Council tackling graffiti on the Sunshine Coast
Tue 03 August 2010
Roseanna Langmead, Bachelor of Communication
Though some claim it crosses the fine line between vandalism and artistic expression, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council is positive that the instigation of a three-stage policy can keep the region graffiti free.
While statistics show that graffiti prevention, removal and law enforcement are estimated to cost the Queensland Government up to $50 million each year, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council is taking action to lower this expenditure.
Community Programs manager Mike Lollback said the Council was currently developing a graffiti policy for the region, incorporating three steps: “removal”, “mitigation” and “education”. 
“Rapid removal of graffiti will provide a sense of pride and ownership in a place, thereby discouraging graffiti,” Mr Lollback said.
Council already has a number of removal techniques in place, such as the “four-step guide” for reporting graffiti.
“The graffiti guide has been extremely successful in the overall reduction of graffiti and costs involved,” Mr Lollback said.
More recently, the Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Energex, and has an existing MOU with the Department of Main Roads, which has commenced the clean-up of graffiti throughout the Sunshine Coast.
Mr Lollback said that the Council was currently negotiating with Telstra to obtain a similar agreement to those existing with Energex and the Department of Main Roads.
Community Policy and Programs Councillor Jenny McKay said that these MOUs were an important step in graffiti prevention on the Sunshine Coast.
“This agreement will se
nd a clear message to graffiti vandals that graffiti is not welcome on the Sunshine Coast,” Cnr McKay said.
Mr Lollback said these techniques, contributing to step one of the policy, have already seen success on the Sunshine Coast.
“Already the rapid removal system in place has shown a major improvement in the [incidence] of graffiti,” Mr Lollback said.
“Removal is a vital tool in the overall prevention strategy.”
On the Sunshine Coast, graffiti can be seen in a number of forms, including “tagging”, illegal graffiti and street art (graffiti with consent of the property owner).
In cities worldwide, walls are allocated for graffiti artists to legally undertake their chosen form of art.
Mr Lollback said both th
e Sunshine Coast Police and Council had discussed street walls as legal areas for artistic expression.
“Council will explore the possibility of structured, planned and supervised street art areas where graffiti is of high concern,” Mr Lollback said.
“Artwork will be required to follow a structured process.”
Under state legislation, the Summary Offences Act 2005, graffiti which has been allowed must not be offensive, racist or obscene.
For more information or to report graffiti, visit the Sunshine Coast Regional Council website.
Image(s) designed by Roseanna Langmead