Speaking at the Marton
Tower in Waterloo, Mr Brown said the initiative would
crack down on illegal graffiti, with police photographing graffiti and pasting
stickers nearby informing offenders their vandalism was being investigated.
“This is a joint initiative between police and Housing
NSW to break the cycle of graffiti,” Mr Brown said.
“Haw this works is if someone graffitis property a
sticker will be placed next to that graffiti and a photo will be taken, that
photo will be forwarded to the local police. “With that intelligence the
police are better able to work out who is defacing public property.”
Waterloo
precinct resident spokesman Ross Smith
said the tackling graffiti was first suggested in an action plan compiled for
the area last September.
Mr Smith said NSW Housing had a track record for not
following through with initiatives in the past and residents remained sceptical
about the minister’s announcement.
“This graffiti rapid response was something we were
told would be happening last year, this is months later,” said Mr Smith.
“The Department of housing sent carpet cleaning
machines in to this building at five to nine this morning – just before the
Minister arrived to make the media announcement. That carpet has not been
cleaned in years, even though it’s supposed to be cleaned under contract every
six months.
“All the window dressing has been done – so I have to
question where their priorities lay.”
Picture: Phil Rogers – Housing Minister Matt Brown announces
a new pilot program to crack down on graffiti in Waterloo around public housing estates.
Source: Central of 19 March 2008