Kingston street art vandalised within hours of completion

Vandals have taken just hours to destroy a group of teens’ artwork that had been produced with the aim of deterring graffiti.

Artwork that had been painted on TasWater infrastructure with the hope of deterring vandalism and graffiti has been ruined ... by graffiti. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE paint was hardly dry on public artwork at Kingston when it was vandalised overnight.

A group of Kingborough Council’s Youth Services program participants painted a TasWater pump station at Kingston yesterday.

Today, those who volunteered their time to spruce up the building woke to find it sprayed with graffiti.

Graffiti sprayed on the Kingston pump station just hours after a group of young people painted a mural on it. Picture: SUPPLIED

Kingborough Deputy Mayor Jo Westwood, who visited the young artists while they were painting the building, said the vandalism showed a complete lack of respect for the artists’ time and effort.

“The children took so much pride in the work they did and those who scribbled over the top of it should be ashamed of themselves,” Councillor Westwood said.

VANDALS DELIBERATELY DESTROY YOUTH ART A huge disappointment overnight... Vandals broke through the fence and sprayed...

Posted by Kingborough Council on Wednesday, 9 October 2019

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said the vandalism was extremely disappointing.

“The young people spent a full day of their holidays creating the artwork, and vandals have broken into the yard to deliberately deface it,” Cr Winter said.

“We are sorry to all those who were involved in trying to make a difference, and we greatly appreciate your efforts.

“We will continue to do the best we can to combat this vandalism.”

Young people in Kingborough have shown great artistic talent these school holidays on a program with artist Rory Dick....

Posted by Kingborough Council on Tuesday, 8 October 2019

Cr Winter said the council had established a graffiti taskforce which had “done a brilliant job over the past six months”.

“This is a disappointing outcome for all the hard work the community has put in,” he said.

“The reality is Council’s resources are minimal and ratepayers will end up carrying the cost of this vandalism.”

Cr Winter said TasWater had reported the matter to police.

He urged anyone who might know something about the vandalism to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or to report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Bailey Harris, 13, and Dakota Kingston, 16, both of Kingston, who were involved in the artwork at the Blackmans Bay TasWater pump station. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS