Jobless Victorians could soon be cleaning graffiti as part of maintenance blitz
Out of work Victorians will be mobilised to clean up our streets as part of a bid to restore the state’s economy by bringing forward a raft of long-awaited maintenance projects. Here’s how it will work.
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Out of work Victorians will be mobilised to clean up our streets as part of a combined blitz on graffiti and rubbish-filled roads and streets across the state.
The Andrews Government is pushing to restore the state’s economy by bringing forward a raft of long-awaited maintenance, upgrade and cleaning projects.
The massive program announced on Monday included a $5.6 million commitment to remove graffiti, rubbish and overgrown trees along rail corridors.
But it can be revealed the government will also use cash injections to target the removal of eyesores from hundreds of locations across local streets and busy arterials.
A $14 million investment into the Melbourne road network will boost the department’s annual maintenance budget by 30 per cent and create more than 70 jobs.
The statewide cleaning effort be supported by the Working for Victoria fund which will provides cash for local councils to hire hundreds of unemployed Victorians to work on local projects.
Overgrown vegetation and hazard trees will be targeted while roadside rubbish dumps and graffiti walls will be blitzed by crews of cleaners.
“We know it’s frustrating for drivers and the community where there is unsightly graffiti and rubbish on the roadside, so that’s why we’re focusing on cleaning along some of our busiest roads,” Roads Minister Jaala Pulford said.
Problem areas identified for cleaning include Ned Kelly Bridge on the Hume Freeway, the Montague St underpass and long stretches of sound barriers on the Monash, Princes and Tullamarine freeways.
Municipal Association of Victoria president Coral Ross said local councils had also welcomed the chance to fund their cleaning programs, with 36 already taking up the offer of support.
“We anticipate more councils will get involved in coming weeks,” she said.
“With councils managing infrastructure valued at more than $100 billion, including libraries, recreation facilities, parks and gardens, and 85 per cent of the road network, there is no shortage of cleaning, maintenance and upgrade projects to be done.
“We and councils are actively engaging with the state to identify projects that both create jobs and also make our communities safer and cleaner.”
Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday said the government had targeted smaller projects that could be rolled out quickly with its funding.
“This is just about taking that next step instead of perhaps doing something in two and a half or three years time,” he said.
Peter Kartsidimas, RACV’S senior manager of transport, said recent surveys had identified graffiti as a major issue for train users across Melbourne.
“With public transport patronage low due to current restrictions, this is the ideal time to improve our tram and train network,” he said.
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