All set to gobble up graffiti

City of Casey Councillors Louise Berkelmans, Wayne Smith BJ JP and Susan Serey with Graffiti Eaters Managing Director Mark Mackenzie and graffiti removalist Ivan Opacak.

GRAFFITI is set to be eaten up in the City of Casey as the council vows to continue tackling ongoing vandalism.
The council recently appointed contractor, Graffiti Eaters, to continue stamp out graffiti as promised.
City of Casey Mayor Sam Aziz said the council’s extensive graffiti management program worked in three ways: enforcement, eradication and education.
“As part of our commitment to eradication, council has a 24-hour removal policy when graffiti is reported on council-owned property, or once permission is gained from the property owners,” Cr Aziz said.
“Graffiti vandalism is a criminal offence. It destroys the appearance of property, buildings and neighbourhoods, creates a poor perception of safety and can insight fear.”
Cr Aziz said in 2015-’16 the council received almost 3000 reports of graffiti to their 1800 VANDAL hotline and cleaned up 28,905 square metres of graffiti.
“Council has fostered a partnership with Victoria Police to identify and apprehend offenders who vandalise our city with graffiti,” he said.
“Council also focuses on education, with all Year 5 students in Casey presented with a free anti-graffiti education program delivered by specialist presenters.”
Early this year, Casey council ran the ‘Clean Up Your Act’ campaign, which urged the State Government to take action on the removal of graffiti from its infrastructure.
The campaign resulted in a $300,000 commitment in the 2016-’17 State Budget for graffiti removal along the Monash Freeway.
For further details on council’s graffiti management program visit
www.casey.vic.gov.au/graffiti.