The billboard on Elizabeth Drive was covered with homophobic slurs. Photo: Supplied.
An unknown person has erased the offensive graffiti that was on a prominent billboard opposite Wagga Airport.
Forest Hill residents and members of the LGBTIQ+ community had been upset over the graffiti on the sign that greets visitors to the city, which had been added to in recent days.
For more than two years the billboard had the word “fag” painted on it and despite the offensive language, the billboard was left untouched by Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC), Riverina Police and the owner of the property.
Region reported the issue in June 2025 and again in April 2026, on both occasions asking WWCC why it was not covered, to which it responded that it was private land and therefore not WWCC’s responsibility.
7News ran a story late last week, asking similar questions, posting the story on Friday night. The following morning, the billboard was covered with even more aggressive slurs, using the f*** word directed at homosexuals.
Forest Hill Neighbourhood Network president John Deuis said he was disappointed by the timing of the news post on a Friday night, and the lack of intervention from WWCC was another example of how Forest Hill had been forgotten.
“Don’t release the news article on Friday afternoon when all the boys get on the piss,” he said.
“It’s just such a shame that that sign was never fixed. Wagga City Council doesn’t seem too interested in Forest Hill whatsoever, and I don’t know how public servants flew past that sign, going to the airport day in, day out, for years and years, and never thought to fix it.
“We’ve had prime ministers fly past that sign, we’ve had generals from defence, we’ve had the Governor-General turned up the last year or so. It’s 10 metres off the road, it’s right in front of our main airport, and it just seems to me that Wagga City Council, they’ve lost that professionalism they used to have back in the day.”
Less than a day after the billboard was graffitied, an unknown member of the Wagga public went out of their way to clean it up.
Residents said they wouldn’t be shocked if it was covered again. Photo: Leigh Swansborough.
Local advocate and lesbian woman Leigh Swansborough said the latest graffiti stemmed from the lack of initiative over the past two years to cover the original graffiti.
“I knew as soon as that story was released (on Friday), we would have an escalation, because that’s usually what happens. I’d only hoped that the council could have back channelled with the owner and had this taken care of a few years ago, but here we are,” she said.
“I’m grateful that someone from the community cares enough to do something for our community. I’m very appreciative, but I am disappointed in the council’s reaction to this; it should have been solved two years ago.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be shocked if it’s covered again soon in the coming days.”
When asked about the sign last year, WWCC said the sign was not its responsibility and the community should report any signs of graffiti on public property via its customer service desk and in the case of private property, to report it to police.
“Anyone can report acts of graffiti vandalism against public assets, community facilities, or private property,” a council spokesperson said.
“The NSW Graffiti Hotline (free call 1800 707 125) operates from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
“Graffiti can also be reported online through the NSW Police Force Community Portal.
“Wagga Wagga City Council encourages members of the public to report graffiti and vandalism of council property. This can be done through our customer service desk by calling 1300 292 442 or via our Request it. Report it. form.”
