Federal election 2022: Compliance blitz on Cowper campaign signage

Those posting federal election campaign material in public spaces across the Coffs Coast are warned they risk hefty fines. A local council is reading the riot act to those found breaching the rules.

In-your-face advertising by political candidates for the seat of Cowper has raised the ire of a local council which has warned it will slap a financial penalty on those breaking the rules.

While Coffs Coast residents’ social media feeds have been chock-full of advertising in the run to the May 21 federal election - a number of campaigns are also using ‘old school’ messaging in the form of physical signage.

Corflute signs have been popping up at every vantage point in Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca - nailed to fences, trees and public utility poles.

Nambucca Valley Council has called enough - saying it will confiscate signs and issues fines where a rules breach is established.

Candidates’ supporters are being reminded that they must comply with State and council regulations when erecting political signage.

Nambucca has warned that fines of up to $330 per sign may apply if election signage is on a public road or council land. Council will also impound offending signs.

As election campaigning ramps up, council officers will undertake a compliance program.

The regulations state that:

* Election signs must be no more than 0.8 square metres in area.

* Signs cannot be posted on council’s road reserves, either freestanding pole signs or those affixed to trees or street furniture.

* Signage is also not allowed to be displayed on a trailer parked on a public road or road-related areas.

Nambucca council officers will remove signs from public property if they are not standard-sized corflute with appropriate content, or if they are in a “dangerous location”.

All signage connected to power poles will be reported to Essential Energy.

Signs can be attached to the walls of houses or commercial buildings as long as they have the permission of the property owner and adhere to size limitations in State regulations.