Cairns Regional Council rejects request for illuminated sign in the Northern Beaches
Council has struck a blow in the latest melee of Cairns’ billboard wars after several councillors expressed concern over flashy signage turning the Far North into the next Gold Coast.
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Cairns Councillors have rejected a request for an illuminated sign in the northern beaches out of fear Cairns risks becoming too alike the shimmering, flashy Gold Coast.
Owners of a NightOwl Convenience store and BP service station at 55-57 Endeavour Rd in Clifton Beach were displaying a digital sign on their property until the council issued a compliance notice in August 2022.
In response the company submitted a request to display a 4.1sq m digital advertising device on the property’s fascia awning.
The proposed device was not compliant with at least six criteria under the council’s local advertising devices law, including the fact it was more than 1sq m over the allowable surface area of a digital sign for onsite advertising.
If erected, the sign would have also been within 110m of a signalised intersection, sparking concerns from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, which advised the council against approving a device that would “create a danger to traffic”.
According to a council report, DTMR did not have the power to direct the council in this matter, but council officers still considered DTMR advice to carry “significant weight”.
Council’s planning officers recommended the council approve the application but applied 31 approval conditions to reduce the potential danger of the device, including the imposition of operating times and the restriction of advertising methods that could be distracting to motorists, such as moving images.
But six of 10 councillors – Olds, Coghlan, Vallely, Eden, Zeiger and Moller – still disagreed with the planning department’s recommendation and rejected the application.
The divisional councillor Brett Olds said the northern beaches community did not welcome the encroachment of “suburbia”.
“I’ve been screaming for eight years that the northern beaches don’t want these signs out there, they don’t want a glitter strip,” Mr Olds said.
“I’m confident I speak for the majority of the community here that they don’t want this.”
Division 8 councillor Rhonda Coghlan agreed.
“I too feel like this is a bridge too far. I love the natural amenity we have out on the Northern Beaches,” Ms Coghlan said.
“If (the applicant) could adhere to the rules, we wouldn’t have an issue here.
“We don’t want to turn (the northern beaches) into a Gold Coast glitter strip.”
Cairns Regional Council has recently been taken to Queensland’s Planning and Environment Court over previous rejection of digital signage applications.
Division 1 councillor Brett Moller, who rejected the Clifton Beach application, expressed concern about future litigation.
“If we refuse this today, what are the prospects of the applicant successfully appealing it to the Planning and Environment Court … because that’s another consideration for the ratepayers as well,” Mr Moller said.
The council’s planning department director Ed Johnson told Mr Moller he could not comment on the possibility of litigation.
NightOwl Convenience was contacted for comment.
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Originally published as Cairns Regional Council rejects request for illuminated sign in the Northern Beaches
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