Graffiti problem effects business says Alliance

BY MICK ROBERTS

Rubbish dumping and graffiti are impacting on business around Kings Cross and Surry Hills according to a local retailers’ group.
The Surry Hills Business Alliance says rotten rubbish left on the streets is attracting rats and the smell is impacting on restaurants.
Spokesman Brian Adams said street cleaning by the City of Sydney Council ‘generally isn’t well done’.
‘Also your graffiti is just appalling,’ Mr Adams told The City News.
‘This combination affects all businesses. Restaurants especially should be conscious of the smell from garbage and the attraction of rats. We have seen this occur in Kings Cross at night and in Surry Hills.’
He said Council should target graffiti vandals. ‘They are causing a real problem in Surry Hills. No one catches them and if any are caught nothing happens to them,’ he said.
‘They despoil property and turn streets and business fronts into a mess.’
A City of Sydney Council spokesperson said in recent months there has been a decline in illegal dumping.
‘Illegal rubbish dumping is a health and environmental hazard which the City of Sydney takes very seriously,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Where City rangers can identify those who illegally dump rubbish, they can and will issue fines or in extreme cases Court Attendance Notices.’
The fines vary from $60 for a cigarette butt, to $1500 for a commercial premises illegally transporting waste.
The spokesperson said that while Council pro-actively removes graffiti, law enforcement regarding graffiti and vandalism is dealt with by NSW Police, not City of Sydney rangers, under the Summary Offences Act.