Tweed Shire Council Joins Forces with NSW Police to Combat Graffiti Vandalism

The Tweed Shire Council has partnered with NSW Police to address a recent spike in illegal graffiti across the Tweed region, calling on the community to play a key role in reporting incidents. The latest target of vandalism is Jack Evans Boat Harbour in Tweed Heads, an area that has undergone $2.6 million in upgrades over the past two years. Just weeks after the official opening of the newly upgraded swimming area, vandals have defaced walls, seating, skate areas, and even commissioned artworks.

Knox Park in Murwillumbah has also seen a rise in graffiti, particularly at the skate park, where taggers have targeted skating areas and signage.

Council’s Director of Sustainable Communities and Environment, Naomi Searle, expressed deep disappointment over the damage to Jack Evans Boat Harbour, emphasising the waste of public funds and the negative impact on the community. “Graffiti vandalism is a crime, and while it’s difficult to estimate the total cost, Council spent over $115,000 last financial year on graffiti clean-up in parks and open spaces,” Ms. Searle said.

Increased Surveillance and Community Involvement

In response to the graffiti surge, Council is working closely with local police to boost surveillance and deter offenders. A Community Safety Audit is scheduled for later this month in the Tweed Heads CBD and Jack Evans Boat Harbour, where police, council staff, and community representatives will assess areas of concern to enhance public safety.

Council has also created a dedicated graffiti team to address issues promptly. Offensive graffiti on Council-owned assets will be removed immediately, while non-offensive graffiti will be tackled as part of scheduled maintenance.

Residents are encouraged to report graffiti through Council’s online portal at tweed.nsw.gov.au/report-graffiti or by calling 02 6670 2400.

Council worker Jethro Todd pressure cleaning the new barbecue seating area at Jack Evans Boat Harbour after it was defaced by graffiti vandalism. Jethro is part of Council’s new graffiti crack team whose aim is to clean offensive graffiti as soon as possible.

Reporting Graffiti on Private Property and Other Assets

While Council does not remove graffiti from private properties or non-Council assets, residents can report vandalism to relevant authorities.

Such as:

• Essential Energy (power boxes/poles): 13 23 91
• Telstra (equipment): 13 22 03
• Transport for NSW (signs): 1800 707 125
• NBN (internet nodes/equipment): 1800 687 626

Graffiti on private property should also be reported to local police at 131 444.

Enhanced Emergency Response via BluLink

If you witness graffiti in progress, contact police immediately by dialling Triple Zero (000). The BluLink platform allows residents to share live information with police through GPS, video streaming, and digital uploads, helping authorities respond more effectively.

For more details on the BluLink platform, visit the Tweed Shire Council website.

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