DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan. May DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 1

Transcription

1 DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan May 2010 DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 1

2 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR The presence of graffiti can cause people to feel unsafe. It often creates a perception that nobody cares about the area, and if left unattended it may attract more graffiti and may even promote other more serious crimes. Graffiti can also impact on the health and well being of a community and public spaces that are graffitied will often be avoided by legitimate users. Given the serious impact of graffiti, Blue Mountains City Council is pleased to present this Graffiti Management Plan which provides a clear and consistent framework for the management of graffiti within the Blue Mountains Local Government Area. This Plan provides an integrated approach to graffiti management and aims to contribute to a well maintained, exciting and vibrant City of the Blue Mountains, which is a secure and welcoming place to live and visit. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and effort made by all members of the Graffiti Management Plan Working Party in developing this Plan. These include representatives of the following: State Member for Penrith; State Member for the Blue Mountains; NSW Police; Integral Energy; Sydney Water; Mt Riverview Public School; Lower Mountains Neighbourhood Centre; Mountains Youth Services Team; The Hazelbrook Association; Interested local residents; and All relevant Council Staff & Councillors. Adam Searle Mayor, Blue Mountains City Council DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS DEFINITIONS 4 SECTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Objective Approach Background to this Plan Defining the Issue Why Graffiti? Key Stakeholders Graffiti in the Blue Mountains Cost of Graffiti Evaluation of this Plan 9 SECTION 2.0 LEGISLATIVE & POLICY FRAMEWORK 2.1 Relevant Legislation Relevant Council Policies & Protocols 11 SECTION 3.0 THE FOUR PRINCIPLES 3.1 Eradication Engagement Education Enforcement 15 SECTION 4.0 ACTION PLAN Eradication Engagement Education Enforcement 21 REFERENCES 24 Page DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 3

4 DEFINITIONS Bomb Bombing Crew Graffiti* Hit Legal Street Art* Prolific painting or marking with ink. Tags, throw-ups and pieces are done in a spree. As much graffiti as possible is done as quickly as possible. This will almost always be an illegal activity. Locally organised group of writers. Is the illegal defacement of public and/or private property with markings or graphics without the owner's consent. Graffiti can take many forms including design, words or images using paint, permanent markers, scratching or other materials such as stickers and bill posters. In New South Wales graffiti is considered a crime (vandalism) and is punishable by fines, community service orders or imprisonment. To tag any surface with paint or ink. Legalised graffiti on public and private assets with artistic merits. Offensive* Piece Piecing Tag Taggers Tagging Throw-up Writer An item including words or images that may upset, insult, or irritate, causing anger, resentment, or moral outrage. This may include but not be limited to items or words relating to: drug use, rude language, racial or personal vilification. A painting, short for masterpiece. Pieces are intended to be complete art works most often done with spray paint and either legal or illegal. A piece can be anything from the tag to a message directed at society. Where the owner of a business gives permission, pieces may have a commercial advertising message as the foundation. A piece is the opportunity for the writer to display advanced skills in colour mixing and use, three dimensional lettering, complex design and representational artwork. The last may be environmental features such as buildings and landscape. More commonly, these are figures or characters (often caricature or cartoon-like). A writer s signature with marker or spray paint. Taggers choose a pseudonym for anonymity. A tag will be changed if the illegal graffitist fears that knowledge of actual identity by authorities may be traced from the tag. There is an attempt to make the signature as stylised as possible. Written in one colour it is done with curves and letter deformations. It is done with anything and on anything. More often it is done with felt tip marker pen but spray can tags enable bigger and bolder tags to be done. A name painted quickly with one layer of spray paint and an outline. Practitioner of the art of graffiti. Source: from NSW Government (2000) NSW Graffiti Solutions Handbook for Local Government, Planners, Designers and Developers. * Depicts definitions not associated with above document. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 4

5 SECTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION This section introduces the Graffiti Management Plan, its objectives and why a Plan like this is required by the City of Blue Mountains. 1.1 Objective The objective of this Plan is to provide a clear and consistent framework for the management of graffiti within the Blue Mountains Local Government Area and to ensure that regardless of the type or graffiti, regardless of where the graffiti is located or who is responsible for its removal, that the graffiti is removed and adds to a well maintained, exciting and vibrant City of Blue Mountains. It is intended that it contributes to a City which is considered a secure and welcoming place to live and visit. It does however; recognise the contribution that legal street art provides and it offers opportunities for legal street art to enhance our town centres. While Blue Mountains City Council has coordinated the development of this Plan, it is intended that it provides a framework for action by all stakeholders in the City with an interest in working together to effectively manage graffiti. This Plan has a lifespan of four years from the date of adoption. 1.2 Approach The Graffiti Management Plan presents an integrated approach to graffiti management applying the following four principles: Eradication; Engagement; Education; and Enforcement. This integrated approach is considered to be an effective way to address the complex issues that surround graffiti management. It also recognises that graffiti is not a Council issue but a whole of community issue including State Agencies. 1.3 Background to this Plan In April 2009 Council resolved that: 8. By February 2010, Council develops a Graffiti management Plan that addresses the four (4) recognised areas of Graffiti Management being: Eradication (removal, prevention); Engagement (street art permit process, graffiti mentoring program, building relationships); Education (program in schools, improving communication); and Enforcement (continuing to work with the Police). Upon its completion, that Council s proposed Graffiti Management Plan is exhibited for a period of 4 weeks to enable community feedback Minute No. 122 ( ) This Plan has been developed in direct response to the above resolution of Council. 1.4 Defining the Issue Graffiti is defined as the illegal defacement of public and/or private property with markings or graphics without the owner's consent. Graffiti can take many forms DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 5

6 including design, words or images using paint, permanent markers, scratching or other materials such as stickers and bill posters. There main types of graffiti in the Blue Mountains are: Tags which can be written or etched on almost any surface using implements such as pens and spray cans. This is the most common form of graffiti; Slogans which are word s describing an issue; Stencils where a template is made and a design spray painted on to a wall; and Stickers & Bill Posters where stickers and posters are placed on walls and windows. Graffiti is considered a problem because it: Has a negative impact on the presentation of the City; Creates enormous costs to remove and is a problem for Council and business owners who find repetitive cleaning leads to high costs and frustration; Adds to a community s perception of feeling unsafe; and Can signal an area is uncared for and unsupervised which can lead to further decline in the area. As a consequence of these concerns NSW has introduced graffiti legislation in an attempt to control the problem. A summary of this legislation is provided in Section 2.0 of this Plan. 1.5 Why Graffiti? There are many different reasons why people do graffiti including: To obtain recognition from peers (especially those who do tagging); In response to boredom; As a social activity or outlet; To make a statement (social or political expression); To rebel and participate in risk taking behaviour; and To express themselves. Most profiling shows that people who create graffiti are usually aged between 12 and 24 years and are overwhelmingly males. This Plan recognises that graffiti management needs to include programs that assist in breaking down negative stereotyping of young people (in relation to graffiti offences) and that encourage understanding and positive interaction across all age groups. 1.6 Key Stakeholders Below is a list of stakeholders that are affected by graffiti. Organisations / Utilities / Agencies Others Community Members Blue Mountains City Council Blue Mountains Residents NSW Police Young People Blue Mountains Tourism Youth Service Providers Chambers of Commerce Local and International Tourists DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 6

7 Rail Corp Business Owners Department of Education & Training Schools Department of Housing Town and Village Associations Energy Australia Australia Post Integral Energy Roads & Traffic Authority Sydney Water Telstra Each of the above stakeholders is affected by graffiti and every one of these stakeholders can play a part in helping to reduce and eliminate graffiti. 1.7 Graffiti in the Blue Mountains This section provides a brief overview of the available data and trends in relation to graffiti in the Blue Mountains. It covers Police and Council data and also provides a community perspective on Graffiti. It should be noted that the data below is current at the time of drafting this Plan in February Police Data This section presents the NSW Police collection data on the number of malicious damage events which includes graffiti i.e. not all malicious damage is graffiti and may include incidents such as smashed widows etc. It also presents the data relating to the number of graffiti events reported to Police via a number of different mechanisms. The data presents trends over the last 5 years between January 2005 and August Offender demographics indicate that the largest number of offenders are young adults aged years (72%) followed by adolescents aged years (22%). The overwhelming majority of offenders were males (89%). Graffiti events reported to Police through the Police Assistance Line and other methods indicate that the most common premises for graffiti were residential (31%), followed by business / commercial (22%), education (15%) and transport (12%). Outdoor public places represent only 10% of events, as victims of crime are less likely to report outdoor graffiti to Police. Data suggest that graffiti activity is concentrated in areas of the Lower Mountains, with Blaxland recognised as the number one hot spot. It should be noted that while Blaxland is recognised as a hot spot these figures may be distorted by through meticulous reporting of graffiti to Police by local community members. There is also a slight increase in graffiti in the Lapstone area and relatively high numbers of graffiti in Springwood and Winmalee. These are also the areas with high populations of young people. While the Upper Mountains has fewer graffiti events, Katoomba town centre is also recognised as a hotspot as is Wentworth Falls. According to Police the peak time for graffiti is December and January each year followed by May. This is supported by other Council areas Blue Mountains City Council Data DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 7

8 This section presents Council collected data on graffiti incidents on Council owned assets. This data has been collected through residents reporting graffiti to Council or through Council staff audits of our public spaces. The highest incidents of graffiti on Council property clearly show Katoomba and Wentworth Falls / Leura as hotspots for council owned property. There are very few reports for Blaxland on council property, as Blaxland graffiti events are mainly on private property. For 2008/2009 the number of graffiti attacks has remained relatively stable. It is also identified that Mt Riverview, Blaxland and Glenbrook are getting hit constantly by vandals, not only for graffiti but also for damage to assets. However, graffiti attached are remaining stable Community Perspective The Blue Mountains community has developed an increased awareness of graffiti in recent years and have taken an active role in reporting graffiti within our urban environment and residential properties. This graffiti has a substantial impact on our community, the community s perception of safety of where they live and work and can often lead to community members developing a negative attitude towards young people. This Plan aims to increase community pride in areas that are prone to graffiti and improve community perceptions of our towns and villages. 1.8 Cost of Graffiti The cost of graffiti removal is not always easy to ascertain however it is important to recognise that graffiti has financial, environment and social costs to a community General Overview The real cost of graffiti, is difficult to estimate as no comprehensive study on the subject has been undertaken. Although the amount is unknown, it is widely acknowledged that the money spent annually by communities, property owners, public agencies and businesses is enormous. This annual amount, together with the work hours required to complete graffiti removal adds up to vast amounts of money and time that could be spent on other more worthwhile projects. Research undertaken by Graffiti Hurts Australia indicates that Local Governments alone across Australia spend approximately $260 million annually on graffiti vandalism removal. Graffiti has other hidden costs to the community, which include: decline in property values; economic impacts to local businesses when people prefer to shop elsewhere; loss of funding for community enhancement projects when money spent on removing graffiti is not spent on other much needed projects; negative public attitudes towards young people; and long term negative impacts on young people who enter the justice system, as a result of graffiti Costs to Blue Mountains City Council Blue Mountains City Council is responsible for removing graffiti from assets owned by the Council. This includes Council owned buildings, signage, bus shelters and DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 8

9 fencing. The annual cost of removing graffiti from these assets was approximately $300,000 in Costs to other Utilities and Agencies The costs of graffiti to other utilities and agencies such as RailCorp, Integral Energy and Australia Post are unknown. These utilities and agencies are responsible for the removal of graffiti from their own assets and the cost to do this is covered by them. 1.9 Evaluation of this Plan It can be challenging for a Plan such as this to have measurable outcomes. For example it is not easy to measure an improved sense of ownership or pride in a community which may be achieved as a result of reduced graffiti. Despite this, it is important that the implementation of this Plan is monitored and assessed. In this regard a number of performance measures have been identified to assess progress in implementing this plan on an annual basis. Blue Mountains City Council will review this Management Plan once a year for the first four (4) years. The results of this audit will be presented to the community via the Council website and in hard copy through Council libraries. After this 4 year period the Plan will be revised. Council will establish an internal working party to review the progress of this Graffiti Management Plan. The community will also have an opportunity to provide feedback on how the Graffiti Management Plan is progressing on an annual basis. In reviewing this Plan it will be imperative to determine if the objectives of the Plan are being met and if they continue to reflect the needs and priorities of our community. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 9

