2019-10-08 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               8 OCTOBER 2019


A prescriptive approach is preferred over a performance based or flexible approach to ensure
signage requirements are clear and there is consistent application of the requirements.
Regulation provides the means to address compliance issues and keep signage compliant.
Council needs a form of regulation for signage and has decided that it will occur via a local law
not the planning scheme.
Recommendation
No change to the draft local law is proposed in response to this issue.
ii.    Community / Business impacts
A significant number of submissions raised concerns regarding the perceived negative impact the
draft local law will have on business, stating it is anti-competitive, anti-business, provides no
economic benefit and inhibits businesses.
Other submissions in support of the draft local law indicated a need to think of the community as
a whole and not just business needs, supporting Noosa’s approach to signage which makes it
different from other areas outside of Noosa.
Response
Signage is a community wide issue and impacts both businesses and residents. Concerns from
both business operators and residents are noted. Individual recommended changes to the draft
local law outlined in this report respond to these concerns as a whole.
It should be noted the draft local law does not change the ability for businesses to continue to
erect signage and advertise their business. There is no reduction to the current permanent
signage allowances of 10sqm for businesses or individual signage allowances of up to 4sqm. A
level playing field for signage requirements provides a fair approach across all businesses and
locations.
There are long term economic benefits to the whole community, including businesses, by
maintaining Noosa’s character and its point of difference through strong signage regulation.
Recommendation
The specific changes recommended individually in this report collectively respond to issues
around community / business impacts.
iii.   One Size fits all / blanket approach
Some submissions raised concerns with the one size fits all approach to signage requirements,
regardless of location or type of business, suggesting a need to work in precincts with
businesses to establish local based signage requirements.
Other submissions supported signage requirements being consistent across Noosa indicating a
need to value and protect all areas equally.
Response
A single Shire Wide approach to signage ensures all locations are equally valued and there is a
fair and consistent set of requirements regarding signage for all businesses.
Notwithstanding this, there may be place based characteristics that warrant a different approach
that could be considered further in a future place making program.
Recommendation
No change to the draft local law is required in response to this issue.
Consider signage as part of a future place making program to determine whether local
characteristics warrant a local response to signage. Future amendments can be made to the
local law at such time if required.



                                                                                  Page 39 of 48