identified and council will work with owners on removal techniques.

“This year’s spend has significantly increased and is well over the current $5000 annual budget allocated to graffiti removal,” she said.

“I detest wasting ratepayers’ money on unnecessary expenditure, but I hope that with more money available to remove graffiti from council-owned land we will be able to tackle this issue head on.”

The council has been successful in a $140,000 grant application from the Federal Government for a public safety project called Keeping Kingborough Safe.

Keeping Kingborough Safe will enable the installation of new CCTV cameras and enhanced lighting in central Kingston and at the Blackmans Bay Skate Park.

A portion of the grant will be allocated to strategies to reduce and prevent graffiti.

Cr Westwood said the council would work with schools to engage students in anti-graffiti messaging and to identify young people who may be offending with the assistance of police.