MEDIA RELEASE - 23 August 2024

Published on 23 August 2024

CANDIDATE SIGNAGE AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

With just one month until the NSW Local Government election, candidates and their supporters are reminded they must comply with State and Council regulations when erecting signage. A total of 18 candidates have registered to contest the Oberon Council election on Saturday 14 September 2024. The candidates make up 1 grouped ticket, with 9 candidates running on their own as individuals.

All posters and signage containing electoral material must comply with the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 Division 2, Subdivision 13 - Election signs.

Council have provided all candidates with their legal obligations and over the coming weeks, Council officers will undertake a program of compliance and monitoring to ensure all posters and signage containing electoral material comply with relevant policies. Residents are urged to report any illegal or dangerous signage to council@oberon.nsw.gov.au

Electoral signage

As part of these regulations, election signs must be no more than 0.8 square metres in area. No signs are allowed on Council's road reserves, either free-standing pole signs or those affixed to trees or street furniture. Election signs can be affixed to private telegraph poles on private property; however, written owner’s consent must be obtained. All signage connected to power poles on the road reserve will be reported to Essential Energy for their attention and action. Signs can be attached to the walls of houses or commercial buildings if they adhere to size limitations in State regulations and are not attached to heritage or draft heritage items.

Council officers will contact the sign owner if they are not a standard sign or are in a dangerous location. The sign owner will then have 48 hours to remove the signage.

Unlawful signage may also be seized in accordance with the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 and fines apply ($660 for an individual and $2,640 for a corporation).

All signage should be removed within one week of the election (by Sunday 22 September 2024) or may be seized by Council.

Additional information on electoral material can be found on the NSW Electoral Commission webpage at elections.nsw.gov.au/political-participants/electoral-material

For accurate and official information, please refer to the Oberon Council Facebook page and website, which serves as the single source of truth for all Council communications.

If you have any questions in relation to this matter, please do not hesitate to contact Council on (02) 6329 8100 or council@oberon.nsw.gov.au

240832-Candidate-Signage-LG-Elections-2024.pdf(PDF, 101KB)