The laneway between North Street and the Bridge Plaza car park in Batemans Bay formerly dubbed ‘the lane of shame’ was revamped thanks to local landowners and council.

Local motel owner Roy Syne dubbed the laneway the ‘lane of shame’ last year after he became fed up with its shabby condition, rubbish thrown over his fence, and constant vandalism.

After 13 years of campaigning to have the laneway which adjoins his motel upgraded, Mr Syne successfully saw work on the lane way begin in July.

The upgrade included a new fence on both sides, a new asphalt surface and gates at each end of the laneway to enable it to be locked outside of Bridge Plaza’s business hours.

The work cost $30,000 and was paid for by contributions from Mr Syne, the owners of Bridge Plaza and Eurobodalla Shire Council.

Mr Syne said he was happy with the outcome but was disappointed in vandals already putting graffiti in the lane way.

“It’s unfortunate but if we deal with it immediately they will give up,” he said.

“It needs to be off within hours so they don’t have their moment of fame.”

The idea of a mural being painted in the lane has been floated to stop the vandalism, however Mr Syne does not believe this is a great idea. 

“If you put a mural up it would close the laneway in and create and un-safe feeling for visitors,” Mr Syne said.

He said the problem was when the gates on either end of the laneway were locked.

“They don’t get locked until 10 at night,” Mr Syne said.

“The vandalism is done in the earlier hours of the evening at around 7pm; they aren’t going to do it at 10 when the gates are locked.

“They need to be locked earlier.”

Another suggestion from Mr Syne was to install false security cameras at either end of the laneway.

“That may be a deterrent,” he said.

For the moment, one of the motel staff will monitor the laneway and paint over any graffiti as soon as they see it.

“This time we will paint it out but I will discuss it with council,” Mr Syne said.