10 SECTION 2.0 LEGISLATIVE & POLICY FRAMEWORK The section outlines the legislative and policy framework underpinning this Graffiti Management Plan as outlined in the NSW Graffiti Control Act 2008, the local Government Act 1993 and various strategic documents of the Blue Mountains City Council. 2.1 Relevant Legislation Legislation which is relevant to the management of graffiti includes: Graffiti Control Act 2008 This Act which commenced in early 2009 was developed following a review of all graffiti-related legislation in NSW. The Act is divided into 5 parts consolidating graffiti controls, previously found within the Local Government Act 1993 and the Summary Offences Act. Council has prepared this Graffiti Management Plan to respond to Council s responsibilities under the Act. Part of the Act Part 1 Preliminary Part 2 Offences Part 3 Responsibility of Retailers Part 4 Removal of Graffiti by Council Part 5 Proceedings Specific Section of the Act The preliminary sections including the definitions and name of the Act. Fines and/or imprisonment can be enforced for many of these offences Section 4 - Damaging or defacing property by means of graffiti implement. Section 5 - Possession of graffiti implement. Section 6 - Posting bills and other marking offences. The Act states that a person who sells spray paint to a person under the age of 18 years is guilty of an offence. The act also outlines requirements of retailers to secure spray paint cans. Section 11 - Graffiti removal work by agreement with owner or occupier. A local council may, by agreement with the owner or occupier of any private land, carry out graffiti removal work on the land. Section 12 - Graffiti removal work without agreement of owner or occupier. A local council may, without the agreement of the owner or occupier of any land, carry out graffiti removal work to property on that land if the graffiti concerned is visible from a public place. The graffiti removal work referred to in subsection (1) may only be carried out from a public place. The local council concerned is to bear the cost of graffiti removal work. If a local council carries out graffiti removal work in accordance with this section, the council must, within a reasonable period, give the owner or occupier of the land concerned written notice that the work has occurred. A local council must pay compensation for any damage caused by the council in carrying out graffiti removal work in accordance with this section. Section 13 - Register of graffiti removal work. A local council must keep a register of graffiti removal work carried out in accordance with this Part. The register is to specify in respect of each incidence of graffiti removal work carried out: (a) the owner or occupier of the premises on which the graffiti was situated, and (b) the nature of the work carried out, and (c) the actual cost, or an estimate of the cost at current market rates, of carrying out the work, and (d) in the case of graffiti removal work carried out in accordance with section 11 the actual amount charged by the local council for carrying out the work. Notice of offences, penalty notices and regulations. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 10

11 2.1.2 Local Government Act 1993 The Local Government Act 1993 has functioned as an important tool in the management of graffiti. The provisions under the Local Government Act 1993 which have been consolidated within the Graffiti Control Act 2008 include: Graffiti removal work by agreement with owner or occupier (s67a) now section 11 of the Graffiti Control Act Graffiti removal work without agreement of owner or occupier (s67b) now section 12 of the Graffiti Control Act Register of graffiti removal work (s67c) now section 13 of the Graffiti Control Act. Under the Local Government Act, the following offences will continue to apply to graffiti management: Defacing or likely to deface public bathing place (s631) maximum penalty is 10 penalty units ($1,100), or penalty notice of $220 (under Schedule 12 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005) Wilful defacing of notices or signs erected by a council (s667) maximum penalty is 20 penalty units ($2,200). 2.2 Relevant Council Policies & Protocols Council Policies and Protocols which are relevant to the management of graffiti include: Public Art Policy The aim of the Public Art Policy is to enhance the natural and built assets of the Blue Mountains and to reflect its unique character, history and future aspirations. Its role is to enhance the City s position as the inaugural City of the Arts. The Policy outlines Council s commitment to developing inclusiveness and partnerships with the community. In recognition of this, it developed a three tiered approach to public art provision including: 1. Integrating elements of art and design into routine capital works program. 2. Initiating and responding to opportunities for community initiated public art projects on Council managed or owned properties; and 3. Commissioning significant public art works for design, production and installation in identified areas of the city. This Policy will assist in the installation of community initiated art and / or major pieces of artwork within the City Process for Temporary Murals This draft guideline provides a process for the installation of temporary murals on Council owned assets such as bus shelters and buildings. This document will guide any murals that may be proposed as a measure of eradicating graffiti Graffiti removal from Private Property Protocol Council is currently developing a protocol to guide the removal of graffiti from private property. This protocol is being developed in response to Part 4 Section 11 & 12 of the Graffiti Control Act 2008 and the below Council resolution; 11. That the Council notes the new powers under new legislation to remove graffiti from private property without authority or consent of the owner, and DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 11

