Signs of trouble as quarry signs ‘break law’
Residents protesting against a proposed quarry in Templeton have been ordered to take down signs objecting to the development – because having more than one on their property is against the law.
Homeowners were warned they faced $300 fines if they defied Christchurch City Council regulations by continuing to display more than a single sign.
Officials have also removed three placards from lamp posts on roads near railway lines in the town after it was decided they pose a risk to public safety.
Residents branded the council’s stance as ‘‘pedantic’’ and ‘‘ludicrous’’.
Garry Kilday, president of the Templeton Residents’ Association (TRA), which is leading the fight against construction company Fulton Hogan’s plans to quarry at Dawsons Rd, said: ‘‘It’s just a distraction. I haven’t so much as even thought about giving a reply to the council, that’s how much I think about it.’’
The council set up an investigation after receiving two complaints about the signs, one over fears about their impact on traffic safety. The complaint, from an unnamed member of the public, said the signs were ‘‘distracting when driving and are becoming an eyesore’’. It said: ‘‘This has got out of hand. Please remove these signs from all public areas before they cause an accident.’’
An officer was sent out on April
3 to note down which houses had signs – smaller ones about the size of A4 paper and larger ones measuring 80 centimetres by
120cm – and to remove others from public land on main roads. None were removed from homes.
In correspondence to the TRA, the council said that while their size was not against regulations, residents were not allowed more than one on their property.
‘‘The plan is very specific in that it is not just the size, but the number of signs on a property that determine compliance,’’ it said.
‘‘I encourage your members to remove any signs that do not comply … health and safety needs to be considered.’’
Kilday, who has three signs at the front of his house, was astonished at the suggestion they could be dangerous.
‘‘It’s ludicrous. How can it be a health and safety risk? It’s a little yellow sign. The person that’s got their dog kennels advertised down the road on the outside of their house has two signs – is that a health and safety risk?
‘‘What difference does it make, if you put one huge sign or three small signs? If I put three signs together, does that make one big sign? It’s a stupid thing that they’re wasting their time on.’’
He questioned why the TRA was being penalised when organisations such as real estate agents, Weber Bros Circus and Fulton Hogan itself appeared to be allowed multiple signs on other fences around Christchurch.
TRA would refuse to do council’s work by asking protesters to take down signs, he said.
Tracey Weston, council head of regulatory compliance, said officers would speak to homeowners to persuade them to remove illegal signs. ‘‘If this is unachievable then there is potential for an infringement of $300 to be issued.’’
Meanwhile, Fulton Hogan has decided to delay applying for resource consent for the Dawsons Rd site until July. In a newsletter the firm said it was ‘‘vital that the full results of the current Yaldhurst air quality monitoring programme be fully known before we submit any consent applications’’.
The site is being operated as a working farm, with grazing for cows and sheep. The company will begin water-bore drilling to assess groundwater conditions next week.