Community gets their say on uses of cross street banners

Following a request to allow more commercial content in the banners flown across the streets of prominent city shopping centres, the Auckland City Council’s City Development Committee yesterday reviewed a report looking at possible policy criteria to address this on-going bylaw issue.

Prior to making a final decision in November, the committee has asked Community Boards for the local communities’ views on the appropriate uses of cross street banners across publicly owned land. “As it is the local residents who suffer the benefits and disbenefits of this type of signage the Committee felt it appropriate for the community to tell us what they want,” says Councillor Yates, Committee Chair.

Cross-street banners use public space to make a highly visual statement, and current policy is to approve banners if they display a community message. The report includes a number of options including whether some allowance be made for local commercial advertising, while protecting access to banner advertising by local not-for-profit organisations and Council.

The current contract with NetWork Visuals, Council’s approved event branding supplier, seeks to protect access for events deemed by Council to be of significant importance to the Auckland City region. This is by way of first option to use any site, as well as a right to require that installed banners are cleared.

“Although public consultation on the previous review of the signs bylaw did not indicate a desire for more commercial advertising throughout the city, it was felt that the matter of cross street banners required further consideration and the policy clarified,” says Juliet Yates.

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