Mornington Peninsula Shire’s creative solution to tagging spree

Street artists are being called in to help fight a “graffiti explosion” on the Mornington Peninsula.

Ray White directors Guy Hoevenaars and Rachael Holman with property manager Sunnie Cottle in front of their office which had the roof and sign vandalised.

Street artists are being offered big bucks to help stop young vandals on tagging sprees across the Mornington Peninsula.

Towns including Rye, Rosebud and Sorrento have been hit with a “graffiti explosion”.

Vandals have covered beach boxes, foreshore buildings and businesses along Point Nepean Road, Rye with ugly tags.

The recently upgraded Napier Plaza has also been hit.

Taggers have hit the recently upgraded Napier Plaza in Rye, but haven't touched murals in the public space. Picture: Lucy Callander

Last week Mornington Peninsula Shire asked street artists to submit expressions of interest for a $20,000 mural on a Hastings wall in a bid to deter graffiti.

The 144 square metre climate change themed artwork would be created across Ritchies IGA wall in Salmon Street.

Cr Susan Bissinger said the only structures safe from taggers were those with works by professional street artists.

“The murals are never touched. They seem to be the only thing these vandals respect,” Cr Bissinger said.

Artist Trent Downie said murals were known to discourage graffiti and would help the shire in its fight against tagging.

He also called for “legal graffiti walls” to provide aspiring street artists with a space to express themselves and learn the craft.

“I’ve started talking to the council about running workshops to help divert taggers into street art.”

Mr Downie created a 10m mural of spider crab at Napier Plaza as part of the Drift Arts Festival that finished on May 1.

“Part of the reason for picking that space was because the landlord had been having a lot of trouble with graffiti,” Mr Downie said.

Private businesses have also commissioned Mr Downie to create murals on their walls to stop taggers.

The public toilet on the Rye foreshore is hit daily by vandals who cover the walls with tags and have broken the sink and toilet bowl. Picture; Lucy Callander

Beach boxes on Rye foreshore have also been covered in graffiti. Picture: Lucy Callander

Police, local councillors, traders and residents on Friday toured some of the tagging hot spots in Rye.

Ray White Rye director Guy Hoevenaars said the ongoing vandalism was a crisis for the town.

“It’s ruining Rye,” he said.

“The town looks unloved and it’s putting people off visiting our amazing businesses.”

He said his office on Point Nepean Road business was facing a clean up bill of up to $1000 to have recent tags removed from its roof and side wall.

Rosebud Acting Senior Sergeant Elizabeth Burke said graffiti had increased at the southern end of the peninsula in the past month.

“Graffiti is a gateway to more serious crimes and can escalate to criminal damage and burglary,” she said.

“We take it very seriously.”

Rosebud Senior Sergeant Steve Drew said those responsible for the recent graffiti attacks were most likely locals aged 14 and 15.

Sen-Sgt Drew said police were gathering evidence, including photos of recurring tags, and the offences could lead to charges.

“If the young offender has no priors then they would likely be cautioned. But if they have priors we would proceed with charges through the Children’s Court.”