Make your mark on Graffiti Removal Day 2019

Last published on 17 Oct 2019 

Community groups across NSW are being urged to brush up on their creative skills for this year’s Graffiti Removal Day.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock and Attorney General Mark Speakman joined their Parliamentary colleagues and Graffiti Removal Day organisers at Parliament House today to help mobilise local communities to roll up their sleeves at the annual event.

Mrs Hancock said up to 3000 volunteers would work at approximately 600 sites around NSW for Graffiti Removal Day on Sunday 27 October.

“We have up to 60 councils participating as well as a wide range of community groups including Rotary, Scouts NSW, Girl Guides NSW & ACT, Air Force Cadets, PCYC, NSW Police Force, Lions Clubs, church groups, and high schools,” Mrs Hancock said.

“I encourage everybody to get involved in this worthwhile event, which has seen volunteers remove more than 141,000 sq/m of graffiti since it started in 2012.”

Mr Speakman said preventing graffiti in the first place is one of the central themes for this year’s campaign.

“Graffiti is a blight on our community and unfortunately costs the state millions of dollars each year in cleaning up public property,” Mr Speakman said.

“We want to see vandalism replaced by colourful, artistic murals or plants that can act as ‘green screens’ to help stop graffiti from occurring in the first place.”

Graffiti Removal Day chairman Bob Aitken said volunteers have removed more than 141,000 sqm of graffiti, saving the community $10.4 million, since the event was established in 2012.

“We want people to love where they live and be proud of their neighbourhoods,” Mr Aitken said.

“Our focus this year is not only on removing unsightly graffiti but also on encouraging community groups to come up with creative and fun ideas to prevent vandalism at regularly targeted sites.”

People can volunteer, suggest an idea or nominate a clean-up site by visiting Graffiti Removal Day website. Penalties for graffiti vandalism include up to 12 months’ imprisonment and bans on the possession of spray cans by young people without a lawful excuse.

Download Media Release: Make your mark on Graffiti Removal Day 2019 (PDF , 159.7 KB)