Graffiti Removal Day is a grassroots campaign, established by the state government, aimed at getting the community involved in the fight against graffiti.

The 2015 event, to be held on October 18, was launched by Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice and Police Troy Grant, Attorney General Gabrielle Upton and Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward on Friday.

Mr Ward said the community was fed up with graffiti tags ‘‘staining’’ homes, businesses and public areas and Graffiti Removal Day was an opportunity to get involved in the clean-up and ‘‘send vandals a message’’. 

‘‘The only tag we want to see is the hashtag #rolluptorollout that will be all over social media as we encourage a record number of volunteers to join the graffiti clean-up,’’ Mr Ward, who is also Member for Kiama, said.

“Graffiti costs over $100 million each year to clean up in NSW alone and that’s money far better spent on improving services for the community.’’

Last year about 2000 volunteers removed 21,000 square metres of graffiti from about 275 sites across the state, saving the government and private property owners an estimated $1.5 million.

Graffiti Removal Day is a joint initiative between the government and Rotary Down Under.

To volunteer or nominate a clean-up site, visit graffitiremovalday.org.au. 

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra, and Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward supports the launch of Graffiti Removal Day, which will be held on October 18.