Maroondah Graffiti Watch

Community Graffiti Removal Trailer

Fred Painter, Logistics SupervisorRobyn Williams, Community Safety Officer

Margaret Handte, President Maroondah Neighbourhood Watch Network

Setting the scene

• MCC Graffiti Team

• DOJ Graffiti Removal Program

• Department of Human Services (DHS)

• Community Groups

Existing approachMaroondah’s Weapons of Mass Removal

Maroondah Neighbourhood Watch

Key Partner – Maroondah Neighbourhood Watch

Achieving Results Through Cooperation

The beginning

The need for a portable graffiti removal vehicle was identified by Maroondah Neighbourhood Watch Network (MNHWN) to assist them in their monthly activities.

A proposal was prepared by Council with support from Victoria Police and Maroondah NHW. Key objectives of the proposal were:

• build and equip a trailer for use by NHW and the broader community on graffiti removal projects.

• provide graffiti removal kits free of charge to Maroondah residents and traders.

Identifying the need

Working with community members

Trailer Design

• Council’s Logistics Supervisor, Fred Painter, was responsible for trailer design

• Design was informed by equipment that was needed and had to incorporate a lockable compartment, platforms for the mounting of heavy equipment and sufficient storage space for all components.

• Fred drew on his extensive experience of building and inspecting graffiti removal vehicles to inform design which ultimately delivered a custom-built graffiti removal trailer that is able to remove graffiti and conduct clean up operations.

• Needed to be user friendly - can be towed by a large family sized car

Building Functionality

Equipment• 8X5 foot tandem trailer with lockable tradesmans box

• 400 litre water tank with integrated pressure washer

• 4.4 KVA petrol generator

• Wagner 115 airless spray outfit

• Petrol brush cutter, blower and hedge trimmer

• Personal protective equipment

• Graffiti Removal Chemicals

• Paint

• Operational Instructions Manual and relevant forms

The Final Product

• Launched July 2012

• By Cr Rob Steane, Mayor

Others present included:

• CEO

• Department of Justice

• Maroondah NHW

• Eastern Region Graffiti Network members

An outstanding success

Community Engagement

• Prime purpose of trailer is for community use.

• Multiple community groups that Council has regular contact with has helped to facilitate the engagement process.

• NHW is the principal partner.

• Council has regular contact with NHW through organised meetings and informal contact with Councils Logistics Supervisor.

• To attract use by other community groups Council has placed advertisements in local print media and on the council website.

• Community engagement is essential to ensure continued usage.

Filling a need

Issues

• OH&S for volunteers• User friendly equipment • Developing a user-friendly operational manual• Insurance and risk management for volunteers using

council equipment• Timing• Encouraging awareness and uptake amongst other

community groups.

Issues encountered planning of the trailer

Ongoing Costs

• Labour cost in time allocated for training of volunteers

• Ongoing insurance and maintenance

• Asset management

• Registration costs

• Materials replacement

Into the future

Ongoing community engagement

• Schools

• Kindergartens

• Sporting clubs

• Police

• Community organisations

• Trader groups

• Scouts/Guides

Into the future

• Targeting graffiti hotspots.

• Potential programs would partner with talented youth to produce high quality artwork onto affected substrates.

• Public art projects for the extensive developments which are taking place in Maroondah.

• Lighting innovation

Future projects

Thank you