A SIGN erected in the Airlie Beach main street has angered some residents.
The large digital sign is where the clock used to be, above the Magnums Resort front office, at 370 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach.
It has been there a while but Airlie Beach resident Jill Wilson now feels compelled to speak out.
Mrs Wilson, who has lived in the region for more than 15 years and now lives in Airlie Beach, said she thought it was ‘atrocious’.
“It’s a blight on what had become an attractive street,” she said.
“This is a beautiful village beach town and it shouldn’t be spoilt. It [the sign] has marred it but, not only that, it’s the gigantic size of it.
“Even to the degree of the angle it faces – as you are driving you can’t miss it – it blots out all the other pleasantness.
“We’re not Las Vegas!”
Whitsunday Regional Council advised that the application submitted to council was from Bishopp Outdoor Advertising.
Council approved the sign in November 2023.
“Councillors were briefed on the application, and the application was approved by Council officers under delegation, in November 2023, as it was code assessable,” a council spokesman said.
“Applications for advertising devices are code assessable development, under Queensland’s planning system and, therefore, do not undergo public notification.”
The sign was approved in full, with conditions.
Condition 4.1 requires that 80 per cent of third-party advertising should be for goods accessed or purchased within the Whitsunday Local Government Area.
Mrs Wilson, however, believes that advertising has been put before the community.
“The Main Street’s been imposed upon,” she said.
“It’s our community and we go to the main street because we find it attractive.
“It’s advertising – they’re putting the dollar over the community.”
What do you think? Do you agree with Mrs Wilson that it’s an eyesore? Or do you think it looks OK?
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