2019-05-07 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       7 MAY 2019


2.    Compliance audit
The current self-assessable approach to regulating advertising devices relies on businesses to
self-regulate and comply with sign requirements in The Noosa Plan and local laws. This has, in
some cases, lead to compliance issues, misinterpretation of requirements and proliferation of
advertising signs across the Shire.
To address and understand the issues around compliance, an advertising signs audit program
commenced in 2017. The audit found that most businesses (82%) were complying with sign
requirements. The proposed local law is focussing on the key issues identified by the audit and
recurring matters of non-compliance, including the following:
 temporary signs including A frame sandwich boards, tear drop flags and real-estate pointer
   signs cause significant visual clutter in the streetscape and are often not complying with
   current requirements of the local law;
 permanent signs that exceed individual and maximum sign-face area requirements are
   primarily wall and window signs;
 pylon, pole and freestanding signs are prominent on individual premises and within the
   streetscape;
 there is an increasing number of illuminated signs and often there is exceedance of the
   number allowed per tenancy; and
 a strong regulatory framework and ongoing compliance checks are key to reducing the
   proliferation of signage.
The audit is expected to be finalised by mid-2020 resulting in a comprehensive register and
compliance status of all advertising devices across the Shire. The register will identify those
businesses that comply with current requirements and those business are proposed to be issued
with an automatic approval under the proposed local law.
3.    Proposed local law framework
The proposed local law amendments (proposed local law) aim to reduce visual clutter caused by
excessive signage, address compliance issues identified by the audit and introduce a mechanism
for better assessment and ongoing compliance of advertising devices going forward.
Amendments to Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2015, Subordinate Local Law No.1
(Administration) 2015 and Subordinate Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas,
Facilities and Roads) 2015 are required to facilitate the new regulatory framework.
Current (and revised) advertising device provisions are now consolidated into Schedule 10 of
Subordinate Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2015, including an approvals process and annual
licence renewal system.
The proposed local law proposes to:
 allow the majority of sign types as self-assessable where they meet specific sign type criteria,
   general criteria and standard conditions;
 require approval for certain sign types that have an impact on the streetscape or where
   compliance has been a recurring issue. Sign types requiring approval must also meet specific
   sign type criteria, general criteria and standard conditions;
 prohibit sign types inconsistent with the character of Noosa, including sign types that exceed
   the individual or total sign face area requirements;
 make provision for time limited approvals and annual licence renewals (12 months);
 apply specific criteria to be met for each sign type;
 apply general criteria and standard conditions to be met for all sign types.



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