Alexandrina Council chief executive Nigel Morris has posted an open letter to vandals and challenged them to "man up" and have the courage to come and have a "robust" discussion with him.
Key points:
- Nigel Morris is challenging vandals to come forward with their complaints
- Hills Fleurieu Police have been investigating a spate of graffiti attacks across Goolwa
- The attacks have "ramped up" in the past nine months
It comes after a spate of graffiti attacks across Goolwa, Middleton and Port Elliot.
In the latest attack the phrase "f*** the council" was painted several times across walls, a toilet and a urinal in a toilet block at the Goolwa Railway Station.
Mr Morris told ABC Radio Adelaide's Jules Schiller that abuse of the council had been spray painted in various places.
"They've been trying to tell council that they're extremely unhappy but I'm just saying don't write it, but just come and talk to me," Mr Morris said.
He said the graffiti attacks had "really ramped up" over the past nine months and were particularly bad during school holidays.
Costly exercise
He said the Goolwa skate park, a local school, gallery and toilets and playgrounds and reserves had been targeted.
"Maybe it's due to boredom but I'm just over it and I'm just going to try and do anything to make it stop," Mr Morris said.
"Maybe they're saying 'stop cleaning up our ugly tags', but I'm saying 'no'."
Mr Morris said the council had spent about $100,000 in the past 12 months on graffiti removal.
South Australia Police have identified some offenders with the use of CCTV, but the problem has continued.
Mr Morris said by posting the letter he hoped the vandals would at least stop and think that the people they were hurting were the ratepayers, the volunteers cleaning up the mess and affected businesses.