Council to investigate legality of signs

One of the signs erected by the Rotorua Pro-Democracy Society around Rotorua Photo/Stephen Parker

Rotorua Lakes Council staff will investigate whether signs put up around the city by a group critical of council policy are legal.

On Thursday Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick posted a picture of a sign being erected by a member of the Rotorua Pro-Democracy Society on private land near one of the main entrances to the city.

She expressed this opinion on her Facebook post: "Snapped while out admiring the beautiful gardens and inner city upgrades. What a pity we don't all share the upbeat feeling in our beautiful place."

A later post made on the council's Facebook page asked residents if they thought the signs were "visual pollution" and if they interfered "with the fantastic work our parks and reserves staff are doing to beautify the gateway to our city", and asked residents for their feedback.

"Is this the best place for such a domestic conversation? What impression do you think this gives to visitors to the district?" the Facebook post went on to say.

Rotorua Pro-Democracy Society secretary Reynold Macpherson said he was not too concerned about what the mayor thought about the signs.

"The mayor has been seen photographing the yellow signs that raise embarrassing questions for council, muttering about them being 'visual pollution'."

"What is different is that they are all non-commercial signs on private land, with permission.

"So instead of attacking the signs, wasting officials' time, and vilifying the questioners, might it be wiser for the mayor to respond positively to the questions being asked?

"And to honour the right of citizens in a democracy to freedom of speech and to question their rulers?" Mr Macpherson said.

Mrs Chadwick said there had been a lot of interest in the signs.

"As I'm always keen to hear the views of our community on such issues I've been encouraging a sharing of thoughts on this matter on my Facebook page," she said.

However, the council's compliance solutions manager Neven Hill said staff were "currently undertaking an initial assessment of the signage to confirm whether all legal requirements under the proposed Rotorua District Plan, and the council's Signs on Roads Bylaw 2008, have been met".