THE City of Stirling has warned election candidates it will impound signs without prior notice if they contravene the council’s sign policy.
Governance manager Jamie Blanchard said in an email to Stirling’s record 37 candidates the City did not have the resources to “individually contact candidates before taking enforcement action”.
“Following a recent increase in the instances of unlawfully placed signs, the City will alter its current enforcement approach,” Mr Blanchard wrote earlier this month.
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READ NOW“From September 18, the City will impound any sign found to be in contravention of the policy without prior notice to the candidate.
“If you have already placed election signs, please review their placement to ensure they comply with the policy.
“Your co-operation will ensure a fair, consistent approach for all candidates.”
Mr Blanchard said it was the responsibility of each candidate to ensure election signs complied.
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He said the City continued to respond daily to reports of election signs placed contrary to the policy, with areas of non-compliance being:
- Signs posing a safety concern including those placed on a carriageway, dividing strip, traffic island, roundabout or within 50m of a signalised intersection or pedestrian activated crossing;
- Signs placed on public property within 10m of an intersection or junction;
- More than two signs being erected on public property with less than the required minimum distance of 500 metres between each sign; and
- Signs placed within a park or reserve.
Mr Blanchard said elections signs were an important way for the community to get to know the candidates.
“The City’s election signs policy balances this with reducing safety hazards to road users and maintaining visual amenity,” he wrote.
The City had impounded 19 signs by Tuesday.
It will not impound City of Joondalup election signs on Stirling verges in Okely Road, Carine, as they comply with Stirling’s sign policy.
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