Councillors at odds about $110,000 street art pilot program to reduce vandalism

A move to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on graffiti has split councillors, with one saying it is using ‘ratepayer money to facilitate vandalism’. Here’s where you can expect to see spray cans deployed.

The Gold Coast council will spend $110,000 on getting graffiti art on Pacific Motorway bridges and buildings despite opposition including one councillor calling it “vandalism”.

The six-month street mural pilot program developed by council officers aims for 1500 “street artists” to have a legal space to paint while the city’s most popular venue for illegal graffiti – the Ernest Junction Tunnel at Molendinar – is closed for repairs.

Councillor Dan Doran spoke strongly against it despite a majority of councillors backing it at a recent lifestyle committee meeting.

But his bid to stop the funding was lost at a full council meeting vote on Tuesday. Councillors Donna Gates and Naomi Fowler also opposed it.

“We shouldn’t be allocating ratepayer money to facilitate the vandalism of our public spaces,” Mr Doran said.

“Graffiti isn’t art. The City has a policy to remove it, and it spends a lot of money on it. We shouldn’t tolerate it, and it’s my view this initiative will likely encourage more graffiti.

Street art has worked in other cities to attract tourists. Artist 'Sofles' at 'Brisbane Street Art Walls' program at Ekibin Park East in Greenslopes. Picture: Richard Walker.

“If the artists are genuine, they should submit designs to the City Artbox and Urban Art programs, which helps promote local artists’ work in appropriate locations.”

Ms Gates told councillors: “I can’t support this. This supports more graffiti. It’s important we don’t provide a canvas to support these so-called artists.”

Lifestyle committee chair Glenn Tozer, who supports the pilot, admitted some councillors were concerned the City would be perceived as tolerating graffiti artists.

“That is just not the case. We do have a zero tolerance approach to graffiti artists, particularly on public infrastructure all across the city,” he said.

“We are not proposing any change. Normally within three to five days we will remove graffiti that has been put on public infrastructure.”

Melbourne CBD Hosier Lane art graffiti. Picture: David Crosling.

Mr Tozer said the City was trying to provide areas for the artists who use the tunnel. Officers gave examples of artists who started with street graffiti becoming internationally recognised.

“We talked in committee about sometimes we have to use a stick, which is enforcement policy, and sometimes we have to use a carrot to have people respond more positively,” Mr Tozer said.

City officers suggested the safe sites would be at Nerang, the M1 pedestrian underpass and Birchill Park walkway and the Expressive Ground building at Palm Beach.

The Expressive Ground Building at Palm Beach is one of two sites being considered by the Gold Coast City Council to start a Street Mural Art pilot program to stop illegal graffiti.

In 12 months there had been 285 graffiti removal work orders issued at Nerang. Palm Beach had 316 costing $28,228.

Council officers said the project would be managed by staffers communicating with police, developing strong community relationships and making regular site visits.

But Mr Doran said he had serious concerns about public safety.

“Graffiti is mostly done at night under the cover of darkness. These locations will attract people that have demonstrated a lack of respect for public places by vandalising our infrastructure.

Gold Coast Street Art Practice Wall Pilot: Arthur Earle Park under the M1 is one preferred location.

“They will be hidden from public view and need monitoring for anti-social behaviour. The City will likely need to deploy safety cameras – and what will that cost?”

City staffers say they will provide adequate bins, regular site clean-ups and educational signage to lessen environmental impacts. The ongoing costs of the project are estimated to be $60,000 to $70,000.

Ms Gates had earlier asked for an update on the cost of graffiti to the city. In recent years it peaked at $1 million then dropped to $594,000 after a residents reported via a new City App.

Gold Coast Street Art Practice Wall Pilot: One location is Nerang, this is the other at Palm Beach.

Many councillors said they supported street art but regarded graffiti as vandalism.

Veteran councillor Bob La Castra said it was worth experimenting with the pilot to see if it reduces criminal behaviour.

“Hopefully there is an honour among vandalism,” he said.

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Originally published as Councillors at odds about $110,000 street art pilot program to reduce vandalism