By SHAUN INGUANZO
A RECENT graffiti attack on Upwey’s bank has reignited its chairman’s frustrations.
Upwey and District Community Bank chairman Peter Marke said graffiti attacks on the township had been an ongoing problem for 10 years.
“It has been a serious problem and not just the paint graffiti but also the scratching of shop front windows.
“This is one of the major reasons why the supermarket and deli installed protective shutters.” The most recent attack occurred just two weeks ago when Upwey and District Community Bank was ‘tagged’ with spray paint.
Mr Marke said the tag was unknown to the area, possibly a sign of a new offender.
“I understand the same person tagged another building in town and also the railway bridge on Glenfern Road the same night.
“The tag is not known to locals.”
Mr Marke said graffiti was nothing more than vandalism.
“I am a strong opponent of what is called graffiti art.
“Painting murals are one thing, but allowing for the spraying of railway corridors and sides of buildings and fences, I can never see how people can justify or endorse that sort of vandalism.”
Shire of Yarra Ranges manager of social recreation and youth development Mark Doubleday admitted that graffiti had been an ongoing problem in Upwey.
He said the council would fund a dedicated graffiti officer for another 12 months to help prevent attacks on private property and channel artists to constructive murals.
“Council has approved to further continue for 12 months a graffiti development worker to work with community groups in targeting communities and to actively either clean up graffiti, or organise projects so that people can showcase the positive and constructive side in the right way and right place.”
