The state government is trialling new technology to curb graffiti on roadsides, with new panels set to be retrofitted to noise barriers and retaining walls across Melbourne’s north and west to reduce time spent on graffiti clean-up and removal.
Planning is still underway for the installation of the anti-graffiti panels which are set to be installed in areas experiencing high levels of graffiti, including on retaining walls and abutments in Tarneit, Sunshine North, Truganina, Tottenham, Maribyrnong and noise walls along the M80 in Bundoora.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, said the new technology “will help reduce unsightly graffiti in our neighborhoods by deterring vandals.”
“We hope this trial will reduce cleanup and removal of tags and graffiti by reducing the attractiveness of traditional surfaces,” she said.
Each square metre anti-graffiti panel features a complex network of shapes and channels that renders graffiti unreadable, The panels blend into existing structures and use recycled plastic waste to form what is known as a TagShield panel.
The technology will repurpose diverted plastic waste from landfill and give containers, bottles and other recyclables a second lease of life.
50 panels will be installed as part of the trial which is scheduled to run for 12 months.
