Win on controversial billboard plan for iconic high street
Locals who have fought to stop two huge LED billboards on one of Brisbane’s most charming streets have had a win.
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Paddington residents are celebrating tonight after the withdrawal of a plan to build a huge LED billboard on one of the city’s most beautiful high streets.
Councillor Peter Matic announced on Instagram that the proponent of the Given Tce billboard had withdrawn their application.
Locals who have spearheaded the fight said however that they would not give up until a second LED sign, already installed nearby on Latrobe Terrace, was removed.
Paddington’s Angus McTavish said he had submitted a second Right To Information request to try to work out why a senior Council officer overrode concerns about the signs from other officials.
And Greens candidate for the local state seat, Katinka Winston-Allom, said a second community protest may yet go ahead.
Cr Matic announced a citywide freeze on new billboard approvals pending a review into the issue and the process for greenlighting outdoor signs.
Currently, residents are not notified and decisions are made by Council officers, not councillors.
The billboard story so far
New billboard applications halted until inquiry
The eyesore coming to one of our most charming suburbs
Council warned three years ago of explosion in billboards
‘Not a museum’: secret billboard docs shed light on controversy
Setback for Paddo’s battle of the billboards
“This is a big win for our community and its local character,’’ Cr Matic said on Instagram tonight (Wednesday September 2).
“As you know, due to the process I was not even aware of the application for Given Tce and I raised my concerns about the billboard on Latrobe Tce when I became aware of it.
“I have been right behind the local community in their push for change to billboard approvals.’’
Cr Matic also said residents should not be “fooled’’ by “defamatory comments’’ and “mistruths’’ about the matter, while taking a swipe at local Labor state MP Kate Jones for “hollow words’’ on the issue.
Ms Winston-Allom said the truth was that the Given Tce applicant would have been influenced by the grassroots community campaign to stop the two billboards.
“This is a significant win for our community and a heartening testimony to the strength of locals coming together to demand control over their streets and suburbs,’’ she said.
“It is absolutely imperative that we maintain this pressure. This fight isn’t over.
“The deeply unpopular and hazardous Latrobe Tce billboard remains.
“Loopholes in our planning laws allow further dodgy and inappropriate developments to be constructed without a shred of meaningful consultation or grounds for appeal.
“This is the momentum that we needed. One down, one to go.’’