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Temporary community event and information signs policy

April 2016

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Temporary Community Event and Information Signs

This policy is made in conjunction with Nillumbik Shire Council Amenity Local Law. It applies to all signs on VicRoads and Council road reserves and Council owned venues. It does not apply to signs at sporting reserves which will be considered under the proposed Outdoor Advertising at Sporting Reserves policy.

Policy basis

Council’s Amenity Local Law requires a permit to erect, fix or place any advertising sign on Council land. The purpose of this policy is to guide decision making under the local law. The policy applies to the following signs:

• Event signs – signs which promote a particular community event, such as a community market, a town fair or a registration day for a community sporting club

• Information signs – signs which promote a particular community campaign, such

as campaigns pertaining to public safety and environmental programs

The aim of the policy is to balance opportunities for Council, community groups and not-for-profit organisations to promote events and campaigns that progress Council’s objectives and amenity, safety, administrative efficiency, event outcomes and promotional equity.

Objectives

• To regulate and control event and information signs on Council land

• To ensure safety, including road safety, is not adversely affected

• To avoid visual clutter by setting fair and reasonable limitations on the type, size and number of signs

• To ensure signs are compatible with the amenity, streetscape and landscape character of the area

• To ensure signs are well designed

• To provide promotion opportunities for events and campaigns which further Council objectives.

Eligibility

This policy only permits signage by Council departments, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations and which meets all the following requirements:

• It promotes a community event which is being held in Nillumbik or, if the sign regards an information campaign, provides information which is of service, or benefit to the residents of Nillumbik Shire; and

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• It promotes an event or provides information which is not for commercial purposes; and

• The event outcomes or the information provided are consistent with the Council Plan; and

• The sign is at an approved location; and

• The sign is of a type permitted by this policy.

Types of signs

Commercial Centre Banners

Commercial Centre Banners are located at two sites:

• Diamond Creek Town Centre

• Eltham Town Centre

These banners are primarily for Council to promote Council run and Council sponsored events. Subject to availability they may also be used to publicise Shire-wide events organized by community groups or to display information signage permitted by this policy.

There are a set of four banner poles at each location. The set of four banners is classified one sign. All poles must contain the same content. The banners are put up/ taken down using a flagpole mechanism.

Shire-wide events are: Eltham Festival, Diamond Creek Rotary Town Fair, Leisure/Recreational Events, Pet Expo, Practically Green Festival, On the Hill Festival. This list of Shire-wide events may be amended from time to time by the General Manager Infrastructure Services.

‘Community Notices’ Signage Frame With Inserts

The ‘Community Notices’ Signage frames (Appendix A) can be used to promote events and information signage permitted by this policy (see ‘Eligibility’).

To minimise signage clutter, at high demand locations, Council has installed permanent multi panel ‘Community Notices’ signs. These signs provide for the display of four signs per location. They are designed to have three corflute panels inserted into them, each with a dimension of 1189mm X 841mm. The sign also provides for the display of one small horizontal banner.

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Free Standing Community Signage

The ‘Free Standing Community Signage’ frames can be used to promote events and information signage permitted by this policy (see ‘Eligibility’).

At each approved location there is a pair of sleeves in the ground for signage to be inserted into. This provides for ease of installation and ensures that signage is installed in a manner which satisfies road safety requirements of VicRoads and Council.

Maximum sign dimensions are to be 1200mm high and 800mm wide, installed so that the maximum height of the top of the sign is no more than 1.8 metres above ground level.

Council Owned Venue Event Signage

A Council owned venue event sign must only be used to promote an event which will occur at the venue.

Maximum sign dimensions are to be 1200mm high and 800mm wide, erected so that the maximum height of the top of the sign is no more than 1.8 metres above ground level. A Council owned venue event sign is the same in dimensions and structure as a Free Standing Community Sign (discussed above), except no in-ground sleeves are installed at these locations.

Sign Requirements

Number of Signs

No more than eight signs per event may be erected to promote Council run, Council sponsored and Shire-wide events.

For all other events, no more than four signs per event can be erected.

No more than six information signs may be permitted for one information campaign.

There can be no more than one sign for a particular event, or one information sign for a particular campaign at each approved sign location, including at the multi-panel (Community Notices) sign locations.

Period of Display

Event Signs

Commercial centre banners promoting an event may be erected no more than 14 calendar days prior to the event and must be removed within 3 calendar days following the event, unless varied by the written consent of the General Manager Infrastructure Services.

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Except for high frequency events, all other signs promoting events may be erected for no more than 14 calendar days prior to the event and must be removed within 3 calendar days following the event, unless varied by the written consent of Council.

Signage for high frequency events such as markets may be erected no more than 4 calendar days in advance of the event and must be removed within 1 calendar day following the event.

Information Signs

Information signage may be erected for no longer than 14 calendar days, unless varied by the written consent of the General Manager Infrastructure Services.

Information for a particular campaign may only be displayed once a year, unless varied by the written consent of the General Manager Infrastructure Services.

Commercial Sponsorship Recognition

Commercial sponsorship recognition is only permitted on Free Standing Community Signage and Council Owned Venue Event Signage. The commercial content must:

• not exceed a maximum of 20% of the sign • be placed at the bottom of the sign • be to the satisfaction of the General Manager Infrastructure Services.

Dimensions and sign structure

All signs

No sign may be animated, or externally or internally illuminated

The sign must be of sound construction, capable of withstanding the elements and erected in a secure and structurally stable manner.

No portion of the sign may exceed the permitted dimensions of the sign as detailed by this policy.

Manufacture, display and maintenance of the sign are the responsibility of the community group wishing to use approved locations.

To avoid driver distraction, the message on any sign must be simple and concise. Scripted fonts are more difficult to read than sans-serif fonts. The recommended font is Arial Bold or a font which complies with Australian standard AS 1744 – Series E and D.

The wording should be limited to a key message of no more than 25 words.

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The size of lettering used in the sign should be large enough to be clearly legible for passing motorists, as appropriate for the location. The following letter heights are recommended:

Speed Limit Letter Height 60 km/h 100mm 80 km/h and above 120 mm

The construction and design of signs should be to a high standard of presentation.

Commercial Centre Banners

Each set of four banners constitutes one sign for the purpose of determining the number of signs permitted under this policy.

Banners must be professionally sign written, in portrait format and printed on canvas, block out vinyl or cloth.

Banners must be printed double-sided, with the same content on each side.

Banners may contain one bold striking image and overall graphics are to be kept simple.

Font size and colour should be large enough to ensure readability against a bright sky and legibility from a distance.

‘Community Notice’ Signage Frame With Inserts

No damage is to be caused to vegetation during installation or removal of the sign.

Free Standing Community Event Signage and Council Owned Venue Event Signage Requirements

Signs must be frangible in construction

Approved Locations

A sign is only permitted at the locations specified in Tables A, B and C below.

Table A: Approved locations for Commercial Centre Banner Signs

Site No

Location Township

1. Main Hurstbridge Road, southern side, opposite Elizabeth and station streets

Diamond Creek

2. Western side of Main Road within the town centre on road reserve at 895 Main Road

Eltham

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Table B: Approved locations for ‘Community Notice’ Multi Panel Signs

Site No

Location Township

3. Heidelberg - Kinglake Road, on the south side of the township

Hurstbridge

4. South side of Main Hurstbridge Road, adjacent to Diamond Creek Reserve or the Diamond Creek Community Centre

Diamond Creek

5. West side of Main Hurstbridge Road, Diamond Creek adjacent to Community Bank Stadium

Diamond Creek

6. Roadside reserve of Allan Marshall Reserve at 1275A Main Road

Eltham

7. Roadside trading area, corner of Falkiner Street and Main Road, Eltham

Eltham

Table C: Approved locations for Free Standing Community Signs

Site No

Location Township

8. Heidelberg-Kinglake Road, on the north side, adjacent to the Hurstbridge Primary School

Hurstbridge

9. North east corner of Main Street and Collins Street, Diamond Creek

Diamond Creek

10. Main Hurstbridge Road (near The Rise), Diamond Creek

Diamond Creek

11. North east corner of Allendale and Ryans Road, Diamond Creek

Diamond Creek

12. Southern corner of Main Road and Park West Road

Eltham

13. Bridge Street, Eltham between Susan Street and the bridge

Eltham

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14. Adjacent to Eltham Lower Park, south-side of Main Road and west of the park entrance

Eltham

15. East side of Wattletree Road, Eltham North adjacent to Eltham North Reserve

Eltham

16. Diamond Creek Road, Greensborough nature strip on the north west corner at Civic Drive

Greensborough

17. Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground on the west side, north of Donaldson Road

Kangaroo Ground

18. Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road, Panton Hill in front of the Panton Hill Community Centre

Panton Hill

19. North east corner of the intersection of Diamond Creek and Yan Yean Roads

Plenty

20. North side of Main Road, Research between the footbridge and power pole, approximately opposite Reynolds Road

Research

21. Heidelberg-Kinglake Road, St Andrews opposite Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road

St Andrews

22. Heidelberg-Kinglake Road, Wattle Glen on the south east corner at

Kangaroo Ground-Wattle Glen Road

Wattle Glen

23. North east corner of Ironbark and Yan Yean Road, Yarrambat

Yarrambat

24. Council owned or managed venue where an event is being held

Various

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APPENDIX A – MULTI-FRAME (COMMUNITY NOTICE) SIGNS

EXISTING BANNER SIGNS AT DIAMOND CREEK

(ADJACENT TO NILLUMBIK PARK)

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No. Submitter

Key Points Officer Response

SUMMARY OF SUBMISSIONS 1. Eltham Gateway Action

Group (EGAG) General Support

• EGAG supports a consistent approach to limiting the visual impact of advertising in the community, whilst yet recognising the importance of community events in promoting a sense of cohesion and community in Nillumbik.

• The policy, if implemented, will hopefully have a positive visual effect on the visual appearance of town centres in Nillumbik.

• EGAG supports limiting the length for which signage is displayed as without a limit the signs quickly become ‘wallpaper’ and the sign becomes pointless. Suggested Improvements

• Whilst EGAG supports the creative aim of making the proposed multi-panel signs sculptural objects, EGAG is concerned that the signage frames will be a target for graffiti unless their bulk is sufficiently reduced. The group suggests a basic black frame should be used as this would be less visible when the signs are empty and provide less opportunity for graffiti.

• EGAG wishes to avoid any commercial advertising on signage and suggests that this could be done by Council

• Noted

• Noted

• Noted

• Officers have investigated suitable modifications to the design of the sign and a new sign, with less flat surface, is now proposed in the officer report.

• Adoption of a revised policy is

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purchasing a bulk supply of corflute which could then be sold to community groups for their signage needs. Further, these corflute signs could provide sections for community groups to fill out the signage permit number, date of installation and removal date.

• The proposed banner signs should only comprise three, not four, abutting signs as four signs will present unnecessary repetition, particularly given the signs are to be identical.

• Although the draft policy is entitled The Temporary Community Event and Information Policy, there is no mention in the document of controls applying to information signs, nor is there a statement to ensure that information signs are to be treated by the same controls as community event signage. In support of its request for controls on information signage, EGAG comments that a year ago the State Government together with Council installed recycling information banners which were in place for close to two months.

Other Comments

• A map attached to the previous Council report (May 2015) on the policy shows the location for Sign Location No.6 in Eltham as the corner of Main Road and York Street, whereas the draft policy proposes the sign be located at the corner of Main Road and Diamond Street. Of the two locations given for Sign 6, the group states that

recommended by the officer report and the revised policy prohibits commercial content on all signs except free standing signs and Council owned venue event signs.

• The proposed banner signs are considered quite modest in size, particularly for use in a commercial centre. A set of four banner poles has been used in the Diamond Creek town centre for some time without issue or clear visual intrusion.

• The revised policy, Attachment 1, which is recommended for adoption by the officer report has been amended to include restrictions on information signage.

• The proper proposed location for Sign Location No. 6 is the corner of Main Road and York Street. The rationale for proposing the sign at this location was to provide a free standing sign facing traffic travelling through Eltham from the north. Originally, Council wished to propose a location further

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only the corner of Main Road and Diamond Street supports the objectives of the policy.

• Agrees the proposed banner signage should be located in the commercial centre and suggests the following locations in the centre: o On the edge of the Eltham Pre-school wall parallel to the

footpath near the former Eltham Fire Station o If Council owns the land, on the west side of Main Road

opposite Elsa Court. A sign at this location would have the benefit of screening the existing sub-station.

o The entrance to Woodridge Linnear Park on the east side

of Main Road.

• The proposed location for Sign Location No. 7 in Eltham, which is near the corner of Falkiner Street and Main Road, already has a large and out of date sign advertising only five of the numerous vineyards in Nillumbik. The group recommends that the existing vineyard sign should be removed to avoid excessive signage at the above location.

to the north, but no site was identified at the time of drafting the exhibited policy. However, Council has since found a suitable location north of the town centre on road reserve at the Alan Marshall Reserve (opposite Beard Street). The officer report recommends Sign Location No.6 be moved to this location.

• Noted. It is proposed to place the banner signage for the Eltham Town Centre on the west side of Main Road on the road reserve in front of the site of the former Eltham Shire offices (895 Main Rd). This site has been chosen for the following reasons:

o It provides good view lines o It is Council land o It does not compete with other

signage or structures o No vegetation issues are presented o There is sufficient width in the road

reserve

• Officers have established that the sign should be removed as it is out of date and no longer satisfies VicRoads guidelines.

