By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Graffiti tags are starting to linger for weeks on Sky Rail bridges in Noble Park.
Amongst the vandalism were the appropriately-named ‘RISK’ tags, daringly placed high on the Corrigan Road rail overpass and its pylons treated with anti-graffiti paint.
The most solid tag had been in place from at least 8 January.
Removal crews were seen taking down the last of the tags on 21 January.
Resident Gaye Guest said the crossing had been targeted by graffitists three times recently.
The first instance had been removed, while a second and third series of the “revolting and dangerous” tag remained for weeks.
Similar graffiti was also found on the SkyRail ramp near Sandown railway station and a nearby power box, Ms Guest said.
Many other instances had been spotted elsewhere on the elevated rail corridor, she said.
Greater Dandenong mayor Roz Blades said she was “not at all thrilled” by the vandalism – which had been a “big” community concern before Sky Rail was built.
The council and the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) are in ongoing talks on a future maintenance agreement on the Sky Rail open space and infrastructure.
Currently the open spaces are regarded as the “maintenance responsibility” of the “construction consortium”.
Greater Dandenong city planning director Jody Bosman said the council’s understanding was that graffiti-cleaning would remain the responsibility of the LXRA.
The LXRA states it aims to remove graffiti within a “few days” subject to safety and access requirements.
LXRA acting project director, Melissa Dobric said it would continue to “work with local stakeholders to ensure that the infrastructure we’ve built is suitably maintained, and to protect the area’s amenity.”
“For vandals to illegally trespass, deface property and pose a danger to themselves and others is incredibly disappointing.”
