Richmond’s Pooseum sign comes down after Clarence City Council edict

The pooping penguin sign in front of Richmond’s Pooseum is no more following a council order. DETAILS >>

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THE Clarence City Council has been “obstructive, narrow-minded, and shortsighted” after it ordered the removal of a sign in front of a Richmond business, says the owner.

Karin Koch opened the Pooseum science museum at Richmond dedicated entirely to dung in 2018.

In December 2019, Ms Koch said the sign outside the business would likely have to come down as the council was enforcing its removal due to it not contributing positively to the streetscape of Richmond and that it had caused the town “to lose its historic cultural heritage significance”.

The pooping penguin Pooseum sign before it was removed.

On Wednesday, the sign, which had become a popular location for selfies, officially came down as it did not have a planning permit.

“None of the council members who objected to the sign – our Pooseum logo on a white background – has ever visited the Pooseum,” Ms Koch wrote in a Facebook post.

“Instead of supporting small businesses, they are obstructive, narrow-minded, and shortsighted.

“Unfortunately for everyone else, they have the power to make arbitrary decisions based on their personal opinions and some vague ‘guidelines’ they invent themselves.”

Karin Koch with the blank white sign outside her Pooseum at Richmond. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Where the business’s logo of a pooing penguin once was is now a blank white sign, which Ms Koch predicted the council would also not be happy with.

A pointed message on the now blank sign outside the Pooseum. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said the content of the sign was not a concern, but it was the placement and size of the sign that was the problem.

“A permit application has been submitted by the business owner, but does not include all the required information, nor has the application fee been paid to allow for the permit to be processed,” he said.

“Once a complete application has been received, it will be processed and considered in the usual way and in accordance with planning scheme requirements.

“Council is fully supportive of business growth and small business development in the city of Clarence, however, it is also our role to ensure planning scheme requirements are met.”

Karin Koch opened the science museum in Richmond dedicated to dung in 2018. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Ms Koch said the application would cost her $1100, which was more than what the sign cost, so she simply took it down.