A SEVEN-STOREY sign advertising Karingal Hub Shopping Centre has been given the go-ahead by Frankston Council after a feisty debate at the 3 April public council meeting.
The shopping centre owners ISPT Super Property asked councillors to approve an illuminated and floodlit promotional sign at Karingal Hub ahead of a major refit of the shopping centre.
Council’s decision was deferred from December until this month. Councillors were split on approving the advertising sign at the April council meeting.
Mayor Cr Colin Hampton used his mayoral casting vote to give the sign the green light after councillors were split 4-4 on the matter.
“I don’t think it’s intrusive at all,” Cr Hampton said at the meeting.
“That development in Karingal Hub is going to be magnificent … it’s a $110 million development”.
Cr Glenn Aitken was most vocal in opposition to the shopping centre sign.
“The nature of it will change that part of the face of Frankston forever,” he said.
“It is a brutal and unnecessary impost in the Frankston environment. It is gaudy. It is a case of commercial greed overtaking good planning commonsense.
“This is a public disgrace. If this actually seriously goes ahead it calls this whole council’s credibility into question to such an extent that one can only wonder if this council is really capable of properly balanced property planning decisions.
“Should council disappear and be administered if this is the best Frankston Council can do for its community?”
Cr Michael O’Reilly led the support for the sign.
“I myself am a resident of the local area and I have absolutely no problem with it,” he said.
The North-East Ward councillor noted VicRoads had no objections to “a massive sign” and there had been two objections to the proposal “and we haven’t heard from them in months”.
Cr O’Reilly said the advertising sign and centre upgrades will support the “little stores” and small businesses at the shopping centre.
Crs Quinn McCormack and Steve Toms feared the seven-storey sign installation would set a precedent across the municipality despite arguments an exception should be made since Karingal Hub is near Peninsula Link and the sign would attract passing trade.
Council officers recommended the sign installation be approved but Cr Aitken argued the height and size contravened council’s advertising signs policy in the Frankston Planning Scheme.
Cr Hampton said he had visited the centre for a demonstration using a balloon to show the height of the planned sign.
The mayor said it would be located “at the back of the Mitre 10” at the rear of the centre.
“Sometimes the theatrics in this place would put Peter O’Toole to shame,” he said.
Crs Aitken, McCormack, Toms and deputy mayor Cr Lillian O’Connor voted against the sign being erected while Crs Brian Cunial, Sandra Mayer, O’Reilly and the mayor voted for its installation.
Cr Kris Bolam abstained, saying it is arguable the advertising sign’s size complies with planning guidelines.
