Graffiti Melbourne: Croydon and Heathmont community pages angry over ongoing tagging
Coronavirus restrictions haven’t deterred vandals in Melbourne’s outer east, with two suburbs hit with a fresh wave of graffiti tags. And locals say they are sick of the issue, with one accusing authorities of being “lazy” in handling the issue.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Graffiti vandals have left their mark throughout two suburbs in Melbourne’s outer east in a fresh wave of graffiti attacks.
And the operator of one community Facebook page has branded authorities as “lazy” in their efforts to tackle the ongoing problem.
Nathan Hill, who runs The Croydon Project community Facebook page, discovered two similar tags, ‘Banger’ and ‘Bang’ on shops, fences and homes in the heart of Croydon on Sunday, May 31.
Mr Hill claims 14 businesses including the town’s Westpac bank branch and two real estate agents were hit, along with four homes.
He said he had seen the alleged offenders tagging in Lemnos, Anzac and Main streets, and had also spotted them near Croydon railway station on the weekend.
Mr Hill said he’d reached breaking point over Croydon’s graffiti issues and called for more action from authorities.
“I am sick of it, every weekend there is a fresh wave of tags across residences and businesses in Croydon and it brings the whole area down,” he said.
“We know who they are, yet, if reported, often residents are told to simply clean it up.
“It’s not good enough and a lazy response to a community issue.
“This scale of offending is not being investigated and its seriously concerning.”
Croydon state Liberal MP David Hodgett, who has his office in Main St, said he was disappointed by the recent attacks and said more resources were needed to remove tags in the suburb.
“Graffiti is one of those issues that is ongoing and doesn’t get enough attention … we have to double our efforts into the resources to getting it off quickly,” he said.
“We need to work with local police and continue to record offences and look for perpetrators, and we need to work with councils for more grants to clean it off.”
Mr Hodgett said he would advocate for the State Government to release another round of graffiti removal grants to allow councils and community groups to apply for funding.
Croydon police Sergeant Paul Frawley said officers were investigating the tags and urged anyone with information to contact them.
“We are more than happy to round these people up and deal with them, and we hope to get some leads on people we need to speak to,” he said.
MORE: HOMEBUYER INTEREST STEADY IN MAROONDAH
COUNCIL’S STAGGERING CORONAVIRUS JOB CUTS
RUBBISH DUMPERS WARNED ALONG CREEK
Heathmont also appears to have experienced a surge in graffiti on public infrastructure and shops.
A post on the Meanwhile In Heathmont Facebook page showed tags at a bus shelter in the suburb, with page operators describing the taggers as “degenerate slime balls”.
Other page followers commented about similar tags they’d spotted on the exterior walls of the Milk and Wine Co cafe, along the Dandenong Creek rail trail and on signs at HE Parker Reserve.
Maroondah Council have been contacted for comment.