GraffitiWatch

Research has shown that removing graffiti as soon as possible is one of the best ways to deter its return.

Our volunteers are often to be seen out and about, removing graffiti with graffiti removal kits from the Yarra Ranges Council. We also borrow the graffiti trailer Council makes available for volunteer groups across the Shire for the bigger jobs whenever we can't stand it any more!

See the graffiti images on this site for an idea of the difference we make to Montrose. But we are tired and need your help!

Please help by:

1. Cleaning graffiti off your property. You can get Graffiti Cleaning kits from Council on 1300 368 333. Remember to follow all OHS instructions with these chemicals.
2. Asking other property and business owners to clean their property and let them know about Council's help, or this website.
3. Reporting graffiti you see in Montrose, providing the exact address or other location:

• if it is on a powerpole, to SPAusnet on 1300 360 795 or via csc@sp-ausnet.com.au DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN IT YOURSELF as SPAusnet have advised that THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS.
• on Shire or other public property to Council on 1300 368 333
• if it is on traffic signs, to VicRoads on 131171 or Council on 1300 368 333, and
• the police via linda.hancock@police.vic.gov.au. Marking graffiti without consent is a crime. If you can, please also send a photo of the tag for inclusion on the police database. This will help ensure that those responsible are caught for all their tags and other vandalism around the Shire and Melbourne.

REMEMBER - DO NOT REMOVE GRAFFITI FROM POWER POLES OR ANY OTHER POWER-RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE - instead contact SP Ausnet (see above).

The money for materials etc is ultimately provided by the Department of Justice, and they won't let it be used to pay contractors or employees. They are forcing volunteers to do clean up graffiti in their own time. If you have an issue with that (as we do!), feel free to contact our local MP, David Hodgett and tell him. His email address is david.hodgett@parliament.vic.gov.au. Rest assured we are lobbying to get this attitude changed.

See recent articles in The Leader and the Mail about our graffiti tackling strategy and issues. Thank you to them for the publicity.

We also have several organised clean-up days a year, the next one scheduled being Clean-up Australia Day on 6 March 2011. Please contact us if you would like to give us a hand!

For those of you who saw the graffiti attacks carried out on the night of 30 November around Montrose Road, the toilets and the shops, please be assured that we on the Township Group have immediately:

1. taken photos
2. submitted them to VicPol and the Council for entry on the police database
3. assisted the relevant landowners to remove the tags promptly by providing materials and guidance, and
4. sought help to clean up from others.

The graffiti was removed from the public areas on 2 December and thank you to the team of volunteers and to Council for doing such a great job! Montrose Primary School was also very grateful.

Vigilance and speed of removal is the key to keeping Montrose free of this obnoxious, mindless vandalism!

Finally - if you see someone actually in the act of applying graffiti to a property, you should NOT approach them. Instead call the local police or Crime Stoppers. See http://www.police.vic.gov.au/.

How Can I deter Graffiti Vandalism?

See http://www.graffiti.nsw.gov.au/ for some info you may find helpful - and the tips sheet at the tab on the left called "preventing graffiti vandalism".