Farmer vows to fight council over Sunshine Mwy signs

A farmer who uses his motorway facing property to give community groups free advertising has vowed to fight a council order demanding he take some signs down.

A farmer who uses his motorway facing property to give free advertising to causes he believes in has vowed to fight a council order that could result in signs being pulled down.

Wise's Farm owner Peter Wise was issued a show cause and infringement notice this week by Sunshine Coast Council concerning some of the advertising signs on his property.

Mr Wise said he could be fined $600,000 if he refused to pull down the signs, some of which have been standing for 15 years, or address noncompliance issues.

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The enforcement notice claims several signs were not compliant with local laws, including the "fresh figs Wises Rd", "Shade Sheds" and three signs on one pylon for Lifepointe Baptist Church, Guide Dogs and Crimestoppers.

The notice does not concern Mr Wise's most controversial advertisement, the Sunshine Coast Safer Communities' "No Sharia Here" sign.

Mr Wise said it was complaints about the sharia sign made 12 months ago that instigated the council's response.

"I don't charge these groups anything, if I believe in something they can put up their signs," Mr Wise said.

"I don't think the council's administration is acting in good faith or appropriately on behalf of the community."

Wise's Farm owner Peter Wise has been issued with a notice from Sunshine Coast Council to take down the signs on his property, including these three for Guide Dogs, Crimestoppers and Lifepointe.

Mr Wise, who was involved in several high-profile battles with the former Maroochy Shire Council through the 80s and 90s, said he would take the fight to court to keep the signs up if he had to.

Crimestoppers Sunshine Coast chairman Greg Beale said the group was grateful Mr Wise had allowed them to advertise on his property for free for more than 10 years.

He said the sign would have "absolutely" led to more phone calls with useful information to assist police investigating crimes.

"We're doing a great community service and we feel that we're just being harassed and picked on by the Sunshine Coast regional council," Mr Beale said.

Mr Beale said the council requested the groups apply for a permit to keep the signs on the property.

But he said it would require an engineer's report, which they could not afford.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said advertising signs on private property were regulated by the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 and Planning Act 2016.

"Following concerns raised by the community, council has been working with the Wise's Rd property owner since April 2019 to resolve four signs on the property that do not comply," they said.

Mr Wise said he had until the end of the month to respond to the council's show cause notice.

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