Townsville City Council declares war on graffiti

Townsville City Council is stepping up efforts to rid local areas of graffiti thanks to a $70,000 grant from the Newman Government.

All of the State’s 73 councils will share in $1.75 million each year for the next four years to clean up and remove graffiti from public buildings and amenities.

Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said graffiti was costing councils thousands of dollars each year.

“This fund will give Townsville City Council greater means to tackle graffiti head on without redirecting funds from vital community services,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Council will use the money to employ a dedicated Graffiti Management Officer.

“Ratepayers right across the State are fed up with community assets being vandalised and paying for the clean-up caused by people with no respect for public property,” he said.

A further $250,000 will go to Crime Stoppers to run a new State-wide GraffitiSTOP hotline, website and Facebook page so people can alert authorities to new graffiti by phone, text or online.

“Whether it’s a pedestrian bridge in Ipswich or a picnic table in Longreach, locals are proud of their community assets and they don’t want them to be tagged by careless graffiti vandals,” Mr Crisafulli said.

The initiative will also connect councils with the nearest regional Probation and Parole officer so they can use community service offenders to help remove graffiti where appropriate.

GraffitiSTOP is live online from today and is part of the Newman Government’s Safer Streets and Crime Action Plan.

GraffitiSTOP: 1300 472 334 (6am to 6pm Monday to Fridays excluding Public Holidays)

www.graffitistop.com.au

facebook.com.au/Graffitistopqld

[ENDS] 5 November, 2012

Media Contact: Monica Rostron 0409 126 332

                         Andrew Longmire 0418 216 627