Glen Iris Pharmacy owner hit with hefty bill over business signs

A Glen Iris pharmacist hoping to entice customers to his business caught the eye of the council instead — and was ordered to pay a hefty price.

Glen Iris Pharmacy owner Arthur Nemtsas has been slugged with a $5000 bill following a dispute over his advertising signs. Picture: Google Street View

A Glen Iris pharmacist has been slapped with more than $5000 in council costs after he installed advertising billboards on his shop without a permit.

Stonnington Council took the dispute over Arthur Nemtsas’ signs to the state’s planning tribunal after the High St chemist repeatedly failed to comply with planning controls.

Under the planning scheme, permission is required for advertising signage to be installed at Glen Iris Pharmacy, which is subject to a heritage overlay.

The tribunal heard Mr Nemtsas had been given “numerous opportunities” to remove the signs installed on the veranda and rear of the building or apply for a retrospective permit but had failed to do so.

He also failed to attend several scheduled VCAT meetings about the matter.

Tribunal member Susan Whitney said Mr Nemtsas “did not provide a satisfactory reason” for not applying for a permit.

“It is clear that there was a breach of the (planning scheme). The respondent was provided with numerous opportunities to address this noncompliance prior to the council lodging this application,” she said.

“The council has a statutory duty to enforce the scheme.”

Ms Whitney ordered Mr Nemtsas to remove the signs and pay the council $4000 in costs, as well as $1244 in VCAT application fees.