12 resolves that this power should only be exercised by the Council graffiti team in appropriate circumstances. (Minute No. 122, 14/04/2009) This protocol will take into account the current limited resources available to Council for graffiti removal work Better Living DCP Part C4.2: Crime Minimisation. Council s Better Living Development Control Plan (DCP) contains section 4.2 dedicated to Crime Minimisation. This section provides information on Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles ensuring design developments minimise the opportunity for crime by: a) Ensuring natural surveillance of buildings, streets, car parking facilities and open spaces is maximised; b) Incorporating increased security measures into the design of the building; and c) Utilising signage, building features and landscaping to reduce the likelihood of inappropriate activity and clearly define individual areas and uses within a development. It also specifies that all developments must provide a statement which demonstrates how the development has been designed with consideration to the four (4) CPTED principles of: surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement and space management. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 12

13 SECTION 3.0 THE FOUR PRINCIPLES This section outlines the four key principles underpinning the approach to graffiti management presented in this Plan. Each of the four principles is intended to work together for an integrated response to graffiti management. In essence, no one principle can be successful without other principles occurring. 3.1 Eradication Objective Encourage the prompt removal of graffiti from all Council and non-council owned facilities to ensure unsolicited graffiti does not remain. Opportunities Useful strategies associated with eradicating graffiti may include rapid removal and the introduction of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. These can be summaries as follows: Rapid removal The aim of rapid removal is to remove graffiti before it has had exposure and acknowledges that when graffiti is allowed to remain, it can invite more graffiti and may lead to an increase in vandalism and other criminal activities. It recognises that rapid removal is a key to controlling and eradicating graffiti however it is a simplistic solution which does not necessarily address issues with graffiti culture. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) refers to reducing graffiti through the use of environmental design measures, such as better street lighting, CCTV cameras, graffiti resistant materials and blank wall redesign. Issues The majority of graffiti within the City is not on Council owned assets; Community has limited knowledge on how to remove graffiti and what products / methods work best; Some areas are attractive to being graffitied because they have little surveillance, are poorly designed or having little lighting; There are limited resources to keep on top of all graffiti needing to be removed from Council owned assets; Rapid removal is a simplistic solution and does not necessarily address other causes of graffiti; The community and/or Council do not have the authority to remove graffiti from public infrastructure owned by other agencies; Other government and non government agencies and utilities also have limited resources to remove graffiti from their assets; and Some graffiti such as etching and bill posters are difficult and costly to remove. To view strategies associated with Eradication please refer to Section Engagement Objective Encourage interested community members to become involved in initiatives that help reduce incidents of graffiti and provide opportunities for legal art to contribute to the vibrancy of our town centres. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 13

14 Opportunities This objective acknowledges that engaging the community; particularly young people can contribute to a well-informed and positively involved community that wants the best for our towns and villages. It can also lead to sentiments of ownership and pride which are imperative when aiming to reduce incidents of graffiti. Strategies associated with this principle may include: Community volunteer graffiti removal programs these programs make use of volunteers for graffiti removal and can install a sense of ownership in the community. Legal art and youth diversion programs Blue Mountains City Council s public art policy endorses public art as a way of enhancing the natural and built assets of the Blue Mountains and to reflect its unique character, history and future aspirations. Through this policy there may be opportunities to encourage street art, murals etc as a way of combating less visually appealing graffiti. There may also be opportunities to work with young people to develop areas of legal art. Issues Community volunteer graffiti removal teams remove from non Council owned assets such as private / commercial properties and cannot be considered the primary removal strategy; Lack of interest from community members to help clean graffiti some may see it as a government issue not a community issue; There are issues of Occupational Health & Safety and insurance concerns fro volunteer graffiti removal teams; Lack of funds and other resources to maintain volunteer graffiti removal teams long term, Negative stereotyping of young people who are most likely to graffiti; Lack of funds to develop positive initiatives that will help engage the community, such as legal street art walls; Benefits and possibilities of legal street art are currently unknown; and The majority of graffiti within the City is not on Council owned assets. To view strategies associated with Engagement please refer to Section Education Objective Support and promote community information and education programmes surrounding graffiti management. Opportunities This objective acknowledges that once informed it is more likely that the community, regardless of age, will do something to either reduce or remove graffiti from their local area. Strategies associated with this principle include: Graffiti school education programs these programs may be school based interventions and need support and assistance from local schools and the Department of Education. It should be noted that graffiti education programs can be purchased through private providers and run in schools. Community information and education strategies promoting community awareness of illegal graffiti is central tot gaining community support and involvement in graffiti prevention and removal. Information strategies may involve teaching residents about how to prevent graffiti on their properties through local media or Council s website. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 14

