What are the rules for erecting billboards?

BILLBOARDS for hopeful candidates have been put up all over the country.

Here in Alexandra it is no different, generally on road reserve and verges, mostly Central Otago District Counciladministered land.

Those who travel the road south from Alexandra may have noticed a hoarding wanting to save the amenity trees at the reserve the sign is on. It is even illuminated by solarpowered lights at night.

The sign was erected by myself on behalf of concerned locals.

It is temporary, but has been in place for 11 months. But never consented.

The very next day, after I raised pertinent questions with the hopefuls at a candidate meeting, I was asked to remove it via a phone call from the Parks and Reserve manager of the CODC. Coincidence?

The following day, in email form, it instructed me to remove the sign by Monday or else ‘‘enforcement’’ would follow. The email went on to say that resource consent wouldn’t be an option.

Here’s the big irony. The CODC representative is quoting a lack of consent/permission with respect to the tree sign, but the CODC has ignored its statuary obligations, and thumbed its nose at creating a reserve management plan as per the Reserves Act. This from a council led by an exlawyer.

So maybe the electors should look harder at the other signs further down the road?

Ken Churchill Alexandra

[Central Otago District Council parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey replies:

‘‘Mr Churchill was contacted by council staff by phone on Thursday, September 8, and subsequently emailed advising that the signs erected at the Half Mile were in place without permission and should be removed. The signs required approval by council as landowner and also need consent under the district plan.

Mr Churchill was advised that because the signs had been in place without approval for nearly 12 months it was considered he had been given plenty of leeway.

‘‘He was asked to remove the signs to avoid any potential enforcement action. He was further advised that if he was unable to remove the signs, council would arrange for their removal and return them to him.

‘‘This request was entirely unrelated to any comments made at the candidates meeting referred to by Mr Churchill.

‘‘Reserve management plans are prepared under section 41 of the Reserves Act 1977. Local Authorities do not have a statutory time frame in which they are required to prepare these plans.

‘‘Electoral signs are permitted in the district plan, in the following preapproved locations in Alexandra: Centennial Ave, Shannon St, and Half Mile.’’]

Unsafe bus hub

CAN I say a big thankyou to the New Zealand Police.

I catch the bus from the bus hub in Dunedin Central, and on any given afternoon when school is in, there are a lot of teenagers there.

Some are foulmouthed, intimidating young people with obviously a chip on their shoulders, who show off in front of each other, forgetting there are others waiting for their bus. They have no respect.

The police, thank goodness, arrive to dissipate the crowd of unruly citizens of tomorrow.

I sit quietly and say to myself, how do you change the mindset of these young people who need direction? Thankyou for making me feel safe. Marita Johnson

Dunedin ...................................