COUNCIL SEEKS INFORMATION ON GRAFFITI ATTACKS

03-Jul-2008
The Town of Port Hedland is seeking information on offenders who are responsible for graffiti which has appeared on footpaths, road signs and fences, particularly along Paton Road and in the Koombana area in South Hedland.

Town of Port Hedland Mayor Stan Martin said that while Council is committed to deterring offenders by promptly removing graffiti’s and tags, Council staff will have to paint over the tags sprayed on a fence located on Daylesford Street, and replace road signs on Paton Road.

“Graffiti damage is costing Council around $30,000 every year.  Every dollar spent on removing unsightly tags, is a dollar less we can spend on other facilities,” said Mayor Stan Martin.

More than 30 Litres of cleaning chemicals have been used so far this year, to remove graffiti in Town.  New graffiti removal equipment costing $4,500, will be put to work shortly, to re-paint infrastructure which cannot be cleaned.

Council’s Engineering Team has responded to more than 60 graffiti removal works request from the public, since January this year.

“Graffiti is a costly issue and affects everyone.  The community and Council need to work together on this, to send the message to vandals that graffiti will not be tolerated in Port and South Hedland.  I encourage residents to stand up and speak up for their neighbourhoods.”

“Council offers a reward of up to $500, if the information provided leads to an offender being convicted,” added Mayor Stan Martin.

Office of Crime Prevention Project Manager, Graffiti Vandalism Reduction Strategy, Ms Amanda Kearney said that the State’s ‘Goodbye Graffiti’ campaign had also boosted reward funds to encourage reporting of graffiti vandals.

“Our reward program is being finalised and will utilise Crime Stoppers to connect the reports with convictions in order to be able to allocate rewards.  We'll be offering up to $1000.”

Prompt reporting of graffiti will assist in quick removal and may help in reducing re-occurrences.  To report taggers and vandals, residents can either call the Town of Port Hedland on 9158 9300 or contact the State Graffiti Hotline on 1800 44 22 55.  Residents can also complete and submit a graffiti report form available at www.police.wa.gov.au/Portals/11/PDFs/Report_Graffiti_Form07.DOC

 

Chris Adams

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

3 July 2008

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Media contacts

 

Town of Port Hedland:            Veronique Thomas-Smith (08) 9158 9355

publicityofficer@porthedland.wa.gov.au

 

Last modified 03-Jul-2008 02:30 PM