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• EGAG thanks Council for the opportunity provided to

comment on the draft policy

• Noted

2. Local Food Connect Introductory Comments

• Local Food Connect is the community group which operates the Eltham Farmers’ Market

• The content of the submission draws on experience gained from over 20 years of involvement with a number of local community events including the Eltham Festival, the Jazz Festival and Eltham Farmers’ Market. The intent of the Policy is supported

• The development of a signage policy by Council is welcomed, as there has often been uncertainty in the past as to what signage is permissible. Further, some control is required regarding the quantity and location of signage. The emphasis of the Policy’s objectives needs improving

• The objectives of the proposed policy should be modified to place greater emphasis on the importance of signage to supporting and promoting community events, rather than controlling signage. More particularly the objectives need to better recognise: o Community events are a significant contributor to

community well-being. Particular attention is drawn to the economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits provided by the Eltham Farmers’ Market; and

• Noted

• Noted

• Noted

• There is considerable emphasis in the policy, including in the objectives, on supporting and promoting community events. For example, the final objective is: “To provide promotion opportunities for events which further Council objectives”

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o Signage is highly important to the successful promotion of

community events, including the Eltham Farmers’ Market.

The emphasis on controlling signage could reduce the success of community events and be detrimental to community life in Nillumbik.

The proposed categorisation of events should be modified

• The proposed categorisation of events into either Shire-wide events or others is inappropriate, as it ignores the frequency of events and the level of public interest in them.

However, the third objective (To limit the type, size and number of signs) could be modified to soften its regulatory stance and the officer report recommends the wording be modified to: To avoid visual clutter by setting fair and reasonable limitations on the type, size and number of signs. The modification makes it clear that the policy is not solely proposing to regulate against signs, but instead the visual clutter that can be created when signage is not appropriately controlled.

• It is taken that Local Food Connect is objecting to the policy applying different restrictions to: o Council run, Council sponsored

activities or Shire-wide events, which can have up to 8 signs per event and are permitted use of the commercial centre banners; and

o Other events, including markets, which do not have access to the commercial centre banners and are allowed up to 4 signs per event.

• The additional signage opportunities

provided to Shire-wide, Council run or Council sponsored events is responsive to the level of public interest, as these events

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• The current Shire-wide events are essentially those run or sponsored by Council, which raises the question as to whether the policy unduly favours Council events over others

include the biggest events in the Shire (e.g. Eltham Festival or the Diamond Creek Rotary Town Fair).

• It should be noted that the list of Shire-wide events is not fixed and can be amended to accommodate, if required, additional Shire-wide events.

• It also has to be noted that the policy increases the number of signs permitted by all types of events. For example, the number of signs permitted by markets increases from 3 to 4.

• In response to this matter, it is pointed out that: o As often expected of local

government, Council has a significant role in the running of Shire-wide events, so an overlap between Council involvement and Shire-wide events is unavoidable.

o Notwithstanding this, the list of Shire-wide events includes general activities not necessarily linked to local Government, such as “Leisure/Recreation Events”.

o Further, the list of Shire-wide events can be amended by Council’s Manager Infrastructure Services, so

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• The signage policy should be based on two categories of

event: Annual Events and Regular Events (markets) as the current structure ignores the frequency of events and the public interest in them. In light of the number and variety of annual events some sub-categorisation is probably needed. Annual Events would include: o Premier Events (the Shire-wide events with the addition

of events such as the Eltham Jazz Festival and the Nillumbik Open Cellars),

o Secondary Events (events of broad but more local community interest held on an annual basis)

o Tertiary Events (more member focussed events)

Regular Events would include the Shire four regular markets comprising the St Andrews Market, the Eltham Craft and Produce Market, the Hurstbridge Farmers’ Market and the Eltham Farmers’ Market.

• The four regular markets deserve special attention given their considerable benefits and value to the community.

is not a set list.

• The policy is considered to respond adequately to the frequency of events and the public interest in them, noting: o The larger Shire-wide activities have

access to commercial centre banners plus other signage permitted by the policy.

o The list of Shire-wide events can be modified, if required, to allow additional festivals. So, there is flexibility in that categorisation to allow for new festivals that grow to a particular size.

o Smaller events have access to the Community Notices Signage, Free Standing Signage and Council owned venue event signage.

Under the exhibited policy every market in the Shire is permitted up to four signs, each at a different location. This is considered a suitable and fair opportunity for each market to advertise without creating unnecessary visual clutter.

• The number of signs permitted by each market has increased from 3 to 4. It is noted that another green wedge municipality, the Shire of Mornington Peninsular allows only one sign per market.

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Comments and Issues with the Types of Signage

• The reduced size and sharing of message space of the multi-panel signage may significantly limit the usefulness of this type of sign. For this reason, the worthwhile of the multi-panel signage is questioned.

• The Eltham Farmers’ Market has no issue with (or interest in) the proposed Commercial Centre Banners.

• The free standing event signage is vital to maintaining the success of the Eltham Farmers’ Market. The signs are particularly successful because they are erected regularly in the same location.

• Six mutually satisfactory locations should be found for free standing signage for each of the four Shire markets and each sign should be a maximum of 2 square metres.

Further, there are now many opportunities for regular events, such as markets, to communicate with their regular patrons through social media.

