Graffiti

Graffiti and what it is

Graffiti is the illegal marking of another person’s property without permission.

Graffiti can include tags, stencils, pieces and even colourful murals which have been done without the permission of the person who owns the wall and without permission from Council.

Who does graffiti and why

People who participate in graffiti cannot be classified by age, gender, background or socio-economic status. They participate either as individuals or in groups, either in their own neighbourhoods or further afield. Reasons for the behaviour can include boredom, self expression, marking territory, recognition, risk taking and defiance of law and society.

Who is responsible for removing graffiti

Reducing and removing graffiti is everyone's responsibility. You can help by informing Council of graffiti locations.

Council strategy for managing graffiti

The Moreland City Council Graffiti strategy 2009-14 (PDF 1Mb) provides Council with strategic direction for managing illegal graffiti. The strategy was developed in response to the proliferation of graffiti in Moreland and in recognition of the considerable social and economic costs to the community caused by illegal graffiti. The strategy incorporates the approaches of: Engagement - Education - Eradication - Enforcement. Key actions include:

engaging young people to encourage youth inspired solutions to graffiti issues
educating school children about graffiti management in partnership with Victoria Police
preventing the reoccurence of graffiti on public property through undertaking graffiti removal and a 'zero tolerance' approach to illegal graffiti at selected sites
quick removal of graffiti from Council owned assets, and
support by Council for murals and street art where applied with the owner's permission.

Council's role in graffiti removal

Council removes graffiti from infrastructure managed or owned by Council. This includes roads, footpaths, street furniture, sculptures, artworks, bridges and public buildings. Council removes graffiti on its own property as soon as possible when they have been made aware of the attack.

Council removes graffiti from private property if it is offensive such as swear words or a racial or religious slur.

mobile graffiti removal kit Council also partners with the Department of Justice who provide works crews to remove graffiti from large public areas, parks and reserves, commercial properties and main roads.

Free graffiti removal kits

Businesses, residents and community groups wanting to remove unwanted graffiti from their properties can take advantage of Council's free graffiti removal kits.

The kits, funded by Council and the Department of Justice, contain all the materials you need to remove graffiti from a surface area of approximately eight square metres.

There are several types of kits available. The type of kit you need depends on the type of surface that mobile graffiti removal kit for large areas the graffiti is on.

Mobile graffiti removal kits are available for larger areas. They contain a high pressure unit for use by traders, schools and community groups. Instructions are provided with the kits or you can watch the You Tube clips below.

Free paint vouchers

Council can also provide you with a free paint voucher to help you remove graffiti from your property. Vouchers to the value of $40 or $80 can be redeemed at participating stores within Moreland.

How to get a graffiti removal kit or paint voucher

Contact Council to request a kit or voucher.
If you require a kit, a member of Council's Rapid Response Team will inspect the graffiti on your property and provide the most suitable graffiti removal kit for your property.

Graffiti on private property

If you are the owner or manager of private property, you are responsible for removing graffiti on that property. Research shows that the faster graffiti is removed the less likely it is to reoccur. Leaving graffiti on your property attracts more graffiti.

If the graffiti is offensive, such as swear words or a racial or religious slur, contact Council and we will help you remove it as soon as possible.

Prevent graffiti

Graffiti vandals are often attracted to blank or bare walls. Reduce this blank canvas effect:

plant trees, creepers or fast growing vines along your fence line
use darker coloured materials and paints on fences
use rough or textured surfaces on fences
use anti-graffiti coatings in high risk areas
install sensor lighting
break up large areas of fence line, and
keep your property well maintained.
Use plants to block access to walls and fences.

Remove graffiti

For advice on graffiti prevention and graffiti removal from different surfaces visit the Department of Justice website, Graffiti Hurts or watch the videos below supplied by World's Best Graffiti Removal System.

Timber and painted surfaces

On timber and painted surfaces, painting over graffiti is often more effective than trying to clean it off. Keep some left over paint to remove graffiti should you need to, otherwise paint retailers can colour match. When painting over graffiti, test a small area first. If the graffiti bleeds through the paint, use a sealant before applying more paint.

Concrete and brick surfaces

Sensitive surfaces

Anti-graffiti coating

Anti-graffiti coatings can also be applied to paintwork to prevent graffiti from soaking into the paint. They also make it easier to clean graffiti from the painted surface. If a temporary coating is used, reapply after every few graffiti removals. Most hardware or paint stores stock anti-graffiti coatings however, some anti-graffiti coatings can be toxic and must be applied by a specialist, please check with your retailer when purchasing these products.

Look in the Yellow Pages online for graffiti removal companies.

Report graffiti on public property to:

Authority	Contact phone number	Responsibility
VicRoads	13 11 70 24 hours a day	Road networks including traffic signal poles and traffic lights
Metlink	131 638 6 am - 10 pm feedback@metlinkmelbourne.com.au	Trains, train stations, trams, tram stops and other public transport property
Telstra	13 22 03 24 hours a day	Telephone boxes, telephone stations, telephone poles and other telstra property
AGL Electricity	13 20 99 24 hours a day	Electricity poles, electricity supply units, other AGL property - North of Moreland Road
Citipower	131 280	Electricity poles, electricity supply units, other property - South of Moreland Road
Australia Post	13 13 18 Business hours	Red letter boxes and green delivery boxes
Adshel	1800 501 402	Glass bus and tram shelters
Yarra Trams	1800 800 166 Business hours	Trams, tram stops and other Yarra Trams property

Graffiti and the law

There are legal ways to do graffiti and street art. Doing any graffiti unlawfully could lead to an on the spot fine, or if convicted in a court of law, 2 years in jail and/or a $27,500 fine. The Graffiti Prevention Act 2007 outlines what the new penalties are and how they will be applied.

What is street art?

Street art is artistic work done with the permission of the person who owns the wall that the work is being done on, and with the permission of Council.

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