2019-05-07 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       7 MAY 2019


C.   In accordance with Section 257 of the Act to delegate to the Chief Executive Officer its
     powers under section 38 of the Act and section 15 of the Local Government Regulation
     2012 to decide—
     i.     how the public interest test of the local law and subordinate local law outlined in the
            schedule contained in Attachment 3 is to be conducted; and
     ii.    the matters with which the public interest test report in relation to the local law and
            subordinate local law outlined in the schedule must deal; and
     iii.   the consultation process for the public interest test and how the process is to be used
            in the public interest test.



REPORT
The purpose of this report is to propose Administration (Amendment) Local Law (No.1) 2019 and
Administration and Other Subordinate Local Law (Amendment) Subordinate Local Law (No.1)
2019 for endorsement by Council for the purpose of state interest review, public consultation and
preparation of a public interest test plan.
1.   Background
Council’s planning policy has always attempted to avoid “big city” symbols such as large and
excessive advertising signs to maintain the character, “look and feel” and amenity of Noosa
Shire.
Despite this, there has been a noticeable increase in advertising signs throughout Noosa Shire, a
result of new development, the proliferation of temporary signs and compliance issues.
Currently, the erection of a permanent advertising device is regulated by The Noosa Plan which
identifies advertising devices that are permitted as self-assessable where meeting requirements
and advertising devices that are inconsistent with the plan. Where advertising devices do not
comply with requirements a code assessment application is required at a cost of $920 per sign.
The erection of a temporary advertising device is currently controlled through the self-assessable
provisions of Schedule 10 of Subordinate Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2015. Prohibited
advertising devices are identified in Schedule 1 of Subordinate Local Law No. 4 (Local
Government Controlled Areas Facilities and Roads) 2015.
During the development of the draft New Noosa Plan, it was determined by Council that the
outcomes sought for both permanent and temporary advertising devices were better achieved
through a more prescriptive local law approach, rather than the planning scheme which is
performance based and that regulating advertising through a local law consolidates the
requirements in one place rather than across a local law and planning scheme as is currently the
situation.
In deciding to move to regulating advertising signage via a local law Council also considered the
benefits of the former Control of Advertising Local Law No.16 (prior to The Noosa Plan) which
required sign registrations and annual registration payments.
A review of all advertising sign provisions has now been undertaken and new local law provisions
prepared to achieve the following key objectives:
 avoid big city symbols such as large and loud signage;
 reduce the visual clutter of advertising signs and negative impacts on the streetscape
   character, particularly along gateways, entry points and main streets;
 enforce compliance with advertising sign requirements;
 review and strengthen existing advertising sign requirements; and
 introduce a new regulatory framework to achieve the above objectives.

                                                                                    Page 20 of 63