Mount Barker Council to limit number of election signs to just 20 per councillor
Council election corflutes will be limited to just 20 per candidate in the Mt Barker area – a move to reduce eyesores and landfill. Would this make elections more bearable? Vote in our poll.
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The next local government election may still be two years away, but a regional council has voted on changes it says should level the playing field for future candidates.
In a state first, Mount Barker District Council has voted to limit the number of signs and corflutes candidates can display during an election.
Under the new rulings, those running for councillor in the 2022 election will be limited to just 20 signs, while mayoral candidates will be capped at 50.
The move follows a motion put forward by councillor David Leach late last year.
He said the new Election Signs Approval Guidelines would allow people with limited finances to have an equal capacity to campaign, while also reducing the number of signs heading to landfill.
”Everyone has now signed off on this being OK and we’ve spent a couple of thousand dollars getting the lawyer to put his thumbprint on it to say it’ll meet the legislative review process – so now we’re in,” he said.
“So this is a chance for Mount Barker to set the bar and set the example for all of South Australia and put an end to this farcical scourge of corflutes at election times.”
Manager for Health, Public Safety and Council Services Jamie Tann said he expected a varied response to the changes.
“For example, candidates may be more strategic about their placement so as to maximise their exposure to the community,” he said.
“This could result in election signs being posted at unsuitable locations due to their high visibility – such as busy intersections or roundabouts.
“It is also possible that having less elections signs posted during an election will result in less work as there will be less signs posted overall throughout the council area.
“It is also possible there will be an increase in complaints raised by the public calling on council staff to enforce the number of signs that each candidate posts during a local government election period.”
A spokeswoman for Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said Mount Barker’s ruling would not be affected by an ongoing push to have election corflutes banned from public streets.
“It’s currently before the Parliament – so there won’t be an outcome until Parliament resumes,” she said.
“Local councils are able to make their own decisions when it comes to corflutes and have been in contact with the AG about it too.
“Our legislation just covers state elections.”