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Motorists may have noticed a rash of orange stickers plastered on signboards along Whangaparāoa Road and Hibiscus Coast Highway in Ōrewa and Silverdale last week.
Auckland Council compliance officers cracked down after receiving several complaints about hoarding-style advertising placed without authorisation on public land across the city.
“When investigating two signs in Silverdale and Whangaparāoa, officers found many similar signs of various sizes at several locations in the area and placed illegal signage stickers on each of them,” compliance manager Adrian Wilson said.
Almost 60 signs were identified and stickered on the Coast.
The stickers informed the owners that the signs were illegal and should be removed immediately. They were warned that council may remove the signs and charge owners for removal and storage.
By late last week, most of the stickered signs appeared to have been removed.
Signs are typically put up at night, and in some cases there is evidence that heavy machinery has been used to sink sizeable poles.
The council response stoked reaction on social media, with some people suggesting the actions were unnecessary and a waste of ratepayers’ money.
“Small businesses are still struggling and it’s really not hurting anyone,” wrote one.
The owner of a painting company said his sign had been targeted even though it was on private property. He told the paper his company had been given permission by a customer to erect a sign on their property after completing a job.
Among the signs targeted were several belonging to Reliable Concrete Cleaning Solutions, whose director Nathan Gibbs said the company has been using them for a long time.
“These signs have been the best way for us to receive business within our local area,” he said, adding that council compliance officers seemed to be “doing their darnedest to stop businesses from making money”.
Wilson said the proliferation of signage can divert drivers’ attention from the road.
“While advertising for community events signage is permitted at some approved sites on public land, businesses are generally not permitted to erect signs on public land – or on private land not associated with the business premises where it can be viewed from the road corridor, as they can be distracting to motorists.”
Approved locations on the Coast for signs promoting community events include opposite the library on Whangaparāoa Road and opposite the campground in Ōrewa.
Under a signage bylaw, different rules apply to signs relating to businesses, events, estate agents and elections, and to various types, sizes and locations of signs. A fixed fee for approvals under the bylaw is $1664.
For more information, and to apply for council approval: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/licences-regulations/signs/Pages/default.aspx
