A Broadmeadows wall that is regularly targeted by vandals will be transformed by local youths.
The wall on the corner of Freda and Widford streets is part of the Olsen Place shopping centre.
Since it was built in 2013, it has been subjected to defamatory symbols and illegal tagging.
In a bid to improve the amenity of the area, Hume council, together with the Australia Light Foundation, Hume Valley School and sustainability group, HumeUs, will create a mural and vertical garden featuring 300 plants on the wall.
Young people aged between 14 and 24 helped design the mural.
Mayor Helen Patsikatheodorou said the vandalism was costly to remove and had made residents feel unsafe.
“The mural and vertical garden will make it harder for vandals to etch their tags and the display shall be well-lit at night, thanks to globes which are powered by solar energy,” Cr Patsikatheodorou said.
“This is a positive initiative that aims to discourage youth from vandalism and beautify a part of Broadmeadows.”
As part of the project, the council held workshops with local youths to demonstrate the impact of graffiti on the community.
The project has been funded by a $24,800 state government grant.
The mural and garden will be officially opened on Saturday, June 4 at 10am.