15 Issues People may not know how to report graffiti; Some community members have insufficient knowledge of how to tackle graffiti; Lack of available funds to carry out education campaigns, especially school education programmes; Young people may not be aware of the impact, risk and potential outcome of illegal graffiti; and Local newspaper stories on graffiti can often increase graffiti in a local area as some people seem encouraged by the media attention. To view strategies associated with Education please refer to Section Enforcement Objective Promote close working relationships between all community members, NSW Police and other relevant agencies to help establish, maintain and enforce initiatives that reduce incidents of graffiti in the City. Opportunities This principle is important as developing a partnership approach is essential in tackling a complex problem such as graffiti management. Working closely with Police will improve opportunities to apprehend offenders and share data that each group may have in relation to graffiti in the City. This objective recognises that graffiti is not a government issue but a community one that requires input from everyone in the community. Useful strategies associated with the principle of enforcement may include: Work closely with relevant stakeholders within the community promoting good close working relationships between stakeholders is important in establishing and maintaining graffiti management initiatives in the City. Juvenile Offenders Program these community-based interventions for juvenile offenders are run through the NSW Department of Juvenile Justice. The aim of the program is to assist young offenders to gain knowledge and understanding of the consequences of their actions. Use of CCTV camera surveillance in hotspots there is a potential to use camera surveillance in hotpots for identifying graffiti vandals. A project such as this would be carried out in conjunction with Police. Issues There is no one person at Council that has responsibility for Graffiti Management within the City; Limited resources available to target malicious damage caused through graffiti; Council has no authority to remove or force removal of graffiti from non-council owned assets; and Difficult to catch people doing graffiti as they tend to work in darkness and in areas that have little surveillance. To view strategies associated with Enforcement please refer to Section 4. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 15

16 SECTION 4.0 ACTION PLAN This section outlines how the Blue Mountains community proposes to achieve the Plan s objectives. These actions arise from the issues, opportunities, objectives and policies outlined in the above section. The actions and the proposed management strategies are presented in a table format which contains the below columns. No Refers to the number given to a particular objective / action. Objective / Refers to the proposed method of achieving the objectives / policies Action within the Graffiti Management Plan. It is a short description of the work to be carried out. Responsibility Refers to the organisation that will be responsible for delivery of the objective / action. Other Refers to any other stakeholders who are involved with the delivery of Stakeholders the objective / action. Involved Priority Refers to the importance of the objective / action depending on value placed on this action by the community, risk management and other factors. Priorities used in this Graffiti Management Plan are as follow: Current / Ongoing Projects that have already commenced and / or are ongoing programs of Council or other organisation; Funding may already be available through existing budgets. High Considered to be an urgent activity; and Have a significant benefit / positive impact to a considerable section of the Blue Mountains community. Medium Important but not urgent; May be reliant on a high priority action being undertaken first; and Have moderate benefits to the Blue Mountains community or benefit limited areas of the community only. Low Important but not urgent; May be reliant on high and medium actions being undertaken; and Estimated Costs Performance Measures Outcomes May be subject to the identification of funding (e.g. grants). Refers to the estimated costs for carrying out the action, if known. Many actions are listed as staff time which identifies actions that require further investigation. Provides a brief description that identifies how we will know the objective / action has been a success. Provides a brief description on what will be achieved once the objective / action is achieved. Note: there are no dates and / or years given for the completion of actions as all actions are dependent on funding. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 16

17 There are a total of 26 actions within the Graffiti Management Plan across the 4 principles of Graffiti Management: Eradication, Engagement, Education and Enforcement. The responsibility for these actions can be divided according to the below: Responsible Organisation No. of Actions Estimated Costs (if known) Staff Time (Actions yet to be investigated) Unknown (Estimated costs are yet to be determined) Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) 13 2 actions at $303,000 (within current budgets) 10 1 NSW Police NSW Police / BMCC Community Groups / BMCC Community MYST 1 1 action at $2, Dept. Education TOTAL 28 3 Actions at $305, DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 17

