Graffiti tops complaints list

Complaints to the City in the past 12 months focussed on noise and graffiti.

There were 342 noise complaints in 2012, 71 more than in 2011 but there were 1680 incidents of graffiti.

Out of the 342 complaints, 16 noise infringements were issued. There were only five noise infringements in 2011.

Dog barking complaints were dealt with separately.

Battles over fences topped the list in Swan, with 140 complaints made, followed by trees (57), behaviour (51), property (23) and noise (12).

In Swan, 97 residents made complaints about behaviour, 36 about fence disputes, 27 about trees, 20 about noise and 19 people made calls about property.

The City of Swan removes graffiti vandalism on city property and where it fronts on to city property.

But City of Swan acting chief executive Mark Bishop said where the graffiti is on private residences or commercial property, it is the responsibility of the owner to arrange for the removal.

Mr Bishop said city staff actively patrol known graffiti hot spots to work towards a city free of graffiti vandalism. He said staff respond to reports of graffiti made by members of the public.

He said staff also worked with police on graffiti.

Mr Bishop said the shire dealt with an average of 168 graffiti incidents each month.

South Guildford ABC real estate owner Dennis Mercuri said he was worried about the presence of graffiti on the wall next to his business.

‘It has been there for a few months and I have made numerous complaints about it,’ he said. ‘But no one has come down to remove it.’

Report all incidents of graffiti to Goodbye Graffiti on 1800 44 22 55 or email goodbyegraffiti.wa.gov.au