• The exhibited policy provides guidelines to ensure the content of all signage is clear to passing traffic. For example, there is a word limit and guidelines are provided regarding font and letter height. VicRoads has raised no issues with the proposed guidelines.

• Noted.

• Noted. A key aim of the policy is to ensure event signage is erected at fixed locations around the Shire.

• As noted above, the exhibited policy proposes to allow 4 signs for each market. This is considered an appropriate level for the following reasons: o It is an increase from the 3 signs

permitted by the current policy o The number of designated signage

locations is increased by the proposed policy

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• The two Eltham markets should be allocated an individual sign location on each side of Main Road between the Fitzsimmons Lane roundabout and the Diamond Creek Bridge

• Whilst signage for annual events is not a concern for Local

Food Connect, it is suggested that Council consider identifying a number of effective locations around the Shire where banners for annual events could be erected.

• The annual events signage should be a maximum of 3 metres square.

• Banners should be allowed on each frontage of the venue of

an annual event and on each side of Main Road between Fitzsimmons Lane roundabout and the Diamond Creek

• Under the proposed policy, the Eltham Farmers’ Market will have the opportunity to apply for numerous locations for its four signs, including a location on each side of Main Road between Fitzsimmons Lane and the Diamond Creek Bridge.

• The revised policy, provided as Attachment 1 to the officer report, recommends the placement of banner signs at each of the Shire’s activity centres. Banner signs are not proposed at other locations due to the potential impacts on amenity and character.

• The policy proposes the following size for signage:

o Commercial centre banners – 4 x 8 m high poles each with a banner sign of 1125mm wide and 2250mm high.

o Multi-panel Signage – three signs at 1190mm high x 840mm wide each and one banner at 800mm high x 2500 wide

o Free standing signs – 1200mm high x 800mm wide

• One of the aims of the policy is to consolidate signage into a number of

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Bridge. effective, sensitive and appropriate locations throughout the Shire. Allowing banner signs on the frontage of each and every venue would likely undermine that objective. A free standing sign is permitted at Council owned venues for community events to be held at the venue

3. North Eltham Wanderers Cricket Club • The club has been a tenant of the Eltham North Reserve on

Wattletree Road, Eltham North for over 20 years

• Each year the club erects a sign in accordance with the current signage policy at Sign Location No. 4 (outside Eltham North Reserve) and the sign works effectively at this position.

• It is noted that the proposed policy increases the number of approved signage locations from 14 to 24. It is assumed that the existing locations are part of the 24 locations.

• In principle, the club supports the proposed changes.

• However, it is suggested that Council makes the application process easier for tenant clubs where the advertising signs are used for a community event, such as an annual registration day.

• Noted

• Noted

• Not all the locations are the same as the existing policy, as it was deemed necessary in some instances to choose more appropriate locations. The location of signage outside the North Eltham Sports Reserve, the cricket club’s ground, is essentially in the same location.

• Noted

• Under the proposed policy, the club would have significant opportunity to place signage for its annual registration day, as a free standing sign location will continue to exist in proximity to the Eltham North

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The particular problem here for the cricket club is that the current policy only allows for one sign at a time at each location and occasionally, other community groups have booked the available signage spot at the Eltham North Sports Reserve at the one time in the year when the cricket club wishes to erect a sign advertising its annual registration day. The North Eltham Wanderers Cricket Club requests that, where a clash such as this occurs, the policy be flexible enough to allow Council the discretion to permit a tenanted club to place a sign advertising its annual registration day, in addition to any other community signage.

Reserve (Sign Location No.15). Further, the proposed policy provides two other nearby sign locations which could be used, including one at the corner of Main Road and Wattle Tree Road (No.12) and one at the corner of Ryans Road and Allendale Road (no.11). In addition, it should be noted that signage at sporting reserves will not be handled by the proposed Temporary Community Event and Information Sign Policy, but rather the proposed Outdoor Advertising at Sporting Reserves Policy. It may well be that this second policy will provide opportunities for the cricket club to erect signage at the reserve to advertise its registration day.

4. Sue Arnold Miss Wattle and the Panton Hill Ukulele Club

• The proposed banner style signage has a corporate character which is not appropriate for Hurstbridge, particularly as it would severely impact on the casual rural look of the town.

• The proposed banner signs are quite modest in character and it is emphasised that the signs will only be used to publicise community events which support the Council Plan and will not be used for corporate purposes. The advertising of community events (e.g. artistic and environmental events) may perhaps support the character of Hurstbridge. However, it is acknowledged that Hurstbridge is not an activity centre like Eltham and Diamond Creek and has a distinctly different character to the two activity centres. Considering this, the revised policy provided as Attachment 1 to the officer report recommends banner signs

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are not erected in Hurstbridge.

5. Jim Connor 88 Brougham Street Eltham

• Believes the proposed policy will actively encourage and promote the widespread increased provision of advertising signage throughout the municipality and objects to the policy on this ground.

• States that any signs permitted to be erected within Nillumbik should only be for events within the Shire of Nillumbik

• Agrees with and supports the stated objectives and eligibility requirements stated in the policy

• Does not support the provision of four Commercial Centre Banners at each of Diamond Creek, Eltham and Hurstbridge township and argues these signs: o Will contradict the third objective of the policy, which

is ‘To limit the type, size and number of signs’. o Pose a safety risk for drivers and pedestrians o Will likely be utilised all year round, which will be a

financial burden on Council and ratepayers

• Adds that the existing banner signs at Diamond Creek detract from the amenity of the area and only add to the amount of commercial advertising in the immediate location.

• Comments that there is a need for community groups to advertise local events and the proposed multi-panel signs

• A key objective of the policy is to minimise the impact of signage, particularly by removing flexibility which exists in the current policy concerning the number and location of signs.

• The policy only allows signage for events which are occurring in the Shire.

• Noted

• The policy as a whole regulates the size, type and number of signs. VicRoads has no issue with the policy and there is not expected to be any appreciable cost for Council in managing and maintaining the proposed signs. The officer report recommends that banner signs no longer be proposed in Hurstbridge.

• Noted. The revised policy, provided as Attachment 1, prohibits commercial content in the banner signs.

• Noted

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have merits.

• Suggests, however, the following changes regarding the multi-panel signs: o Council should consider using simple steel frames for

the signs without any permanent sculptural elements, as otherwise the signs will be imposing and a target for graffiti.

o That no banners should be allowed on the multi-panel

signs o That no commercial advertising be allowed on the

signs.

• Questions the need for the Free Standing Signage given the amount of multi-panel signs to be provided.

• If Free Standing signage is to be permitted, it should only be allowed at sites where events can take place and no commercial type advertising or sponsorship content should be allowed.

• Requests that Council Owned Venue Event Signage only be

• Noted. The officer report recommends modifications to the proposed signage frame to reduce the potential for a graffiti problem.

• The revised policy, Attachment 1 of the officer report, prohibits advertising on the proposed multi-panel signs

• Allowing the Free Standing Signage provides some more flexibility in terms of the style and size of signage allowed, but within a policy which more strongly limits the number and locations of signs

• It is considered appropriate that the policy allow community groups some scope to place sponsorship recognition on signs. It should be noted the amount and subject of any commercial content will be significantly restricted by the proposed policy.

• It is the intent of the policy that the Council owned event signage is only used to

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used to promote actual events at the venue and that no commercial advertising be allowed.

• States that, to avoid Council and the community having to follow up on signage that has not been removed within the required time, organisations should have to pay a deposit prior to erecting a sign and this deposit would be forfeited if the sign is not removed within the specified time frame.

• Supports most requirements in the policy under ‘Dimensions and Sign Structure’, except the allowance of some commercial advertising.

• Argues the proposed use of corflute signage will negate the need for commercial content.

• States that the proposed number of signage locations (i.e. 24) is too many and will increase the impact of advertising content on public land across Nillumbik.

promote events at the venue and the exhibited policy has been revised (see Attachment 1 of the officer report) to make this clear.

• This is an administrative matter regarding implementation of the policy which will be considered separately to the proposed policy.

• The revised policy, Attachment 1 to the officer report, reduces the amount of commercial content permitted by the policy.

• The revised policy, provided as Attachment 1 to the officer report, prohibits commercial content from the corflute panels.

• A key difference between the existing and the proposed signage policy is that the former set no cap on the number and location of signs, whilst the proposed policy does set a cap. It is believed that by setting this cap, the proposed policy will better limit the number of signs, whilst still allowing sufficient signage to advertise local community events.

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6 Hurstbridge Traders’ Association (HTA) Banner Signage

• Opposes the proposed banner signage in Hurstbridge, citing the following reasons: o The proposed signage is large and commercial in

appearance and will be at odds with the valued character and scale of Hurstbridge village.

o HTA believes the public is opposed to banners signs in Hurstbridge. In 2006 the group was considering placing banner signs in Hurstbridge and surveyed locals and 90 percent of respondents felt the signs would not be appropriate in Hurstbridge.

o Whilst banner signs are a good device to create colour and movement, they are not a good form of communication to promote events.

o HTA would prefer to see the installation of ‘human scale pedestrian based event signs.

• The group asks three questions in its submissions: o What height are the signs? o Who would manage the changing of banner flags? o Who would pay for the banner flags?

