28 February 2007

Media Release

Auckland City Signage and Billboard debacle “just gets worse”…

Businesses are starting to get very angry and agitate for the Auckland City signage and billboards bylaw to be withdawrn as awareness grows on the cost of the draconian proposals.

Auckland City has around 60,000 businesses, 95% of which are small-medium. Most businesses have a sign that will either need to be removed or changed to comply, and especially to meet the rule limiting the verandah facia sign to 300mm in height across the City’s business zones.

The industry estimates a $5000 cost to a typical business small-medium business to remove and/or replace non-conforming signs, noted Michael Barnett, Auckland Chamber CEO and convenor of a group of more than 20 business organisations seeking the bylaws withdrawal.

“The estimated cost to comply on signage alone will be in excess of $3 million. The claimed benefit of the wholesale overhaul of the City’s signage and billboards bylaws the Council has in train is over ridden by the enormous disruption and cost this will impose on businesses and ratepayers,” said Mr Barnett.

In respect of billboards, around 430 are expected to not comply with the new bylaw. The industry estimates it will cost up $5000 for each to be demolished and disposed of, including removing foundations and dumping material.

However, withdrawal of the bylaw needs to be done as a strategic process, not another ad hoc political knee jerk. “The consultation process now in train should be allowed to proceed so the full lessons and issues can get democratically debated,” said Mr Barnett.

The political move by Action Hobson in partnership with the billboard industry ignores the reality that the bigger issue is the impact the bylaw has on signage on businesses and buildings in the City, the sign industry and the mass of Auckland’s businesses.

Ends

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