Blue Mountains City Council

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Stop Graffiti
Stop Graffiti

Graffiti is considered a crime and is punishable by fines, community service orders or imprisonment.




 

Graffiti Management and Removal

Blue Mountains City Council is committed to the management and removal of graffiti across the whole of the Blue Mountains local government area.

Here you will find information on how to report graffiti for removal and as a crime, plus handy hints for the prevention and removal of graffiti.

What is graffiti?

Graffiti is the illegal defacement of public and/or private property with markings or graphics without the owner's consent. Graffiti can take many forms including design, words or images using paint, permanent markers, scratching or other materials such as stickers and bill posters.

In New South Wales graffiti is considered a crime (vandalism) and is punishable by fines, community service orders or imprisonment.

Graffiti Management Plan

Council removes graffiti from all property owned and managed by the Council across the entire Blue Mountains local government area.

Council's current practices for removal of graffiti are:

  • Offensive graffiti - within 24 hours
  • General graffiti - within 72 hours
  • Non-offensive isolated graffiti - within five days

Council is in the process of drafting a Graffiti Management Plan in conjunction with the community and other stakeholders such as police, schools and public authorities, at a Graffiti Summit during 2009.

Responsibility for Graffiti Removal on Council and Private Property

Council property

Council is responsible for removing graffiti off it's own property which includes:

  • Bus shelters
  • Signs such as street signs, tourism signs etc
  • Council buildings such as libraries, civic centres
  • Parks and playground equipment
  • Roads and footpaths

Private property

Council may remove graffiti from private property in certain circumstances and if the graffiti removal can be carried out from a public place.

Council offers a service for the removal of graffiti from private property. To request a quote call Council on (02) 4780 5000 or email council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au.

For commercial property owners only (i.e. not privately owned residential properties) and tenants in Katoomba and Leura CBDs contact the Clean Up Katoomba Graffiti Team for free graffiti removal. Contact either:

Tom Colless
Phone: (0418) 274 751
Email: tc@colless.com.au

Mark Jarvis
Phone: (0425) 228 304
Email: gm@thecarrington.com.au

Public Authorities' property

Council is not responsible for removing graffiti from buildings or structures owned by public authorities such as:

  • Post boxes - Australia Post
  • Electrical poles and pillars - Integral Energy
  • Electrical substations - Integral Energy
  • Railway station buildings - Railcorp
  • Major roads including street signs, sound walls and bridges - Roads and Traffic Authority
  • Traffic light control boxes and poles - Roads and Traffic Authority
  • Water reservoirs - Sydney Water
  • Telephone boxes - Telstra
  • Telephone exchange building - Telstra

Reporting Graffiti for Removal and as a Crime

To report graffiti for removal on Council owned property:

To request a quote for removal of graffiti on private property:

To report graffiti for removal on commercial property (i.e. not privately owned residential property) in Katoomba/Leura CBDs:

To report graffiti for removal on a public authority's property:

  • call the relevant authority below:
    • Australia Post - 131 318
    • Energy Australia - 131 535
    • Integral Energy - 131 002
    • Railcorp - 131 500
    • Roads and Traffic Authority - 132 213
    • Sydney Water - 132 092
    • School and TAFE buildings - Principal or Office Manager
    • Telstra - 132 203

To report graffiti as a crime:

Call:

  • Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or
  • NSW Police Assistance Line on 13 14 44 if you are the victim of graffiti.

Or online at:

Handy Hints for Graffiti Removal

  • Unpainted brick
    Apply graffiti remover
    Wait 5 minutes
    Scrub with a brush
    Hose off with water
    Repeat above steps until clean
  • Painted brick
    Paint over OR apply methylated spirits with a soft brush
    Hose off with water
  • Unpainted and painted paling fence
    Paint over
  • Colourbond fence
    Apply graffiti remover
    Brush with a very soft brush
    Hose off immediately with water
    Paint over

These handy hints are based on information supplied by Blacktown City Council.

Handy Hints for Graffiti Prevention

Property owners can take a number of steps to prevent graffiti and make removal easier including:

  • Avoid large, blank surfaces such as a solid colourbond fence as this provides a 'canvas' for graffitists. Instead use picket fencing, bar fencing (eg pool or wrought iron fencing), metal cyclone fencing or natural materials (eg bamboo or bush reed).
  • Plant vegetation such as climbers, thorny shrubs or trees to break up surfaces and prevent access to walls or fencing.
  • Improve lighting as a well lit area promotes surveillance and deters vandalism.
  • Maintain your property as a property that is not kept free from litter, weeds and unrepaired damage may attract graffitists and vandalism.
  • Paint walls and fences with dark coloured paint as graffitists usually target light-colour surfaces. It is also easier to paint over graffiti with a dark colour paint than with a light colour paint. Keep extra paint in the same colour for easy repainting of walls and fences.
  • Secure your property with adequate locks, fences and gates and ensure items such as wheelie bins and barbecues can't be used to reach walls and rooftops.
  • Prompt removal of graffiti (within 24 to 48 hours) will discourage repeat graffiti as it doesn't give the graffitist recognition.

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