Tougher action on graffiti needed

The Corporate Governance and Finance Committee has recommended that Council lobby the State Government for tougher action to combat graffiti vandalism.

A report has highlighted a significant increase in the incidence of graffiti this year and removal is estimated to cost the city $1.7 million.

Committee Chair Cr Eddy Sarroff said the increase was not specific to the Gold Coast and was a problem for most urban centres in the country.

“Council has successfully implemented a comprehensive graffiti management and removal policy which is considered to be a leading local government program,” said Cr Sarroff.

“The program actively focuses on prevention by engaging young people through schools and identification of ‘tags’ for investigation by police.

“Council’s ArtBox Project was a trial initiative which concluded in July 2008 that involved 41 traffic signal boxes being painted in Surfers Paradise with community-inspired artworks.

“Prior to the project commencing, 90 per cent of the boxes were covered in graffiti or posters, and since the artwork was completed, only 10 per cent have had minor graffiti.

“However, while we have been working hard on new initiatives and reducing the per-job average cost of removal, graffiti removal expenditure has increased by $200,000 each year since 2004.

“”Last year, Council staff undertook almost 11,000 graffiti removal jobs and this year that number is expected to rise to 15,000.

“The Committee has recommended that further discussion take place with the State Government regarding mandatory point-of-sale security for spray paint cans, harsher penalties for offenders and any other initiatives that can deter graffiti vandalism.”