Sunshine Coast Council says it is working hard to remove graffiti around the region after one local’s request to clear several markings was ignored for almost five months.
Authorities said they’d removed almost 1300 instances of graffiti so far this year, and the latest version of the council app enabled people to lodge graffiti incidents more efficiently, leading to faster response times.
They also said there were “only” 63 reports still to be resolved.
But Dicky Beach resident Gloria Jones was dismayed by the delay to her request to attend to multiple scrawls at the local skate park.
She said she sent a report and a photo, via the app, to council in late April, when she also questioned the removal of a security camera.
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Ms Jones sent follow-up emails in early June and in mid-July asking why the graffiti was still there.
She then sent another email to council, while also notifying media, in early September, before work finally started on the removal of the graffiti a couple of weeks later.
Ms Jones told Sunshine Coast News that the markings and council’s slow reaction was a bad look for Dicky Beach.
“Graffiti is known to devalue an area. Given it is a Sunshine Coast Council asset, what does that say about the council’s care and due diligence?” she asked.
She questioned whether council was adequately following its graffiti policy, which “involves a zero-tolerance approach with a focus on rapid removal to deter further vandalism”.
A council spokesperson said vandalism and graffiti were “significant challenges” for the council but authorities were doing what they could to ensure public spaces were graffiti-free.
“In November, council launched a new version of the Sunshine Coast App, which has transformed how the community report graffiti,” they said.
“Residents can now quickly submit incidents with photos and exact locations ensuring issues are directed to the right teams.
“The application itself has streamlined processes and enabled faster response times to keep our community spaces safe and welcoming.
“So far this year, council has removed 1279 instances of graffiti from public assets and spaces.
“That includes everything from park benches and playgrounds to public toilets.
“We’ve received 982 reports of graffiti that needed action this year so far, and another 360 inquiries from the community that also involved graffiti removal. Currently, there are only 63 reports still scheduled to be resolved.”
“In the 2024-25 financial year, two of council’s branches spent more than $190,000 on managing the removal of graffiti from council assets.”
The spokesperson said it was “very difficult” to stop people from re-applying graffiti after council painted over it.
“(But) council is committed to working with the Queensland Police Service to address incidents across the region,” they said.
“We take damage to community property very seriously and report incidences of vandalism to the QPS. We encourage our community to report any anti-social behaviour to the police.”
The spokesperson confirmed that a security camera was shut down at the skate park.
“Council installed a temporary CCTV system at Dicky Beach in October. This was removed in February, after receiving only one request from the QPS for footage,” they said.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said that police “regularly conduct proactive patrols and targeted operations to prevent and deter anti-social behaviour, like graffiti” and investigate reports of graffiti.
“Police also gather intelligence on tags used by graffiti offenders in order to identify those responsible and bring them before the courts.”
The spokesperson said residents can take steps to protect their own property by installing security lights and CTV cameras to deter offenders.
Anyone who witnesses graffiti can report the incident to police by calling Policelink or online.
Offenders who deface property with graffiti can be charged with wilful damage, which is punishable with up to five years in prison. It is also an offence to possess an aerosol spray, marker or other instrument that is being used for graffiti. This carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison.
Young graffiti vandals can be ordered by the court to attend a graffiti removal program. This is a mandatory sentence for 12 to 18 year-old offenders. Some young offenders may also be sent on a graffiti removal program as an alternative to being charged and going to court. Graffiti removal programs include removing graffiti.