18 No. Objective / Action Responsibility 4.1 ERADICATION Other Stakeholders Involved Priority Estimated Costs Performance Measures Outcomes RAPID REMOVAL Council to continue its rapid removal of offensive graffiti and graffiti in hot spot areas. (Council owned assets only) Council to liaise with other agencies / utilities including Roads and Traffic Authority, Railcorp, Sydney Water, Integral Australia, Energy Australia and other relevant agencies to develop agreements, partnerships and effective approaches for the rapid removal of graffiti in the City Investigate potential of providing free graffiti removal kits for local residents. BMCC BMCC BMCC State agencies/ utilities. Current / Ongoing $300,000pa (Approx only for the removal of all graffiti including offensive from hot spot areas.) Number of complaints regarding offensive graffiti is reduced. High Staff Time Number of agencies contacted. Medium Staff Time Number of agreements established. Incidents of graffiti in hot spots reduced. Timely removal of graffiti from state agency/ utility assets CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED) DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 18

19 No. Objective / Action Responsibility Police to identify CPTED assessments of key graffiti hot spots on an annual basis with the aim of identifying / implementing actions to address graffiti. NSW Police Other Stakeholders Involved Other relevant State Agencies. Priority Estimated Costs Performance Measures Medium Staff Time Number of CPTED assessments conducted each year. Outcomes Police and Council to investigate implementation of other methods of deterring graffiti in known hot spots e.g. installation of motion detected lighting, classical music and additional police patrols Investigate potential to incorporate CPTED review into Council s Development Application checklist. Note: a statement is currently required determine if more is necessary. 4.2 ENGAGEMENT NSW Police / BMCC State Agencies / other relevant stakeholder Medium Staff Time Number of alternative graffiti deterring methods implemented. BMCC High Staff Time CPTED checklist included in Development Application package. Incidents of graffiti in hot spots reduced. New developments consider CPTED principles in their design. COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER GRAFFITI REMOVAL PROGRAMS Consider expanding volunteer graffiti removal teams in key areas across the city and consider alternate volunteer graffiti removal models not dependant on vehicles / trailers. Community Groups / BMCC Community Medium Staff Time A clear reduction in graffiti. Improved community perception on graffiti within the community Community to design out graffiti Community BMCC / Low Unknown Number of community Incidents of graffiti on DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 19

20 No. Objective / Action Responsibility on highly targeted areas of privately owned assets such as timber fences and document their efforts Hold annual Graffiti Action Day within the City to raise awareness about how to prevent graffiti and remove graffiti from public places. BMCC (partnership with Keep Australia Beautiful) Other Stakeholders Involved Police Community Priority Ongoing (annually) Estimated Costs Staff Time Performance Measures initiated graffiti management projects implemented. An annual Graffiti Action Day is held and well promoted throughout the City. Outcomes private assets such as timber fences etc are reduced. Community becomes aware of how to remove and reduce prevalence of graffiti in their area. LEGAL ART AND YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAMS Apply community legal street art to highly targeted Council and non Council owned assets such as traffic signal boxes, bus shelters and toilet blocks and monitor the success in keeping these assets graffiti free Annual aerosol art competition / art show or similar. 4.3 EDUCATION BMCC & Relevant Agencies MYST Community / MYST Community High / Ongoing Ongoing (annually) Unknown Number of legal street art projects implemented. Success in keeping legal street art sites free of graffiti. $2,500 An annual aerosol art competition is held (or similar) and highlights contribution by young people to the community. Reduced graffiti will means a reduce costs to Council, improved amenity of public space and sense of place. Sense of ownership by young people and reduced opportunities for tagging etc. Public attitude to young people is improved. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 20

21 No. Objective / Action Responsibility Other Stakeholders Involved Priority Estimated Costs Performance Measures Outcomes GRAFFITI SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMS Encourage and continue support of Graffiti Education Programs in local schools Support development and referral pathways for holistic early intervention for young people at risk of offending (e.g. Rock and Water Program, Outdoor Explore, Transition to High School) Dept. Education / Police NSW Police (Youth Safety Committee subcommittee of the Community Safety Precinct Committee) BMCC Ongoing Unknown Number of schools actively engaged in graffiti education programs. Ongoing Unknown Continuity of communication between Police and Youth Services Young people are educated on the negative impacts of graffiti. COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND EDUCATION STRATEGIES Maintain and enhance Council s webpage relating to Graffiti Management as key educational tool. Consider marketing known preventative strategies i.e. graffiti resistant paint etc Implement Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) training for Council Officers. BMCC Ongoing Staff Time Number of users accessing graffiti web pages. BMCC Ongoing $3,000 per annum. Number of staff undertaking CPTED training. Community can access information on graffiti removal / reduction techniques etc from Council s website. Council staff trained in CPTED principles and how to identify improvements in proposed developments put forward for Council consideration. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 21

