VOLUNTEERS from the Port Macquarie West Rotary Club and Hastings Valley Netball on Sunday got down and dirty to remove unsightly graffiti from the netball clubhouse on Grant Street.
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Some started at 8am, others joined in later, in what was an arduous task under the blazing sun.
President of the Rotary club Peter Gray thanked Inspirations Paint on Lake Road for generously donating the materials needed to remove and repaint the clubhouse.
"They supplied us with 15 removal kits which included the chemicals, towels, eye protection and gloves, but it wasn't as easy they said it would be [to remove the graffiti from the galvanised metal surfaces]," Mr Gray said.
"They also gave us the special Dulux anti graffiti paint and about 30 brushes, but we ran out."
Mr Gray said additional paint had to be bought from Bunnings Warehouse where a generous discount was given."
About 20 volunteers from the Rotary and 10 from the netball club worked non stop to get the clubhouse looking fresh and clean.
Sunday was NSW Graffiti Removal Day.
Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said she appreciated the help of the volunteers.
"The prevalence of graffiti has increased locally over the past couple of months which has resulted in more and more complaints to my office, police and council," Mrs Williams said.
"I know our local police have commenced court proceedings against 11 people over malicious damage involving graffiti this year which is good, but it is an all of community approach that is needed to stamp it out.
"Marking property can attract a fine of up to $440 or for an aggravated offence $2,200 or 12 months imprisonment," Mrs Williams said.
"If anyone witnesses people marking property with graffiti they should report it immediately."
Mrs Williams said the key is to get rid of graffiti straight away and hopes our council will consider funding a Graffiti Buster volunteer like Ted Bickford from Great Lakes.
She said he has done a great job removing graffiti as soon as it is reported by community members.
"This has been achieved at a fraction of the cost that councils allocate to graffiti removal locally."
"So while I fully support Graffiti Removal Day and congratulate everyone involved, what we need is a year long campaign to eliminate graffiti, not just one day," Mrs Williams said.
vickii.byram@fairfaxmedia.com.au
