The art of preventing graffiti

Last published on 27 Oct 2019

Community groups across NSW are brushing up on their creative talents to tackle vandalism with colourful murals today to officially mark Graffiti Removal Day.

“Graffiti is an unsightly stain on our community and costs taxpayers millions of dollars every year to remove,” Attorney General Mark Speakman said.

Graffiti Removal Day is a NSW Government initiative that last year involved about 2000 volunteers who removed more than 20,000 m2 of graffiti from 519 sites across New South Wales.

“We want to see ugly tags with no artistic merit covered by eye-catching murals or greenery which can act as screens to help deter vandals from defacing public spaces,” Mr Speakman said.

An army of up to 3000 volunteers will spruce up 550 sites across the state on Graffiti Removal Day from Bourke to Bondi.

Aboriginal artist and teacher Rick O’Brien is joining local volunteers to transform Hungry Point Reserve at Cronulla with a mural recognising the site’s cultural significance.

In addition, about 500 children have painted tiles to create a unique public artwork aimed at preventing graffiti at Carss Bush Park on the Georges River.

“These are just two examples of some of the fantastic work in NSW where the community is using innovative ideas to stop vandalism,” Mr Speakman said.

Volunteers from Rotary, Scouts NSW, Girl Guides NSW & ACT, Air Force Cadets, PCYC, NSW Police, Lions, church groups, schools and nearly 80 councils will take part in Graffiti Removal Day for 2019.

Since the event started in 2012, more than 141,000 m2 of graffiti have been removed saving the community $10.4 million.

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