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Media release

20 April 2022

Strict rules governing political signage will be enforced

Candidates reminded to comply with electoral material guidelines

Candidates are warned to comply with rules around the display of political signage.

As the Federal election campaign moves into full swing, candidates and their supporters are reminded they must comply with State and Council regulations when erecting political signage.

With nominations due to close tomorrow ahead of the poll on Saturday 21 May 2022, Council is reminding candidates of the strict rules governing the erection and display of political signage.

Council officers will undertake a program of compliance and monitoring to ensure all posters and signage containing electoral material comply with the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 Division 2, Subdivision 13 - Election signs.

As part of these regulations, election signs must be no more than 0.8 square metres in area.

No signs are allowed to be displayed on Council's road reserves, either free-standing pole signs or those affixed to trees or street furniture. Signage is also not allowed to be displayed on a trailer parked on a road or road-related areas.

Election signs can be affixed to private telegraph poles, however the owner needs to be certain the pole is not owned by an electricity provider as legal action has occurred elsewhere in NSW.

Council officers will remove signs from public property if they are not standard-sized corflute with appropriate content, or if they are in a dangerous location. All signage connected to power poles will be reported to Essential Energy for their attention and action.

Signs can be attached to the walls of houses or commercial buildings, as long as they adhere to size limitations in State regulations and are not attached to heritage or draft heritage items.

Any signs that do not comply with the above rules may be impounded by Council officers and will attract a Council fee for retrieval. Any signs remaining one week after the election (28 May 2022) will be removed and impounded.

Electoral material

Candidates are responsible for complying with their electoral material obligations under the Commonwealth Electoral Act. Additional information on electoral material can be found in the Candidates Handbook: February 2022 Federal elections and By-elections published by the Australian Electoral Commission.