The NSW Government will team up with Rotary Clubs and Dulux Paint to establish volunteer graffiti removal squads across the state, under a plan announced today by Attorney General Greg Smith SC.
“This is an opportunity for people who have felt powerless against the scourge of graffiti to unite and restore pride in their community,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith today met with representatives of Turramurra Rotary, who formed a volunteer graffiti squad in 2008, and Dulux, which provides free paint and materials to the squad.
“With the support of Ku-ring-gai Council and local businesses, the Turramurra Rotary squad has cleaned more than 3,000 square metres of graffiti in their area,” Mr Smith said.
“This success story can be replicated in other parts of the state with an identified graffiti problem and the NSW Government is encouraging local councils and businesses to form similar partnerships with Rotary to combat graffiti.”
With funding from the Department of Attorney General and Justice, Rotary Turramurra will help other Rotary Clubs in NSW establish volunteer graffiti removal squads in their area. Dulux Paint will support the expansion of the program.
The team leader of the Turramurra Rotary Graffiti Removal Project, Roger Norman said there has been a groundswell of support for community-driven graffiti removal.
“Over the past three years, the Rotary Club has helped establish graffiti removal squads at eight locations in Sydney and on the Central Coast and many other Rotary Clubs have expressed interest in the program,” Mr Norman said.
“There are many more law abiding citizens than there are vandals and we can prevail over the destructive minority.”
Turramurra Hardware proprietor, Don Wormald, who has raised awareness about the local graffiti removal squad and organised sponsorship to ensure its viability, applauded the expansion of the project.
“This is a major step in the fight against graffiti,” Mr Wormald said.
Dulux Australia General Manager Patrick Jones said Dulux was proud to be supporting Rotary and local communities in restoring public spaces.
“We know that graffiti has a negative impact on how people feel about a place and it’s great to see local communities taking the initiative to clean up and improve the look of areas in which they live, work and play,” Mr Jones said.
Almost anyone can become involved in a Rotary volunteer graffiti removal program in their local area.
Media Contact: Michael Pelly 0467 737 920
