Frankston, Victoria — Frankston City Council has strongly condemned the defacement of new play equipment at Kareela Reserve, after political propaganda stickers were found plastered across the site.
Mayor Kris Bolam said Council was alerted to the incident on Thursday afternoon and crews removed the stickers early Friday morning. Repairs were carried out immediately and the organisation responsible for the material was formally notified.
“Political messaging of this nature has no place in our parks, public spaces, and above all, our playspaces, where our children should be able to do just that – play,” Mayor Bolam said in a statement.
The Mayor stressed that vandalism not only undermines community safety but also places a financial burden on ratepayers, as resources must be diverted from other projects to cover clean-up and repair costs. Council confirmed it is pursuing enforcement under its Community Local Law 2020, the Graffiti Prevention Act 2007 and other relevant legislation.
The incident follows broader reports of vandalism across the municipality, including damage to trees, landscaping and other public infrastructure. Residents are being urged to remain vigilant and report damage or suspicious activity to Council via the Snap, Send, Solve app, or to Victoria Police in cases of criminal behaviour.
A petition has since been organised in response to the Kareela Reserve incident, with members of the Jewish community expressing concern about the targeting of public spaces with divisive messaging. While Council’s primary focus remains on protecting its facilities and upholding local laws, the matter has sparked wider discussion on community cohesion and respect in public spaces.
Mayor Bolam concluded with a call for unity:
“Frankston City is working hard to enhance its image, revitalise our public spaces, and create places that we can all be proud of. But we can’t do this alone. We need our community to stand with us, be vigilant, and help stop vandalism.”
You can read the Mayor’s full statement on the Frankston City Council website.
