Residents of Shoalhaven are being challenged to show off their green thumbs for this year's Graffiti Removal Day by planting trees in front of regularly vandalised locations.
Shoalhaven City Mayor Amanda Findley said preventing graffiti is the focus for this year's event on Sunday, 27 October.
"Graffiti vandalism costs our community $150,000 each year." Mayor Amanda Findley said.
"Since the event started in 2012 volunteers in NSW have removed more than 141,000sqm of graffiti, saving the community $10.4 million.
"This year, as well as removing graffiti we want to see unsolicited tags concealed by beautiful new trees and shrubs to hinder graffiti from occurring in the first place." Mayor Amanda Findley said.
Graffiti Removal Day organisers are always looking for creative ways to remove and prevent graffiti.
Planting trees in front of sites that are regularly covered in graffiti has been proven to be an effective way of deterring vandals and is also great for the environment.
Shoalhaven City Council and the local Air Force Cadets organised tree planting at Thurgate Oval earlier this year as part of Graffiti Removal Day and planted 42 new shrubs.
Graffiti Removal Day ambassador and football legend Mark Geyer OAM congratulated Shoalhaven City Council and Air Force Cadets and threw his support behind the event.
"Graffiti Removal Day is great way people can show they love where they live and it is great to see so many of our youth involved," he said.
"This year's focus on encouraging people to come up with fun ideas to prevent vandalism at regularly targeted sites is a great opportunity for community groups to display their creative flair while removing ugly graffiti."
"I would encourage everyone to get involved in this great community event." Said Mr Geyer
Up to 3000 volunteers from various groups including Rotary, Scouts NSW, Girl Guides NSW&ACT, Air Force Cadets, PCYC, NSW Police, Lions, church groups, high schools and 80 councils are expected to remove graffiti from over 600 sites across NSW on Sunday 27 October.
All material and equipment required for Graffiti Removal Day is supplied to volunteers for free by sponsors Dulux, NSW Government, Australian Rail Track Corporation and Southern Cleaning Supplies.
People can volunteer, suggest an idea or nominate a clean-up site by going to the website www.graffitiremovalday.org.au.
