A Whitsunday engineer, who designs electrical systems for mines, has hit out at council’s decision to reject his application to place a custom-built sign on private property fronting the Bruce Highway.
In a move local business owner Scott Bennett is calling "hypocritical" the Whitsunday Regional Council refused his application at their Wednesday meeting last week to place an "undefined advertisement" on Collingvale Station.
"It’s hypocritical, that’s what it is and I am going to fight it. On the very same day they approved Whitsunday Caravan and Camping’s sign – now I have absolutely no problem with them – it’s a great sign and they’re good business people and good on them – but they deny me mine … why?" Mr Bennett said.
Mr Bennett is an electrical engineer and his business is to build million-dollar plus electrical systems mainly for the mining industry. He reckons his best scope to get his message out is to target the traffic on the Bruce Highway.
"A few months ago I approached Malvin Deicke and asked him whether I could put a trailer on his property. He said no worries, we all know each other pretty well around here, and so I made the sign up. Honestly, it’s a solid steel structure so if council is worried about it going anywhere in a cyclone, then it’s just not going to happen. If that goes, there won’t be a house left standing in Proserpine," he said.
Furious with council’s decision, Mr Bennett told the Guardian how he had tried to "do the right thing."
"I had a call from some bloke at council who basically told me to move it or he will fine me. I said righto I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes and so I towed it way back up the paddock until it was sorted out. He sent me the form for an advertising licence and I filled it out and sent it away, thinking everything would be great," he said.
However at last Wednesday’s council meeting, even with Cr John Collins on his side, the majority couldn’t see it Mr Bennett’s way.
"The guy has a big red sign and it draws attention and that is what the ad is about. If Coca Cola puts a sign on the highway, are we going to tell them to change the colour of their sign because it’s red?" Cr Collins questioned.
Executive services confirmed it was a "grey area" with the actual report before council stating that; "town planning cannot regulate or control advertising devices that are on vehicles or trailers".
The fact that they actually have no jurisdiction over his sign is what has Mr Bennett most riled.
"They can vote all they want, as soon as the paddock dries out, I am taking my trailer back down there. My sign has the potential to bring millions of dollars into this region … look at the rest of the signs on the highway, KFC and such, what the hell do they promote?"
Mayor Jennifer Whitney said various criteria and public safety was taken into account before the decision was made.
"It was considered the advertisement on Collingvale Station, Bruce Highway, Gregory River, may cause reasonable distraction to vehicular traffic along the Bruce Highway with the speed limit in the area being 100km. It was further considered the advertisement does detract from the amenity and the natural features of the rural environment in which it is situated, primarily because of colour, design and sign presentation," Mayor Whitney said in a statement.
"The undefined advertisement for Whitsunday Camping and Caravan Centre however does not detract from the amenity and is consistent in colour and appearance, with buildings and natural features of the environment in which it is situated."
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