Progress On Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill
Trevor
Mallard
Hutt South MP
01 March 2012
Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard
is pleased that legislation giving the Hutt City Council the
power to remove graffiti on private property has been
referred to a select committee for further debate.
The Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill, sponsored by Trevor Mallard, received unanimous support from MPs during its First Reading in Parliament last night.
The Bill seeks to empower the Hutt City Council to remove graffiti that is on private property and is visible from a public place.
“Graffiti is a major problem in the Hutt and a recent graffiti vandalism audit has shown that it is on a par with other audited urban areas in New Zealand, like the Auckland railway corridors and the Wellington CBD.
“Giving the Hutt City Council the power to remove graffiti from private property will make a huge difference to on-going maintenance issues associated with graffiti around the wider Hutt area.
“The Bill allows Hutt City Council staff to enter private property to remove graffiti marks after serving a notice on the owner at least ten days prior and subject to agreement from the owner.
“While the Summary Offences Act 1981 does provide legal grounds to deter an offender and control graffiti sources and effects, it does not give the Hutt City Council the power to clean graffiti marks that are on private property and that are visible from a public place. Having the power to clean graffiti marks on private property is considered essential in Lower Hutt.
“Labour is committed to continuing to make the Hutt a great place to live and I am pleased to be able to promote this Bill in Parliament,” said Trevor Mallard.
ENDS