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Melbourne's famous graffitied laneways are going green. Here's how greening permits could transform the city
In short: Melbourne City Council is expanding a program providing "greening permits" across the city's laneways What's next?
The program may grow from the four pilot laneways to include hundreds more
Birds chirping, an array of ferns, succulents and creepers, intertwined with sticker and graffiti art and the scent of daphne blossoms mixed with coffee: Welcome to Guildford Lane, a vision of what could be in dozens of Melbourne's famous laneways. .................
"It's a breath of fresh air. It's a haven," said 22-year-long resident Katherine McPherson..................
Melbourne is famous for its gritty, bustling, rebellious laneways..................
Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane and Duckboard Place draw in millions of tourists every year, with an ever-changing rainbow of flashy and gritty street art.
But there are some 1,700 laneways in the City of Melbourne and Ms McPherson, who like millions of others lives and works in the city, says life in a laneway can be "intense"..................
"It's hectic," she said..................
"We've seen the change from deserted lane, really full of motorcycle maintenance shops … there were no cafes at that time. It was residential and mixed industrial offices..................
"There were vacant sites, demolition. It got really, really, intense … and we moved out for a short period of time."
But she said now, the laneway life was "delightful"..................
"It's like night and day," she said with coffee cup in one hand and watering can in the other..................
Five years ago, the City of Melbourne started a pilot program with residents and businesses to green four laneways: Coromandel Place, Guildford Lane, Katherine Place and Meyers Place. .................
It has cost more than $2 million and Lord Mayor Sally Capp said it was being expanded with the council rolling out a "greening permit" system to beautify potentially hundreds more..................
"There are just so many benefits to this green oasis," she said, standing in Guildford Lane..................
"It adds very much to individual health, community health, it's an incredible attraction and the broader benefits are that these greener laneways help us reduce heat island effect in the city and help us manage extreme weather effects, in particular storms..................
"We see here what's possible and we want to see more of that.".................
Greening permits enable planning for the future
A greening permit allows interested residents and businesses to plant an array of flora in their street, with council guidance and support..................
Darren Morgan moved from Mount Eliza to a CBD laneway a few years ago..................
"A big culture shock. No green, no bird life, no open space around the area," he said..................
"It was quite empty. Rubbish was getting dumped here regularly.".................
That was despite his laneway being just metres from landmark and historic sites, like Caretaker's Cottage and the State Library.
He and his Davison Place neighbours were the first to get a greening permit..................
Hanging pot plants now dot the street..................
From little things, big things grow..................
"It's still young. All natives, well predominantly natives. We wanted that to attract birds and we're starting to get lorikeets and we've got a resident currawong," he said with smile. .................
The council estimates its laneways equate to about 70 hectares of horizontal floor space for plant life but, counting walls, there are 150 hectares that can be used for greenery..................
Cafe/cocktail bar Loop Roof in the CBD has a large hanging wall garden and its co-founder Adam Bunny said it attracts a different kind of green.
"It's a real green splash and beacon," he said admiring it from street level..................
"People get drawn along into the laneway and the beauty of that is they further explore what's in it and end up in our venue and other venues.
"It was pretty rough and ready when we first set up here 20 years ago. .................
"This vertical garden, this green wall, extends from the rooftop to the street level and, aesthetically, it's quite stunning.".................
But while there are big environmental and economic benefits, could it drastically alter the city, which is home to an active graffiti art scene?
Banksys or banksias. What about art? .................
Melbourne's vibrant street art scene is not just colourful. It adds millions of dollars to the economy. .................
But the unregulated nature of it is the key, and development in laneways has gone awry in the past..................
Rare Banksy stencils were destroyed in AC/DC Lane in 2016..................
Councillor Capp said the council was not choosing greenery over graffiti but wanted laneways to evolve to offer unique experiences.
"Street art is the most dynamic form of modern art," she said..................
"But greening our laneways is about enhancing those experiences, to add life, literally, and health for everyone. It can work together to expand and increase our reputation for our special laneways." .................
Guildford Lane attracts a few tourists too, happily taking photos of the ferns and succulents that, on closer inspection, coexist with stickers and spray-painted murals and messages. .................
Ms McPherson said she did not want the vibrant spirit of the city to change..................
"I love the city because of the vitality and unexpected nature of the city. The culture, the sport, everything that is quintessentially Melbourne.
"But for me, it's not about the plants anymore. It's about the people..................
"The meeting, the connections, the learning. It's about meeting people in the lane and it's become a creative space for us."
"There are just so many benefits to this green oasis," she said, standing in Guildford Lane..................
"It adds very much to individual health, community health, it's an incredible attraction and the broader benefits are that these greener laneways help us reduce heat island effect in the city and help us manage extreme weather effects, in particular storms..................
"We see here what's possible and we want to see more of that." .................
Melbourne's vibrant street art scene is not just colourful. It adds millions of dollars to the economy. ..................
"But for me, it's not about the plants anymore. It's about the people.
Rabbi Yochanan Gordon from Chabad of Tasmania is calling on Launceston Council to urgently clean up swastikas graffitied in the Youngtown underpass on Hobart Road.
Rabbi Gordon said that "as a descendant of Holocaust victims," he was "appalled" to discover that his son had encountered several Nazi symbols in the underpass while walking the Launceston Urban Fringe Trail in May.
The Rabbi said his son "kept this distressing incident to himself" and that it wasn't until The Examiner reported on a spate of anti-semitic and white-supremacist graffiti in Longford that his son's walking partner mentioned it to him towards the end of May.
Rabbi Gordon said that he reported the incident to the council and received an email confirming the graffiti removal the following day. In June, a month later, he said he rechecked the area.