22 No. Objective / Action Responsibility 4.4 ENFORCEMENT Other Stakeholders Involved Priority Estimated Costs Performance Measures Outcomes WORK CLOSELY WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN COMMUNTY Supply Police with photographic tag database for their use Investigate potential of a coordinated graffiti approach, in which a single agency is responsible for removing / reporting graffiti on all NSW Government assets e.g. develop a Graffiti Hotline. Note: Monitor current trial being undertaken at Blacktown and Mosman Councils Continue Police patrols / operations in known hot spots, as priority allows Police to encourage retailers to comply with Graffiti Control Act 2008 re: sale of graffiti items such as spray cans Incorporate a standard development consent condition for new commercial and industrial developments, which requires the timely removal of any graffiti BMCC NSW Police Current / Ongoing Staff Time BMCC All State High Staff Time Agencies NSW Police BMCC Ongoing Staff Time Incidents of graffiti removed and / or number of people caught increased. NSW Police Ongoing (biannually) Staff Time Reduced incidents of graffiti and retailers educated in ways of responsibility selling items that may be used for graffiti. BMCC High Staff Time Inclusion achieved in development consent conditions. Incidents of graffiti are removed promptly from non Council owned commercial buildings. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 22

23 No. Objective / Action Responsibility visible from a public place, to achieve outcomes specified in the Council s Better Living DCP (Part C4.2 Crime Minimisation) and this Graffiti Management Plan Advocate to State Government to fund graffiti management programs / actions within this Plan. BMCC / Community Other Stakeholders Involved Priority Estimated Costs Performance Measures Community High Staff Time Amount of external funding obtained each year for graffiti management. Outcomes Projects within this Graffiti Management Plan are completed. COMMUNITY SERVICE PAROLEES / JUVENILE OFFENDERS PROGRAM Investigate possible use of juvenile offenders in the removal of graffiti Investigate possible use of Community Service Parolees in the removal of graffiti. Police (Youth Safety Committee subcommittee of the Community Safety Precinct Committee) / Police (Youth Safety Committee subcommittee of the Community Safety Precinct Committee) / Volunteer Graffiti Removal Teams / Council MYST /Volunteer Graffiti Removal Teams / Council MYST /Volunteer Graffiti Removal Teams / Council High High Staff Time Staff Time Investigation implemented. Investigation implemented Additional resources for graffiti removal Additional resources for graffiti removal DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 23

24 No. Objective / Action Responsibility Other Stakeholders Involved Priority Estimated Costs Performance Measures Outcomes USE OF CCTV CAMERA SURVEILLANCE Use of mobile CCTV cameras in known hot spots for limited periods of time. NSW Police High Staff Time CCTV mobile cameras used in hot spots. OTHER Council to establish an internal working party to review the progress of this Graffiti Management Plan Council to monitor and report on this Graffiti Management Plan annually and present results to community via Council website and libraries Establish a Graffiti Working Party involving volunteer groups, Council, Police and other agencies to assist in the review of the Plan and provide ongoing support to community members involved with Graffiti Management in the City. BMCC BMCC BMCC Relevant agencies/ community organisation s Ongoing (quarterly) Ongoing (annually) Ongoing (annually) Staff Time Staff Time Staff Time Annual report completed and results published. Ensure actions in Plan are achieved and that the Plan continues to meet community needs. DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 24

25 REFERENCES 1. Black, M. Youth Focused Graffiti Reduction Study paper prepared for Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) and Mountains Youth Services (MYST), June Black, M. Review of Graffiti Management Strategies paper prepared for Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC), September Blacktown City Council 2009 Graffiti Management Plan An initiative of Council s Taskforce Against Graffiti 4. City of Botany Bay (2009) Exhibition Draft Graffiti Management Plan, ent%20plan%20may09%20exhibition.pdf 5. Graffiti Hurts Australia, 6. NSW Government (2000) NSW Graffiti Solutions handbook for Local Government, Planners, Designers and Developers. 7. NSW Police Safer by Design Training Manual DRAFT Graffiti Management Plan V.3 25