New flag controls anger businesses

Auckland business associations are fighting a new contract controling town centre flags and banners which .

The Papakura Business Association is among groups upset with Auckland Council’s new signage bylaw and will be lumped with a $10,000 bill for its Anzac Day flags under the new conditions.

The new rules have put pole flags and cross-street banners under the control of Auckland Transport who contracted outdoor media company QMS to market, sell and manage the assets.

Concerns that flags for community events such as Anzac Day and Christmas would be jeopardised because of increased costs and restrictions have seen businesses associations lash out.

Papakura Business Association chairman Neil O’Connor, who raised the issue at the July local board meeting, says Auckland Transport are making ‘‘compromises’’ but there are still ongoing concerns.

‘‘Clarification on policy’’ is still needed, he says.

O’Connor believes Auckland Transport acted ‘‘unilaterally’’ in signing a contract with QMS in December 2015 which the business association was only advised about in March 2016.

‘‘A concern for everyone was the restriction on the supply of flags. . . those are the sorts of things that absolutely should be carried out in consultation.’’

The business association would be spending nearly $10,000 to put up Anzac Day flags which was a 70 per cent increase in cost under the QMS contract, O’Connor says.

The business association has worked hard in recent years to bring the town centre to life with pole flags and cross-street banners, he says.

‘‘When they’re empty they look ugly. . . they bring colour, atmosphere and vibrancy to the town.’’

Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan says an agreement was signed with QMS as part of the super city transition to ‘‘standardise’’ the management of town centre flags.

Auckland Transport is now working to meet community demands and improve its ‘‘com- munication process’’ with business associations, he says.

‘‘A series of improvements to the initial operating guidelines for use of the pole flags and crossstreet banners are being drafted.

Non-commercial events ‘‘takes precedence over commercial use’’, Hanna says.