General News
22 August, 2026
Graffiti concerns continue
FOR more than four years Lisette Mill has been pushing for the removal of “unsightly” graffiti from undeath the Panmure bridge.
The pedestrian path that winds under the bridge, leading visitors from the nearby car park to the town’s popular swimming hole and diving board, also takes visitors past an array of graffiti.
Lisette is concerned this can leave a lasting, unfavourable impression of the town in the minds of visitors.
“People should be talking about how great our town is, particularly in the summer when hordes of people come down to swim in the river and jump off the diving board,” she said.
“But instead their walk takes them past all this graffiti.
“There has been extensive work completed under the bridge over the past 12 months or so yet nothing has been done to remove all this graffiti. Surely the department responsible can afford some concrete paint to cover this up?”
Lisette said she had continued to raise the issue with the Department of Transport and Planning since 2022 with no resolution.
She also expressed her concerns with Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora on several occasions.
“Jacinta did forward the issues I had raised to the department but was told these matters were not within the footprint of bridge works which were undertaken last year and, more recently, earlier this year,” Lisette said.
“But given those works, which were focused on further stabilising the bridge from underneath, occurred right where the graffiti is, surely they could have covered the graffiti at the same time? Is paint really that expensive?
“If someone went to Bunnings and bought the paint I’d do the work myself.”
According to staff at Ms Ermacora’s office, the local member has been “very happy” to have ongoing discussions with Lisette in the past about this issue, and while she understands and appreciates Lisette’s concerns, graffiti is not within the score of bridgeworks funding.
“The advice provided by the Department of Transport and Planning is that when undertaking major works, the department does not prioritise maintenance (such as graffiti) outside the location in which the upgrade is taking place.”
According to Moyne Shire mayor Cr Jordan Lockett, the bridge over Mt Emu Creek at Panmure is a state-managed public asset.
“The Department of Transport and Planning undertook works on the bridge during the past 12 months through a $2.49 million investment in reinforcing the bridge structures,” Cr Lockett said.
“Any issues relating to the bridge are the responsibility of the relevant state body.
“Concerns about the bridge structure or road surface are the responsibility of DPT and in the case of graffiti, Victoria Police is the enforcement agency.”
