Gold Coast crime: Giant artwork the solution to Railways graffiti

A quirky solution has been put forward to solving the Gold Coast’s graffiti epidemic and it could prove a major boon for the city’s cultural creditials.

QUEENSLAND’S largest continuous art piece will be created on a section of the Gold Coast heavy rail corridor under a quirky anti-graffiti proposal put forward by a city leader.

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster wants the State Government to create a giant painting along the walls lining the railway, arguing it would save taxpayers more than it would cost to fund.

The railways has been a frequent target for vandals in recent years but Cr Vorster argued his solution would put an end to the repeated attacks.

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Graffiti covered railway between Robina and Varsity Lakes. Picture: Hermann Vorster

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“The state Government has a very successful art program which they say reduces the instances of graffiti and I have now written to Transport Department Director General Neil Scales telling him of my enthusiasm and urging him to help turn what is currently a blank canvas into a wonderful entrance statement for my division,” he said.

“My intent is to join with the community and ask the government to line the heavy rail corridor with a substantial multi-thousand square metre piece of public art.

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Hermann Vorster. Picture: Jerad Williams

“If successful I can seen no reason why the whole length of the corridor should not become Queensland’s largest continuous art piece.”

Funding for the proposed artwork would come in lieu of the tens of thousands of dollars spent annually tackling graffiti which would no longer be needed.

The State Government has just completed the first stage of a facelift of the Robina to Varsity Lakes railway to remove graffiti which had appeared in recent months.

The newly cleaned-up railway. Picture: Hermann Vorster,

The clean-up came on the back of correspondence in recent weeks between Cr Vorster and Mr Scales.

The Director General, in a letter, said “significant effort and resources” were invested every year to prevent and remove graffiti

“Queensland Rail has a longstanding relationship with the Queensland Police Service to co-ordinate operations and reduce graffiti, vandalism and trespassing on the network,” he said.

“Police Railway Squad officers, operating out of purpose-built outposts at Beenleigh and Robina stations, conduct regular patrols along the Gold Coast line to prevent these occurrence.

“When graffiti vandals are brought before the courts, Queensland Rail works closely with the railway squad to ensure all charges are presented along with a request for restitution.

‘In some instances up to $20,000 has been awarded.”