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with Julian Leeser MP
Earlier this year some local residents and shop owners talked with me about the level of graffiti in Normanhurst . Like many of you , I have seen the amount of graffiti grow in our suburbs this year . On shop fronts , fences , in parks and community spaces , it was there and just like in Normanhurst , graffiti right across our area is a problem that has been overlooked .
For shop owners and local small businesses , the presence of graffiti gives an impression of the area being run down or neglected and that doesn ’ t help attract new or return business . On
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people ’ s fences and in community spaces the graffiti made it feel like our area was unsafe or not the great place to live that it actually is .
Something had to be done . I began looking into the problem and devising a solution .
After speaking to local Police , Hornsby Shire Councillor Sallianne McClelland and Wahroonga MP Alister Henskens , I convened a meeting with community leaders to discuss how we tackle graffiti around our area . We developed a plan of attack and began to rally the troops .
I put out a call for volunteers and was overwhelmed with support from community organisations , local church
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groups , small businesses and families . We assembled our local graffiti-busting army and we prepared for battle .
What I didn ’ t realise until then was just how easy removing graffiti is once you have the right supplies and know what you ’ re doing … perhaps that ’ s why graffiti has been left so long and has only gotten worse across Berowra .
Roger Norman from Turramurra Rotary provided the expertise and know-how and trained over 30 volunteers to get the job done . Together we donned gloves and masks , and scrubbed and scraped . Volunteers from Hillcrest Uniting Church and St Agatha ’ s Pennant Hills joined local Rotarians along with families and friends
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from across the community and we got the job done .
Local businesses were also on hand to support the war on graffiti with Dulux , Southern Cleaning Supplies , Kennards Thornleigh , Inspirations Hornsby , Uni- Pro , Bunnings Thornleigh , R Hair 4 U , On Dough , Wooden Mill and Jo from Well Versed Homes all providing supplies and sustenance .
We started in Normanhurst and Thornleigh but I know this is a problem across the electorate .
If you look around and notice a part of the area that may need a little TLC , please get in touch and let me know so that I can continue to fight for our community .
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