Taking a leaf out of neighbouring Newcastle’s book, Lake Macquarie is also fighting back against unsightly graffiti.

Following recent reports in the steel city highlighting ongoing tagging across public spaces, Toronto CBD continues to grapple with the same issue.

It particularly remains a concern in the Westlake Macquarie corridor, with residents and businesses reporting regular tagging along key town centre sites.

Community volunteers have also spent weekends cleaning and repainting affected areas to maintain the precinct.

In response, a new Aboriginal public art mural has been installed along the side of Simply Pharmacy Toronto, aiming to deter vandalism and strengthen the community’s identity.

The Lake and Land Mural is a collaboration between Simply Pharmacy owner Sam Zoghbi, the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group and local artists Maree Simon Les Ahoy, Jason Mackenzie and Lacey Simon.

Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhoods’ Joanne Rees said the project was designed specifically because of the graffiti.

“The aim of the Aboriginal Public Art Mural was to address the challenges of the reoccurrence of graffiti vandalism,” she explained.

“To provide the property owner of Simply Pharmacy with a strategy that focused on the prevention of graffiti on their property.”

She said the initiative aligned with the NSW Graffiti Prevention Strategy, which promotes urban beautification as a long-term prevention tool.

The mural features symbolic artwork representing the Awabakal people, including soaring eagles, while turtles reflect endurance, resilience and the wellbeing of the land and lake.

Ms Rees said the project was about broader community impact, too.

“To bring positive, measurable change to our local town centre, with the focus on social cohesion, unity, respect and pride,” she added.

“The art mural is a powerful medium and where art such as this was created collaboratively in the spirit of community, to represent the story of families and businesses creating and building shared connections to place.”

She said displaying public spaces through art contributes to wider wellbeing outcomes.

“Working together towards the health and wellbeing of all its members minimising disparities and fostering resilience.”

Community members hope the mural will help shift behaviour in the area by generating a greater respect for shared spaces, while also celebrating local culture and connection to Country.

For more community stories:

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• Meet the man swimming 5km in Newcastle’s fountains
• Dobell Festival returns bigger and better in 2026… with something for everyone

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