2019-10-08 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                8 OCTOBER 2019


The A –frame should be self-assessable and meet criteria relating to placement, size, safety and
stability.
Further consideration of the appropriateness of A-frame signs in specific locations should be
further considered through a future place making program.
Recommendation
It is recommended the draft local law be amended to:
     allow one (1) A-frame sandwich board as self-assessable per tenancy only on private
       land, with criteria relating to sign placement, size, safety and stability.
vii.   Tear drop flags
There were a number of pro-forma submissions that objected to the prohibition of tear drop flags
but very little commentary or grounds for objection from any particular industry.
Response to tear drop flags
Noosa Council have prohibited advertising devices that move or flutter including banners and
bunting for decades. The teardrop flag (including rectangle shaped flags) have emerged as a
temporary sign used throughout centres and particularly in the industrial areas. Whilst one is
allowed per tenancy in replacement of an A-frame some business have both and many industrial
sites have multiple flags creating a banner effect.
Tear drop flags are not considered consistent with the character of Noosa and are at a height
and movement to be quite visually obtrusive in the streetscape. The prohibition of tear drop flags
will contribute to reducing signage clutter and should continue in the draft local law.
Note: The use of tear drop flags for one off community events may be appropriate through an
event permit process.
Recommendation
No change to the draft local law is proposed in response to this issue.
viii. Real estate directional signs
A number of submissions and a petition objected to the proposed prohibition of real estate
directional signs stating the prohibition restricted competition and freedom to conduct business,
are a necessary part of the sales campaign and provide public information. Submitters indicated
current rules were adequate, suggested the proposal does not pass the public interest test and
impacts business.
Supporters stated there was no public interest in one industry group having free signage on
public land, they are an eyesore, create visual pollution, are no longer needed with GPS and
should be limited to within the property boundary.
Response
Prior to formal public notification a number of requests were made by real estate agents for the
prohibition of real estate directional signs indicating they created an untidy impression of Noosa,
are redundant, and serve only to promote agency profiles.
Real estate directional signs have become a significant and regular feature on weekends around
Noosa and particularly on intersections and corners where multiple agents place multiple signs.
Many of these signs are left for longer than the allowable time, sometimes for days.
The prohibition of real estate directional signs at intersections and corners a distance away from
the property will reduce signage clutter and improve residential amenity.
Notwithstanding this, one (1) single real estate directional sign located at the subject property
when open for inspection / auction and removed immediately after is considered acceptable
where meeting criteria regarding size, location and other restrictions.


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