Multi Panel Signs (What’s On Signs)

• States that the concept design for the multi-panel signs is a

• This is the second submission arguing that the proposed banner signage may be too commercial or corporate in character specifically for Hurstbridge. In support of this opposition, it is acknowledged that, unlike the other two proposed locations for banner signage (the Eltham and Diamond Creek towns centres), Hurstbridge is not an activity centre and considerably smaller and more rural in character than the other centres. Considering the above, the officer report recommends that banner signs no longer be proposed for Hurstbridge.

• The answers to the HTA’s three questions regarding banner signs are as follows:

o Commercial centre banners are 4 poles of 8m height each with a banner sign of 1125mm wide and 2250mm high.

o The intention is that community groups can place and remove the banners.

o Council will pay for the erection of the banner structures (i.e. the poles), but community groups will be responsible for producing their own banner signs.

• Support noted. As recognised, it is the intent of the signs to allow consolidation of

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great idea to consolidate multiple signs into a single structure.

• Suggests that the multi-panel sign proposed for Hurstbridge should be located at the entrance of the town, near the Taylor Road roundabout. The exhibited position of the primary school misses half the traffic that comes through the town as they turn off before the school to head out to Arthurs Creek, Nutfield, Doreen and Laurimer.

• HTA poses three questions:

o What materials will the structure be made of? o What are the specified ‘Major Events’? o What criteria is used to qualify a ‘Major Event’?

various signs at one location.

• The exhibited policy proposes to place the multi-panel sign towards the northern end of the town (adjacent to the Hurstbridge Primary School). However if, as discussed above, the banners signs are not deemed appropriate for Hurstbridge, this would allow the intended location for banner signs, which is towards the southern end of the township (on the Heidelberg-Kinglake Road, just south of Parker Road), to become the location for a multi-panel sign as recommended by the HTA. The officer report recommends that the policy be revised to place the multi-panel sign at this southern location.

• The response to the questions are as follows: o The signs will be made from metal

with an anti-graffiti treatment on the surface to assist with graffiti removal

o The policy refers to Shire-wide events and a list of Shire-wide events is provided on page 3 of the policy. Included in this section is a statement that the list of Shire-wide events can be amended, so there is flexibility in regards to the list and events not yet included can be considered for inclusion.

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Free Standing Community Event Signs

• Raises three issues and suggested improvements for the free standing signs

o The reduction in size allowed for these single signs will make the content harder to read, but this can be overcome with stricter design guidelines for these signs. In particular, the guidelines should minimise the amount of text allowed, which will help increase the legibility for drivers.

o There is only one position allocated for a free standing community event sign in Hurstbridge, which is not enough. There should be one or two more locations for these signs in Hurstbridge, preferably one location near each roundabout.

o HTA suggests the inclusion of pedestrian based signs to A1 size that could be applied to street bins, or curved around the bottom of poles. Four to six of these signs through Hurstbridge would be ideal.

• Two questions are posed:

o Will Hurstbridge have only one designated position for a single event sign?

o Will community groups that own land be able to put up a community sign on their own land to promote their events, like the church or school?

• When compared to the size permitted by the existing policy, the proposed reduction in size of the free standing signs is not significant. Further, as suggested by the HTA, the proposed policy provides strict guidelines to ensure that the signs can be easily read by passing vehicles.

• No free-standing signs are proposed in Hurstbridge by the exhibited policy. However, the officer report recommends that a free-standing sign be placed towards the northern end of the township (adjacent to the Hurstbridge Primary School).

• A key objective of the policy is to provide a more co-ordinated and consolidated number and pattern of signage locations and to prevent the current situation where there has been a proliferation of signs along key roads and vantage points in the Shire. To allow the pedestrian based signs, which the HTA requests, would fundamentally undermine the intent and approach of the proposed policy in regard to this matter.

• A response to the HTA’s questions are provided as follows: o The exhibited policy does not propose

a free standing community sign on roadside within Hurstbridge, but proposes two free standing signs on

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the Main-Hurstbridge Road between Hurstbridge and Diamond Creek, a multi-panel sign adjacent to the Hurstbridge Primary School and a set of banner signs towards the southern end of the township. Further, the policy allows free standing event signage at Council owned venues in Hurstbridge. As discussed above, if the banner signage was no longer proposed, the multi-banner sign could be placed towards the southern end of the township and a free standing sign location could be provided for the township adjacent to the Hurstbridge Primary School, which would be in addition to free standing event signs permitted at Council owned venues.

o The proposed policy only applies to all signs on VicRoads and Council road reserves and Council owned venues. Signage on private land is handled by the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, particularly Clause 52.05 (Advertising Signs). This clause determines whether a sign is prohibited, requires a permit or can be erected without a permit and does so primarily on considering the zoning of the site in question and on considering the size, duration, purpose and type of sign proposed.

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• In closing, the HTA apologises for the lateness of its submission.

