by Councillor Nathan Tilbury
Sadly, as can sometimes be the case during the school holiday period, there is currently an unpleasant spate of graffiti damage occurring across the Hornsby Shire. Particular problem areas that residents have reported to me include Mt Colah, Berowra and Beecroft/Cheltenham where fences, buildings, vehicles and signage have been targeted.
Graffiti is best removed as soon as possible, and it is the responsibility of the property’s owner to remove it.
Council has always had a policy of aiming to remove graffiti damage on council assets within 48 hours of it being reported. Graffiti vandalism on council property can be reported via council’s website (where images & short videos can be uploaded) or by calling council’s graffiti hotline 1800 199 282.
When using on Council’s website to report graffiti damage there are also direct links to report to other organizations if their assets have been targeted, such as Ausgrid , Aust . Post , Service NSW , State Transit and Sydney Water.
You can also report graffiti and other vandalism via the NSW Police Force’s Community Portal, where you will receive an email within 48 hours with a NSW Police event number.
My personal preferred option is to report graffiti using the www.vandaltrak.com website. This is an easy-to-use single reporting source that works directly with local councils, businesses, the police and other organizations to combat graffiti vandalism.
Again, when reporting graffiti via VandalTrack photos of the incidents can be uploaded. This is important as these images are collated and stored, ready for when a perpetrator is apprehended and their current and historic “tag” damage can be attributed to them, even if it has long since been removed.
To encourage and support residents to quickly remove graffiti from their own property, Hornsby Council is working towards making available graffiti removal kits. The contents of these kits are currently being finalized, and Hornsby Council hopes to launch the initiative shortly.
Authorities are aware of the current graffiti situation and are allocating resources accordingly, with a focus on catching the tagger(s). From previous experience we know the best way to stop a graffiti problem is hold the offender(s) accountable. This will often deter others, including potential offenders, and, often, many of them they “grow out” of this pathetic crime.
Finally, I discourage people from putting up images graffiti on Social Media. Sadly, the offenders get a kick out of seeing their handiwork “published”.
