Vandalism on the rise as school holidays begin
Published on 20 December 2022
Rockhampton residents have embraced the school holidays with families out and about enjoying events, activities, and facilities in the Rockhampton Region.
School holidays are meant to be an exciting and wonderful time of the year, but unfortunately, a spike in vandalism and graffiti is putting a dampener on the festivities.
Communities and Heritage Councillor Drew Wickerson said Council has already seen a significant increase in vandalism and graffiti across the region.
“We have such a beautiful and safe region many enjoy, especially during the school holidays,” Councillor Wickerson said.
“It's extremely disappointing to know there are a handful of offenders out there that cannot think of anything better to do than damage and deface facilities and public areas.
“Council works hard to rectify this damage as soon as we are aware.
“Sometimes the community cannot see how much damage has been done, as we endeavour to fix vandalism as quickly as possible.
“So these school holidays, we are asking for your help - if you see something, say something.
“If you see public areas or facilities that have been vandalised, give Council Customer Service a call and report the damage.
“People often think that the damage has already been reported, and in some cases that is true, however more often than not Council is unaware that an area has been vandalised.
“The sooner the community let us know, the sooner we can fix or repair the damage and make it safe.”
Parks, Sport and Public Spaces Councillor Cherie Rutherford said we really appreciate the community’s support and patience, and we know the majority of the public agrees that vandalism has no place in our community.
“It is a real shame to see these incidents occur, and we need to work together to put a stop to vandalism,” Cr Rutherford said.
“So if you see something, make sure you say something so we can keep our region beautiful together.
“Please report any damage to Rockhampton Regional Council at 4932 9000 or Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
“We encourage everyone to enjoy the holidays and everything our great region has to offer.
“Council has a range of activities, events and facilities open over the break so be sure to check out the Council's events page on the website to find out what is open and happening.”