Julian Leeser , Member for Berowra
Earlier this year some local residents and shop owners talked with me about the level graffiti in Normanhurst. Like many of you, I have seen the amount of graffiti grow in our suburbs this year. On shop fronts, fences, in parks and community spaces, it was there and just like in Normanhurst, graffiti right across our area is a problem that has been overlooked.
For shop owners and local small businesses, the presence of graffiti gives an impression of the area being run down or neglected and that doesn’t help attract new or return business. On people’s fences and in community spaces the graffiti made it feel like our area was unsafe or not the great place to live that it actually is.
Something had to be done. I began looking into the problem and devising a solution.
After speaking to local Police, Hornsby Shire Councillor Sallianne McClelland and Wahroonga MP Alister Henskens, I convened a meeting with community leaders about how we tackle graffiti around our area. We developed a plan of attack and began to rally the troops.
I put out a call for volunteers and was overwhelmed with support from community organisations, local church groups, small businesses and families. We assembled our local graffiti-busting army and we prepared for battle.
What I didn’t realise until then was just how easy removing graffiti is once you have the right supplies and know what you’re doing… perhaps that’s why graffiti has been left so long and has only gotten worse across Berowra.
Roger Norman from Turramurra Rotary provided the expertise and know-how and trained over 30 volunteers to get the job done. Together we donned gloves and masks, and scrubbed and scraped. Volunteers from Hillcrest Uniting Church and St Agatha’s Pennant Hills joined local Rotarians along with families and friends from across the community and we got the job done.
Local businesses were also on hand to support the war on graffiti with Dulux, Southern Cleaning Supplies, Kennards Thornleigh, Inspirations Hornsby, Uni-Pro, Bunnings Thornleigh, R Hair 4 U, On Dough, Wooden Mill and Jo from Well Versed Homes all providing supplies and sustenance.
We started in Normanhurst and Thornleigh but I know this is a problem across the electorate.
If you look around and notice a part of the area that may need a little TLC, please get in touch and let me know so that I can continue to fight for our community.
