Data from Snap Send Solve app reveals the rapid increase in graffiti, vandalism across Sydney
Racist vandalism, abandoned cars and shopping trolleys have highlighted a mammoth surge in resident complaints to councils across greater Sydney. See what’s been uncovered.
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Racist vandalism, abandoned cars and shopping trolleys have highlighted a mammoth surge in resident complaints to councils across Sydney.
It’s according to exclusive data from the Snap Send Solve application which has identified a 44 per cent increase, with 21,403 complaints in the 12 months to December 2023.
The Melbourne-based company, founded by Danny Gorog in 2010, provides an alternative way for residents to report issues to their local councils.
While Snap Send Solve was unable to provide data on individual councils, this publication can reveal the most frequent incident types across Sydney.
It includes 4362 complaints about parking and cars, 3831 for rubbish and bins, 3395 about abandoned trolleys, 1629 for pavement and footpaths and 1471 regarding roads and signage.
Parks and council facilities totalled 1191 complaints, 1040 for trees, 997 incidents for water and sewer, and 847 for graffiti and vandalism.
One of the more damaging incidents logged with Snap Send Solve was anti-Semitic graffiti of a Nazi swastika on a footpath in Avalon Beach.
Northern Beaches mayor Sue Heins said council took the matter “very seriously”.
“Our staff rapidly respond to offensive graffiti and remove it as quickly as possible,” she said.
“If you notice graffiti in local parks, playgrounds and public spaces please report it to Council. For graffiti on your own property, please report it to Police.”
It is understood Northern Beaches Council received the report on December 18 and it was removed the following day, however, it was lodged directly with the council, not through thee third-party app Snap Send Solve.
The swastika wasn’t the only racist graffiti complaint in Sydney.
Imagery, seen by this publication, showed an abhorrent racial slur graffitied in a southern Sydney playground.
Further complaints of dumped rubbish on Perry St in Surry Hills was likely to be linked to City of Sydney’s rubbish collection issues which was highlighted by Liberal councillor and former Marrickville Council “street sweeper” Lyndon Gannon in August.
He previously said residents within the LGA had endured “huge delays” which posed a massive health and safety hazard with “piling rubbish choking our streets”.
Despite an abandoned car in Waterloo included in City of Sydney’s complaints, Snap Send Solve’s data indicated an overwhelming number of complaints from Sydney’s west and south.
While Sydney’s north only saw a 14 per cent rise from 1341 in 2022 to 1530 in 2023, the west recorded the highest jump of 79 per cent from 2192 to 3923.
However, Sydney’s south topped the list in total complaints and saw a 51 per cent rise from 4693 to 7105 in the past year.
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