Council clamps down to clear candidate clutter

Published on 11 June 2020

With campaigning for the upcoming Eden-Monaro by-election now in full swing, Council has today announced it will strongly enforce legal and policy requirements regarding electoral signage in the region.

Elections, at all levels of government, often bring with them a proliferation of electoral signage that can be unsightly and may cause obstruction to pedestrians and distractions to drivers.

With 14 candidates contesting the 4 July election, Council expects a significant amount of electoral signage. Council has already received several complaints about electoral signage and staff have moved quickly to remove the signs.

For the remainder of the by-election, Council staff will confiscate and destroy electoral signage placed on public land and road reserves. Warning letters will be issued where electoral signs are erected without appropriate Council consent on private property if the signage does not comply with legislation governing electoral signage.

Council will remind all candidates and party electoral offices of the legal requirements for electoral signage and will be advising that the placement of illegal signage, including corflute signs, will not be tolerated in the Queanbeyan-Palerang local government area.

Residents can report illegal electoral signage by calling 1300 735 025, emailing council@qprc.nsw.gov.au or lodging a request via our website at www.qprc.nsw.gov.au or the Snap Send Solve app.

At its Planning and Strategy Committee Meeting held on 10 June, Council also agreed to the hire of the Queanbeyan Indoor Sports Centre (QISC) by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for use as a returning office and/or pre-poll voting venue, subject to Public Health Orders and COVID-19 safety measures.

Indoor sports usually played in the QISC as part of the winter season have been suspended temporarily due to COVID-19 restrictions. Therefore the hire of the facility for the by-election will not impact upon any current sporting activities.

Other smaller venues in the region may also be hired by the AEC for candidate briefings and use by the AEC.

For further information about the Eden-Monaro by-election go to: www.aec.gov.au/eden-monaro