Fatima Halloum
A Wyndham resident is outraged by the “irresponsible” placement of United Australia Party’s election signage in the municipality, deeming them “negligent” and “disgraceful”.
Big, bright yellow signs were tied to various road signs at busy intersections and along pedestrian bridges over the freeway.
Wyndham resident Lisa Heinrichs said she first saw the signs while driving on Shaws Road, approaching the roundabout near Tarneit Road.
“I first noticed the 60km road work sign and the saw a yellow sign behind it, and my first initial thought was, ‘well, that’s a bit ridiculous putting a roadwork sign on a street sign’ because you can’t see it, it obstructs your view,” Ms Heinrichs said.
“As I got closer I realised it was election material, and I looked and there was a sign on every pole around there.”
Ms Heinrichs said the roundabout is “dangerous” on a normal day, but the signage added additional hazards.
“There was one poster on the children crossing sign, drivers were distracted, they’re [the signs] are bright yellow, people might brake suddenly,” Ms Heinrichs said.
“They can be so ignorant and so self entitled to think posting election material everywhere is more important than children crossing at a crossing.
“I don’t care what political party they’re from … you’re putting people in danger,” she said.
The authoriser listed on the signs is UAP’s Craig Kelly, and Ms Heinrichs believes the politician needs to be “held accountable” for the “illegal” signage.
“An example needs to be set that this is not good behaviour, council needs to do something about it,” Ms Heinrichs said.
Wyndham council said obstruction to driver and pedestrian vision is “of great concern” to them.
“Wyndham city prohibits the display or placement of any electoral signage in or on any public place, being land, including roads and reserves which council owns, occupies, manages or controls,” operations director Stephen Thorpe said.
“Illegal signage can carry a fine of up to $826 per sign.”
The responsible authority can vary depending on whether election signage is displayed on council managed roads, or roads overseen by the state government.
A spokesperson for The Department of Transport said it had not received or approved applications for political signage on Sayers, Tarneit or Derrimut roads.
“There is a clear process for political advertising signs placed within arterial road reserves or land owned by the Department of Transport – all of which requires the prior written consent of the Department,” the spokesperson said.
As per the current road management guidelines, if a sign is illegally placed along a freeway or arterial road reserve, the DoT can notify the candidate/party to remove the sign within a specified time.
UAP was contacted for comment.