"To my horror, the symbols of hate were still present. I immediately responded to the original email and contacted a council member to ensure prompt action. A worker was dispatched the next day and painted over two of the five swastikas."
"Unfortunately, the underlying symbols were still visible beneath the layer of paint. I contacted the council member again, and the workers returned to apply another coat of paint, reducing the visibility of the symbols. Nonetheless, the other swastikas remain."
The City of Launceston mayor Mayor Matthew Garwood says the council prioritises the immediate removal of hate speech and offensive imagery from its infrastructure.
Cr Garwood said the council responded to a report of several graffiti swastikas in the area in late May.
"Our cleansing team immediately removed all of the symbols it found, and again, in late June, the crews revisited the site to undertake further removal works," he said.
"The Council has returned to the site again on Friday, July 21, to attempt to locate any further alleged symbols.
"The City of Launceston has always - and will continue - to prioritise the immediate removal of hate speech and offensive imagery from its infrastructure."
Two swastikas currently remain visible in the Youngtown underpass.
Tasmania, like other states, has moved towards banning the Nazi symbol. The law came into force in June this year, prohibiting the display of the swastika (with certain exemptions) and the Nazi salute.
"Another month has passed, during which displaying these symbols has become illegal," Rabbi Gordon said.
"However, the Jewish community finds itself without proper recourse, as the council workers seem oblivious to the gravity of these hate symbols and are not treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
Launceston should be a place where all individuals feel safe and free to roam without fear. It is disheartening that individuals filled with hatred can deface our city with these symbols, and the council fails to address the issue with the necessary urgency and understanding."
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the acts were "not just vandalism by depraved and cowardly individuals" but a "frontal assault on all of us and core values of the people of Launceston."
"Imagine how upset a Holocaust survivor would be when confronted with this emblem of extermination which they probably thought they would never see in their own lifetime."
Longford was struck with a series of swastikas, anti-semitic and white supremacist vandalism over several months this year, with much of it occurring near the Longford Legends Walk.
At the time, Rabbi Gordon said that he had seen similar vandalism in Launceston and the community had been cleaning it themselves or getting the local council involved.
Cr Garwood said the Council "values reports of this nature being made to us."
"We encourage people to include location information and photographs to help our crews locate any and all offending graffiti.
This can be done as easily as through the free Snap, Send Solve App which allows people to make complete and accurate reports to the Council including geolocation data and images."
IN THE EXAMINER
Rabbi Yochanan Gordon from Chabad of Tasmania is calling on Launceston Council to urgently clean up swastikas graffitied in the Youngtown underpass on Hobart Road.
Rabbi Gordon said that "as a descendant of Holocaust victims," he was "appalled" to discover that his son had encountered several Nazi symbols in the underpass while walking the Launceston Urban Fringe Trail in May.
The Rabbi said his son "kept this distressing incident to himself" and that it wasn't until The Examiner reported on a spate of anti-semitic and white-supremacist graffiti in Longford that his son's walking partner mentioned it to him towards the end of May.
Rabbi Gordon said that he reported the incident to the council and received an email confirming the graffiti removal the following day. In June, a month later, he said he rechecked the area.
"To my horror, the symbols of hate were still present. I immediately responded to the original email and contacted a council member to ensure prompt action. A worker was dispatched the next day and painted over two of the five swastikas."
One of the swastikas in the underpass before it was covered up. Picture supplied.
The City of Launceston mayor Mayor Matthew Garwood says the council prioritises the immediate removal of hate speech and offensive imagery from its infrastructure.
Cr Garwood said the council responded to a report of several graffiti swastikas in the area in late May.
"Our cleansing team immediately removed all of the symbols it found, and again, in late June, the crews revisited the site to undertake further removal works," he said.
"The Council has returned to the site again on Friday, July 21, to attempt to locate any further alleged symbols.
"The City of Launceston has always - and will continue - to prioritise the immediate removal of hate speech and offensive imagery from its infrastructure."
Two swastikas currently remain visible in the Youngtown underpass.
Tasmania, like other states, has moved towards banning the Nazi symbol. The law came into force in June this year, prohibiting the display of the swastika (with certain exemptions) and the Nazi salute.
"Another month has passed, during which displaying these symbols has become illegal," Rabbi Gordon said.
"However, the Jewish community finds itself without proper recourse, as the council workers seem oblivious to the gravity of these hate symbols and are not treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
Launceston should be a place where all individuals feel safe and free to roam without fear. It is disheartening that individuals filled with hatred can deface our city with these symbols, and the council fails to address the issue with the necessary urgency and understanding."
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the acts were "not just vandalism by depraved and cowardly individuals" but a "frontal assault on all of us and core values of the people of Launceston."
Rabbi Yochanan Gordon with Northern Midlands Councillor Dick Adams near the Longford Legends Walk. Picture by Rod Thompson.
"Imagine how upset a Holocaust survivor would be when confronted with this emblem of extermination which they probably thought they would never see in their own lifetime."
Longford was struck with a series of swastikas, anti-semitic and white supremacist vandalism over several months this year, with much of it occurring near the Longford Legends Walk.
At the time, Rabbi Gordon said that he had seen similar vandalism in Launceston and the community had been cleaning it themselves or getting the local council involved.
Cr Garwood said the Council "values reports of this nature being made to us."
"We encourage people to include location information and photographs to help our crews locate any and all offending graffiti.
This can be done as easily as through the free Snap, Send Solve App which allows people to make complete and accurate reports to the Council including geolocation data and images."
COMMENT:
AND THIS ONE MUST TAKE A GUESS AT IS LAUNCESTON'S
PUNITIVE ANTI-GRAFFITI POLICY IN ACTION
“People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish
... but that's only if it's done properly.”
“Live as a villain, die as a hero”
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