AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

8 August 2006

Legal signs mean a ‘big reveal’ for Dominion Road

An Auckland City programme to enforce its signs bylaw in a bid to create a more attractive street environment has been a big success in Dominion Road.

Nearly all business owners in Dominion Road have now complied with the council’s signs bylaw, with only a small number still in breach of the regulations.

The council’s signs enforcement project began in January when an initial survey of Dominion Road businesses found more than 445 signs in breach of the bylaw.

The council worked with business owners to explain the bylaw and its aim to bring about improvements to the street character, pedestrian access and public safety.

The chairperson of the Planning and Regulatory Committee, Councillor Glenda Fryer says Dominion Road has been transformed since the project began.

“Many of the large and garish signs have come down and the street environment is so much more attractive with the special character of Dominion Road now showing through.

“It’s wonderful to see some of the street’s heritage and character buildings revealed from behind a shroud of advertising hoardings,” Ms Fryer says.

She says she’s been thrilled with the response from Dominion Road business owners.

“Throughout this project Auckland City put great emphasis on communication with the business owners to ensure that they had a thorough understanding of the bylaw.

“The bylaw brings benefits for business, because too much signage can cause confusion and is ultimately counter-productive.

“If every business is abiding by the bylaw then they are all operating on a level playing field,” she says.

Around ninety-two per cent of Dominion Road businesses have now complied with the bylaw.

The council has also considered some applications for special dispensations from the bylaw provisions.

Ms Fryer says the programme’s success means similar campaigns will now be undertaken in other town centres, with the aim of achieving 100 per cent compliance with the signs bylaw throughout Auckland city.

A preliminary survey has just been completed in the Central Business District, where nearly a third of businesses have been found to be in breach of the bylaw.

“The most common of these breaches has been around sandwich boards, but this is very simple issue for businesses to address and we’re now working with them to do that,” Ms Fryer says.

The council is liaising with the local business association to improve knowledge and understanding of the bylaw. It will also work with individual business owners to help them comply.

As with the Dominion Road project, a workshop will also be held in early September to give business owners the opportunity to access further information on the bylaws.

For more information about the signs bylaw, visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/signs.

ENDS

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