Developers of construction sites in prominent areas could be required to cover their hoardings with street art under a plan almost certain to be endorsed by Newcastle council.
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Labor councillors have raised the plan in a notice of motion for tonight's council meeting, which asks council to investigate the feasibility of initiating a Newcastle Creative Hoardings Program - a street art idea already being run successfully in Sydney.
The plan is aimed at deterring illegal graffiti, which has been a topic of contention in recent weeks after former lord mayor Jeff McCloy organised a cleanup on February 19 to black out the markings.
Mr McCloy's drive included the old Newcastle post office, but graffiti soon reappeared on the site boundary. The Labor notice of motion noted graffiti concerns had been raised regarding this site.
Sydney council launched a Creative Hoardings Program several years ago "in response to community demand or more street art to enliven the streets of Sydney and bring creative into the everyday".
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If the program goes ahead in Newcastle, developers of construction sites in high visibility areas would be required to cover their hoardings with street art concepts designed by local artists where possible.
The motion is sure to be approved given Labor's majority on council.
Labor deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the motion had a dual purpose of better using construction boundary panels to display public art and decreasing graffiti across the city.
He said given the substantial amount of construction activity in the inner city there was an "especially large amount of hoarding" in prominent locations.
The Herald reported in November that private property owners could now apply to have graffiti removed from their premises by young offenders as part of a 12 month trial.
Previously, the young offenders program was restricted to council assets, but was expanded in January to include home and business owners.
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Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
