Project objective
We are reviewing Bayside’s Draft Graffiti Management Policy 2024 - 2028.
The purpose of the new Policy (which replaces Council’s Graffiti Management Plan 2019) is to develop a whole of Council approach to reduce the impact of graffiti on the local community to make Bayside a better place.
We know that graffiti vandalism not only affects the visual appearance of neighbourhoods it can influence the communities sense of safety and have an impact on our local economy.
It is also costly for communities and property owners to remove and prevent. Other problems associated with graffiti include antisocial behaviour and loitering.
Our aim is to build on our existing Graffiti Management Plan 2019 and find a joined up approach with community to reduce the impact of graffiti and provide safe, clean and welcoming public spaces.
Community feedback will help to ensure the Graffiti Management Policy continues to align with our community’s aspirations, as articulated in the previous plan.
Through this process we hope to increase community understanding of graffiti management, cultivate greater community support for action, and enhance personal commitment to addressing graffiti issues.
This involves addressing the relatively low priority and low awareness of graffiti management among the community, as well as leveraging the support of highly engaged community stakeholders. Additionally, the initiative seeks to raise awareness of the roles and responsibilities for graffiti removal, increase the reporting of graffiti, and foster a community environment that actively supports improvement activities.
The Graffiti Management Policy aligns with the Bayside 2050 Community Vision and the Council Plan 2021 - 25.
Project impacts
There are a number of local residents who are passionate about eradicating graffiti in the local community have actively sought greater response from Council.
Recognising the communities concern and the operational impact of graffiti, the Council Plan 2017-2021 includes an action to ‘Develop and implement a collective approach to minimise and respond to graffiti and tagging across state government, utilities infrastructure, Council and private property’.
Along with residents, groups and organisations play an important role in maintaining connections, building resilience and creating an awareness of crime prevention activities prevention and management. This includes sporting clubs, youth groups, schools, charity and service groups, Neighbourhood Watch and Trader Associations. These key stakeholders will be involved in the review of Bayside’s plan for graffiti to ensure prevention activities will be delivered in line with community expectations.
What information do we need from the community?
The four-week community engagement period will gather ideas and feedback on areas that need to be prioritised for graffiti removal. It will also help us understand community preference in approach to graffiti removal.
What can the community influence?
- The timeframe to remove graffiti from the time its reported (2 days for graffiti, and 2 hours for offensive graffiti)
- Reporting Methodology
What can’t the community influence?
Responsibility of removal from private property, this is due to budget constraints, complexities of delivery and privacy issues.
Stakeholders and community
This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.
Impact: What level of change the stakeholder / community segment may experience as a result of the project / matter
Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated
Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum
| Stakeholder/ community | Interest | Impact | Influence |
| Graffiti Busters | H | M | Consult |
| Church St Traders | H | L | Consult |
| Hampton/Sandy Traders | H | L | Consult |
| Police | M | L | Inform |
| Neighbourhood Watch | M | M | Consult |
| Department of Justice | L | L | Inform |
| United Energy | L | M | Inform |
| PTV | L | L | Inform |
| Citywide | H | M | Involve |
| General Traders | M | M | Consult |
| General Bayside Community | L | M | Consult |
| Schools | M | M | Consult |
| Artists | M | L | Consult |
| Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee (DAIAC) | M | L | Consult |
Selected tools and techniques
The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.
Key tools for communicating the project
- Project page on Have Your Say engagement platform
- Direct email to relevant Have Your Say members
- Direct email to relevant groups, committees, traders associations and local businesses
- This Week in Bayside (Council e-newsletter)
- Council website (news story)
- Social media, including sponsored posts
Key methods for gathering feedback
- Have Your Say hot spot feedback and survey questions
- Presentation to Bayside Youth Ambassadors
- Engagement with DAIAC
- Engagement with traders at major activity centres in Bayside
- Engagement with graffiti busters and friends of Bayside groups
- Written statement submitted via on the Have Your Say project page
- Email, post, or phone submissions
- Opportunity to book a meeting to discuss the project
- Printed survey, as required.
Project timelines
| Community engagement | 24 April - 19 May 2024 |
| Consider feedback to finalise plan | May 2024 Community feedback will inform the proposed plan. |
| Adopt plan | 18 June 2024 Council is expected to consider community feedback and a proposed plan for adoption at its June meeting. |
| Implement operational actions | 2024 - ongoing |
Decision-making process
The community will be engaged over a four-week consultation campaign about the understanding of priorities, key issues to address, preference in approach to offensive graffiti removal.
Community feedback will be presented from internal and external engagement to Councillors along with technical reports and data analysis. Council is anticipated to adopt the Graffiti Management Policy at its June 2024 meeting.
Please select the +Subscribe button at the top of the page to receive updates about this project, including when it will be considered by Council and any further opportunities to participate in this project.
More information
Al Harith Alogaily
aalogaily@bayside.vic.gov.au
03 9599 4851
