The graffiti and tagging that litters Little Bridge Street is ruining the entrance to Ballarat, according to local traders.
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City of Ballarat community safety committee chair Des Hudson said the graffiti and tagging was something the council was constantly having to deal with and clean up.
“It has no place in our city,” Cr Hudson said.
“It is just causing destruction meaning business owners are constantly having to repaint.”
Local business owner John O’Neill’s shop has been one of the victim of the graffiti artists.
“Some street art is really good, but this isn’t,” he said.
“It is one of the main entrances to the city and it is frustrating that this is what we have when tourists come into the city.”
Mr O’Neill said a lot of money had been spent on the Bakery Hill area to create an inviting entrance to the city.
“People often say that first impressions count for a lot,” he said.
“Anyone driving into the city would see that, starting at the top and working its way down.”
Assistant manager at another store in the area, Michael Emerson-Jones, agreed with Mr O’Neill and said the issue had become a serious problem.
He said there was a big difference between graffiti murals and the tagging, which has covered walls of many of the shops in the area.
“It is the main entrance to Ballarat for tourists and it is a massive problem for us,” he said.