General News
7 October, 2025
Tagging blight on city
BUSINESS owners say they are fed up with repeated graffiti attacks, urging authorities to consider stronger preventative measures.
Marlin (surname requested to be withheld), who runs a newsagency on Reservoir Road in Manoora, said his shopfront was targeted almost every weekend.
“We’ve been hit pretty hard multiple times on our little building here… every weekend I get here, I find new graffiti up,” he said. “I’m bloody cleaning it all the time and it’s a pain.”
Marlin said he had reported the problem to the police but has seen little action.
“Unfortunately, I understand there are bigger crimes to deal with, but it makes the area look run-down and cheap. It really downgrades businesses,” he said.
Philipe Conti of All Day Car Rentals said his business faced similar challenges.
“It all boils down to kids with too much time on their hands,” he said.
“They spray the walls and it keeps popping up. You paint over it and it’s back again.”
Colleague John (surname withheld) said that while designated mural walls and art programs could help, many taggers were not interested in art, they want to mark territory.
The push for preventative action comes as readers pointed out a proactive approach in Forster, New South Wales, where volunteer Ted Bickford has been working for more than 30 years to keep the MidCoast region graffiti-free.
He personally applies an anti-graffiti coating called ‘Safety Shield’ to signs, murals and shopfronts, allowing spray paint to be easily wiped off.
He covers a wide area across the Great Lakes and surrounding communities, responding to tip-offs from residents and local radio and even runs school programs to teach students safe graffiti removal techniques.
He has also written a book detailing his methods and experiences, which he uses as a guide for volunteers and community programs.
The Forster initiative has been credited with reducing clean-up costs and improving the appearance of public spaces, prompting Cairns’ business owners to question whether a similar program could be trialled locally.
A Cairns Regional Council spokeswoman said the council currently relied on graffiti removal sprays for clean-ups.
“In the past, we tested products that coat surfaces to make graffiti easier to remove, but maintaining those coatings ended up being more costly and time-consuming than our traditional methods.
“We share the community’s frustration with vandalism and the expense of repairs. Taggers are often seeking recognition, so when graffiti is removed quickly, it discourages repeat offences. Deterrents such as improved lighting and CitySafe patrols are already in place and we encourage businesses and residents to report property damage to Policelink.”
To report vandalism and damage to private property, contact the Queensland Police Cairns District Police Centre on 4030 7000 or Crimestoppers: 1800 333 000.
