Pint-sized partners for Council graffiti initiative

Hamilton City Council are tackling Melville Underpass' persistent vandalism with a roar thanks to some new pint-sized partners.

Melville Intermediate's Leo Club (the youth arm of the Lions Club) is newly formed and in their initial meeting students identified tagging in the Melville Underpass as their number one project to pursue. Help from Hamilton City Council has made that possible and the group now paints the area every Monday during their lunch break. Support is provided by Hamilton City Council in the form of paint and materials, as well as established Hamilton City Council graffiti removal crews monitoring the site through the following week and painting out any new graffiti that emerges in that time. 

The Melville Underpass is a major thoroughfare for students from Melville Primary, Melville Intermediate and Melville High School – the schools which flank the underpass. The area is continually tagged, with likely offenders being students from all three schools.

Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock says initiatives like this one directly target peers in that age group as well as importantly rewarding young people's community contributions.

"Having students painting the graffiti out themselves sends a clear message to taggers that their offending will not be tolerated by their peers.

"This is a fantastic project that supports Council's ongoing graffiti removal work in a very unique way - showing the willingness of young people to use their initiative, get behind the calls to stop graffiti by setting an example for their peers and proactively provide support to their community."