The Eastern Freeway Graffiti: A Reflection of Urban Neglect

Graffiti has become an inescapable part of the landscape for commuters on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway. Four weeks ago a prominent sign on a major sign was defaced and as of now, the graffiti remains, an eyesore still unresolved and proof of the city’s inability to manage vandalism.

A Persistent Problem

Graffiti along the Eastern Freeway is not new and even if the problem has been fought, the efforts have failed. In April 2023 the Victorian Government proudly announced a blitz to remove more than 100,000 square metres of graffiti from Melbourne’s roadsides. Among this initiative, this maintenance initiative targeted major routes such as the Eastern Freeway. The announcement was hailed as an improvement for Melbourne’s urban environment at the time.

But the picture on the ground is very different. The promise of cleaner streets and graffiti free zones still is not done, thousands of daily commuters still seen the sign on the Eastern Freeway.

From Broken Promises to Frustration

Residents and drivers have grown increasingly frustrated with the government’s inability to achieve permanent results. One frequent commuter said: “It’s one thing to clean it up, but it feels like the graffiti just comes back in days.” What’s the point?”

Removing graffiti is the problem, but it’s not the only problem, because graffiti needs to stay off of the trains forever. Vandalism takes its toll on a place and prolonged exposure leads to more and more defacement and a general decline in the area’s appearance. The state of the Eastern Freeway is symbolic of bigger problems with addressing vandalism.

Some examples of Graffitis made in Melbourne during last month.

Policy vs. Practice

Graffiti is controlled in the City of Melbourne through policies which distinguish between illegal defacement and permitted street art. Graffiti appears to be regarded as a problem that property owners should be encouraged to remove promptly and even sometimes property owners are issued with notices requiring them to remove graffiti. The city provides support for graffiti removal from private property that can be accessed from a public place.

But these policies are usually seeming reactive instead of proactive. It’s also true that private property owners have some responsibility but the big issues on public infrastructure such as the Eastern Freeway, are squarely the government’s responsibility.

A Call for Accountability

Graffiti is Melbourne’s visual nuisance but it’s also a barometer of the city’s ability to look after its public spaces. Victorian Government’s promises to clean up Melbourne roads were a step in the right direction but they didn’t follow through. If the city does not make sustained efforts and innovates to prevent graffiti from becoming part of its urban identity, the city will allow graffiti to become a defining feature of its urban identity.

As the defaced sign on the Eastern Freeway continues to mock the government’s earlier proclamations, one can’t help but wonder: Has Melbourne given up on fighting graffiti, or is it losing the fight?

Melbourne Graffiti Woes, Solved.

Reclaiming Melbourne’s public spaces is what we believe at GraffitiGoneNow. Fast, effective and environmentally friendly, our professional graffiti removal services remove the evidence of vandals, restoring your defaced surfaces to their original state. While it’s not as effective as a temporary fix, we deal with long term prevention and prevention of repeat vandalism by protective coating and innovative strategies.

GraffitiGoneNow is here to help whether it’s a defaced sign on the Eastern Freeway or graffiti in your local neighbourhood. Together, let’s make Melbourne’s streets a reflection of Melbourne’s vibrant culture not a canvas for unwelcome graffiti.