Garbage & Environmental Services

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Graffiti Removal

Graffiti impacts on the health and well being of a community. Public spaces that are graffitied will often be avoided by legitimate users, and if the graffiti is racist or contains discriminatory themes it can personally offend individuals or community groups.

What is council doing?

Council initiatives include:

  • Prompt removal of graffiti from Council owned buildings and infrastructure through a dedicated Graffiti Removal Contractor.
  • Provision of FREE graffiti Kits available at all of Council Town Halls
  • Provision of Councils FREE Graffiti Removal Program
  • Regular letter drops to residents advising of Council’s free programs
  • Regular “hotspot” checks to remove graffiti from sites within the municipality where repeat offences take place.
  • Developing partnerships with key organisations responsible for public assets, such as transport services and utility companies to maintain a consistent approach to graffiti management
  • Working with State Government and neighbouring municipalities
  • Working with police to assist in detection of graffiti vandals
  • Engaging with young people through community art projects

What can you do?

Remove it

We strongly recommend that you remove all graffiti as soon as you can. Not only will the graffiti be easier to remove, but your quick response sends a positive message to the community. It is also less likely that your property will be targeted again if the graffiti is removed immediately.

Recommended methods of removal:

  • FREE Cleaning by Council: The City of Port Phillip provides a FREE Graffiti Removal Program. Council’s dedicated Graffiti contractor will come out to your premises and clean the graffiti from your property at no cost to yourself. The products used will either cover or remove unwanted graffiti. If you wish to participate in this FREE program, please complete and sign the consent form below and return to the City of Port Phillip via one of the methods below:-
  • In Person: At any of the Town Hall
    Fax: 03 9536 2758
    Email: helpbld@portphillip.vic.gov.au
    Mail: Private Bag No.3 PO St Kilda Vic 3182
  • Council does not have the authority to clean graffiti from private properties unless given consent to do so. Download Graffiti Removal Consent Form
  • FREE Graffiti Removal Kits: The City of Port Phillip provides free graffiti removal kits to all residents living within the municipality. Graffiti letter to residents. The removal kits can be picked up from the ASSIST counters at any of our three town hall locations. We have two types on kits depending on the type of surface that has been graffitied. For more information please contact ASSIST on Ph: 9209 6777.

Prevent It

There are some simple things that you can do to deter graffiti including:

  • Use fencing that can be seen through to create a sense of openness and surveillance. An offender will be less likely to target an area that has a high degree of visibility from your home and neighbouring properties. This style of fence is also more difficult to graffiti.
  • Choose dark colour paint when painting out graffiti to help reduce the likelihood of graffiti appearing on your property
  • Textured or rough surfaces act as a graffiti deterrent
  • Apply anti-graffiti coating where possible to help deter graffiti
  • Plant prickly shrubs or creepers that are low growing
  • Make sure front gardens are well lit

Report It

Graffiti is a punishable offence and we encourage the community to report all incidents to Victoria Police. 

If you find graffiti on your private property, report the incident to your local police station. If possible, providing the following details will be helpful for police enquiries: 

  • Time and date of graffiti offence
  • Location
  • Digital photo (if available) to be recorded as evidence

To report graffiti found on your own property, council property or other public infrastructure, contact Council’s Building Maintenance Department directly on Ph: 9209 6168.

Contacts for reporting Graffiti

  • City of Port Phillip Building Maintenance Helpdesk: 9209 6168
  • Victoria Police: St Kilda Station: 9247 6666 
                            South Melbourne Station: 9690 3088
  • Telstra (payphones): 1800 011 433
  • Vic Roads (signal boxes):13 11 70
  • Metlink (rail property): 131 638
  • Australia Post (post boxes): 13 13 18

More information on Graffiti Management is available from the Department of Justice at www.justice.vic.gov.au

The Graffiti Prevention Act 2007

The Graffiti Prevention Act aims to reduce graffiti by:

  • creating new graffiti related offences that carry the potential for a prison sentence and/or a significant fine
  • providing police with additional search and seizure powers
  • providing Councils with the option of removing graffiti from private property if given consent.

The Department of Justice has further information on the Graffiti Prevention Act 2007.