Alpine Shire Council has received a grant of $25,000 from the Brumby Labor Government as part of the 2010 Graffiti Clean-up Community Grants.
Welcoming the announcement today, Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad said Alpine Shire Council had been awarded the grant to purchase a Graffiti Removal Trailer.
Ms Broad said the grants, of up to $25,000, fund initiatives in which councils partnered with members of the community and groups to clean-up graffiti.
“Victorians consistently rank graffiti as the third most-commonly perceived neighbourhood problem, after theft from homes and dangerous driving,” Ms Broad said.
“This is a fantastic program as it not only removes graffiti, it helps us all feel safer and more secure in our neighbourhood,” Ms Broad said.
Ms Broad said the $4.5 million Graffiti Prevention and Removal Strategy included another $300,000 worth of grants this year for council-managed graffiti clean-up projects.
“Over the last three years, graffiti grant projects have helped to remove an estimated 150,000 square metres of graffiti,” she said.
“These grants bring councils and community members together to kick-start community ideas and action and help to build sustainable clean-up programs.”
The program supports the Graffiti Prevention Act, which commenced operation in 2008. The Act introduced graffiti-specific offences with tough penalties including up to two years imprisonment and fines of up to $28,668 for marking graffiti.