• Noted

level 4 136 exhibition stmelbourne vic 3000

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| vietnammelbourne

t 61 3 9654 8844 f 61 3 9654 8088 e info@hansen-online.com.au

hansen partnership pty ltd

Nillumbik Shire Council, Temporary signage

signage concept

Front Elevation

Dianella caerulea

Dianella caerulea

Lomandra longfolia ‘Veriegated’

Lomandra longfolia ‘Veriegated’

Lomandra longfolia ‘Veriegated’

Lomandra fluviatilis 'SHARA’

Lomandra fluviatilis 'SHARA’

Lomandra fluviatilis 'SHARA’

Lomandra contertifoliaLomandra contertifolia

Lomandra contertifolia

Note: When sighting signage, consultation with Vicroads is required to ensure sightlines are maintained

Lomandra longfolia 'Katrinus'

Lomandra longfolia 'Katrinus'

Lomandra longfolia 'Katrinus'

Side Elevation Scale 1:20 @ A1

3D perspective

Plant Palette

PlanScale 1:20 @ A1

3D montage of signage located around the shire of Nillumbik

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2 Eucalyptus bark pattern representative of the local flora found in the Nillumbik region. Pattern used to give contrast to the sign when not displaying information and adding and artistic elements.

4mm Weathered Copper Matt powder coated aluminium sheet, bark pattern laser cut into surface and fixed to aluminium frame

Black Matt powder coated aluminium frame with fixing points to secure banner signage when required. Frame to be constructed in accordance with VicRoads guidelines. Fixing to sign to be determined by structural engineer

Low level planting of native and indigenous grasses to be maintained to a height no greater than 900mm

Various native grass species to be planted at base of sign. The landscape treatment allows for access to sign for updating the media displayed, as well as general maintenance to the garden and surrounds

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signage materials changed to minimize maintenance requirements.

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Proposed signage: Multi frame

Roadways

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Temporary CommunityEvent Signage Locations

IT Request No: NSCIT-11617Printed on: 30/3/2016

Hurstbridge

@ A41:4,000

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EXISTING AND PROPOSED SIGNAGE POLICIES

EXISTING PROPOSED (i.e. Attachment 1)

Application Only regulates community event signage Allows signage for certain non-Nillumbik events No conditions set regarding the purpose of the community event

Application Regulates community event and information signage Only allows signage for Nillumbik events The event or information campaign must be consistent with the Nillumbik Council Plan.

Number of approved locations 14 locations, but groups can apply for signage in any other location

Number of approved locations 24 locations New locations are proposed where groups frequently apply for signage in places which are appropriate and not specified in the existing policy.

Signage types

1. Free standing signs (set dimensions)

2. Banner signs (no set dimensions)

Signage types

1. A set of banner signs in the Eltham and Diamond Creek Town Centres for major events

2. Multi-panel signs (5 locations)

3. Free standing signs (16 locations)

4. Council owned venue event signs

Number of signs at the one location Only one sign may be erected at each signage location

Number of signs at the one location The five multi-panel signs (allowing up to 4 signs each) will be erected at the locations with the highest demand. Two signs for the same event cannot be placed in the one multi-panel sign. Each set of four banner signs at Eltham and Diamond Creek is regarded as one sign.

Period of Display All signs may be erected 14 days prior to an event and removed within 3 days following the event.

Period of Display Event Signage Signs may be erected 14 days prior to an event

Whilst not specified in the policy, current practice is that signage for markets may be erected 4 days prior to an event and removed within 1 days following the event

and removed within 3 days following the event, except signage for high frequency events (markets), which may be erected 4 days prior to an event and removed within 1 days following the event Information Signage No longer than 14 days, unless varied by the written consent of the General Manager Infrastructure Services. Information for a particular campaign may only be displayed once a year, unless varied by the written consent of the General Manager Infrastructure Services.

Number of signs permitted Event Signage 6 signs for specified major events 3 signs for all other events

Number of signs permitted Event Signage 8 signs for specified major events 4 signs for all other events Information Signage 6 signs per campaign

Dimensions Free standing signs: 1900mm high x 1800mm wide, with maximum height to top of sign 2 metres Banner signs: no dimensions set

Dimensions Banner signs: 4 x 8 m high poles per set with a banner sign of approx. 1125mm wide and 2250mm high on each pole Multi panel sign inserts A0 size signs (1189mm high x 841mm wide) Multi panel sign banners 800mm high x 2500mm wide Free standing and Council owned venue event signs: A0 size, with a maximum height to the top of the sign 1.8 metres

Commercial Content Allowed on all permitted signs No more than approx. 20% coverage and located at the bottom of the sign

Commercial Content Only permitted on free-standing and Council owned venue event signs. Must be no more than 20 percent of the sign and located at the bottom of the sign. The subject matter must be to the satisfaction of the General Manager Infrastructure Services.