Civic leaders declare war on graffiti

BY DAMON CRONSHAW
30/10/2008 10:51:00 PM
CIVIC and business leaders are set to launch the biggest assault on graffiti the Hunter has seen.

They have vowed to stamp out the graffiti menace that has cost its victims millions of dollars and left parts of the region's cities and towns looking like ghettos.

A team will be enlisted to quickly remove the graffiti tags that plague the city.

Newcastle City Council is set to commit $50,000 to the fight, adding to a growing pot of money to which Newcastle and Lake Macquarie businesses have already committed.

The decision to step up the campaign against graffiti comes as:

* A number of buildings at Tanilba Bay were hit by vandals and sprayed with various tags. The attacks occurred after a gang stole spray paint cans from a business in Lemon Tree Passage.

* The NSW Government targeted graffiti artists with tougher laws and penalties including jail time for possession of marker pens and acts of vandalism.

* Member for Newcastle Jodi McKay welcomed the tougher laws, saying they should make it easier for police and courts to bring offenders to account.

Hunter businessman Jeff McCloy, who has committed thousands of dollars to the cause, is stepping up his anti-graffiti campaign and drawing others in to help.

Newcastle businessman Paul Murphy and other businesses are ready to commit a significant sum, but are waiting for Newcastle City Council to take the lead.

"If Newcastle City Council is going to put in $50,000, that's a start. It's about time they showed some leadership," Mr Murphy said.

"The council needs to commit a lot more, if it is serious about the problem."

Lord Mayor John Tate said the council would make an announcement "in the next few days".

Mr McCloy said the community was sick and tired of a "minority of youths destroying our city".

"It's a bloody-minded assault on other people's property. The community should make them accountable for their behaviour," he said.

Cr Tate and Mr McCloy have backed graffiti warrior Robert Denton, who leads a not-for-profit graffiti-removal program in Cardiff, to expand his program across the city.

Cr Tate said Mr Denton's program was "effective and efficient".

The program involves taking photographs of graffiti, removing it quickly and reporting incidents to police.

Mr Denton said four people would be employed full-time and given vehicles to do the work.

Lake Macquarie City Council and more Lake Macquarie businesses are poised to join the fight, further expanding Mr Denton's program.

Mr Denton said his vision was for Newcastle and Lake Macquarie to be free from graffiti.

Mr McCloy said he wanted a "clean city with jobs for everybody".

Lake Macquarie Mayor Greg Piper said the council had a role "to work with business chambers, who are really up against it".

"There has to be an acknowledgement that we have to spend money on the problem," Cr Piper said.

"Graffiti damages businesses. It changes the way people perceive their environment."