Sunshine Coast Council has received complaints about candidates’ campaign signs, ahead of the local elections next month.
There are droves of roadside placards for a handful of mayoral contenders and dozens of councillor nominees across the region.
Related story: Who’s in: nominations for council elections finalised
Clusters of signs have appeared at high-traffic locations, traffic lights and intersections. Commuters could probably see a hundred of them along Nicklin Way alone.
But there are rules surrounding the placement of the signs and it appears some candidates may have flouted some of the regulations.
“Council has received complaints in relation to election signage and is addressing them with the relevant candidates,” a council spokesperson said.
“(But) there is no limit on the number of signs a candidate can display on council-controlled roads.”
One challenger for council, Mark Gilbert, penned a letter to the editor to Sunshine Coast News, complaining about other candidates “ignoring the election signage requirements, which are in place for the safety of the public of which they should be familiar”.
“Many signs do not meet these placement requirements,” he said.
“Candidates obeying the rules are disadvantaged by this disregard for the rules.”
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
Council rules state that signs must be no greater than 0.6sqm in size on public land. They must not distract motorists, restrict sight distances on approaches to intersections, obstruct the view of traffic signs or otherwise impact safety.
They must not be within 3.5m from the edge of a traffic lane where the speed limit on the road is 80kmh or less, or within 6m from the edge of a traffic lane where the speed limit on the road is more than 80km.
They must not be on roundabouts or within 20m of the approach to a roundabout, they must not be within 10m of an intersection, and must not be on median strips.
Signs must not be attached to vegetation or public infrastructure.
If a sign does not comply, council officers address the candidate and request it to be relocated. If the candidate does not relocate the sign, it is impounded.
Election signs on state-controlled roads must comply with requirements outlined by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
Many of those rules are in line with Sunshine Coast Council rules, but TMR can remove problematic signs without notice.
Signs are not permitted on vehicles or trailers “as it may present a road safety risk”.
The Electoral Commission of Queensland is responsible for ensuring election signage is authorised in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Electoral Act 2011. That includes the content of the signs.
But an ECQ spokesperson said the display of signs is “a matter for either the local council or Department of Transport and Main Roads”.
“The theft of property, including election signs, is a matter for the Queensland Police,” the spokesperson added.
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