[2010] VCAT 1780
General information, not legal advice.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
2010-11-08
Mr J
Original judgment source is linked above.
Will the display of the signs have an unacceptable impact on the visual amenity of the locality?
To ensure the design and scale of new development makes a positive contribution to the built form of the area and is respectful to the existing character and streetscape.
Use and development is to maintain the character of the area.
Encourage advertising signs that are compatible with the particular building and area, including the conflicts of competing signage, and preserve the character of existing vistas and views.
To limit advertising on commercial buildings consistent with the character of the area.
Will the signs have an unacceptable impact on road safety?
It is VicRoads policy not to support advertising with animation within close proximity of arterial roads as this could cause unacceptable road safety risks to the motorists.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Parliamentary Road Safety Inquiry into Driver Distraction, VicRoads establish a working group to develop a more stringent approach to the installation, use and content of scrolling, moving and video-style advertising within and adjacent to road reserves. This includes standards for signs within moving electronic displays and signs with static electronic displays.
The display of two (2) electronic major promotion signs in accordance with the endorsed plans.
(a) any one image must be presented in a completely static manner, but there can be a change of such static images, provided that such change cannot be quicker than one new image per two seconds;
(b) in relation to any one product or item being promoted by the signs, the images associated with that one product or item must as a group run for at least 15 seconds;
(c) the signs must not display advertising or messages which contain fully animated or video/movie style advertising or messages; and
(d) the signs must not be used for any live television, satellite, internet or similar broadcast.
(a) dazzle or distract drivers due to their colouring;
(b) be able to be mistaken for a traffic signal because they have, for example, red, amber or green circles, octagons, crosses or triangles;
(c) be able to be mistaken as an instruction to drivers.
(a) images using an unreasonably high intensity of light in the signs, to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority;
(c) advertising or messages which contain any repeated directional motion, flicker or flashing content; or
[1] I have considered all submissions presented by the parties although I do not recite all of the contents in these reasons.
[9] See for example Clauses 11.01-2 and 11.04-2
[10] I will refer to this case as VicRoads (No. 1).
[11] This sign was the subject of a previous Tribunal determination (Octopus Media Pty Ltd v Bayside CC [2004] VCAT 2304)
[12] Octopus Media Pty Ltd v Port Phillip CC [2005] VCAT 2786; Octopus Media v Boroondara CC [2007] VCAT 507; Octupus Media v Boroondara CC [2008] VCAT 650 [sic].
[13] Young, M. S., et al "Conflicts of interest: The implications of roadside advertising for driver attention". Transportation Research Part F (2009), doi:10.1016/j.trf.2009.05.004. M Chattington et al "Investigating Driver Distraction - the Effects of Video and Static Advertising", published report for the London Road Safety Unit, Transport for London.
[14] Tantala Associates, LLC Consulting Engineers "An update of a study of the relationship between digital billboards and traffic safety in Cuyahoga County, Ohio" (November 18, 2009). Tantala Associates, LLC Consulting Engineers, "A study of the relationship between digital billboards and traffic safety in the Greater Reading Area, Berks County, Pennslyvania" [sic] (2 August 2010).
[16] 354 South Road, Hampton; 99 High Street, Kew; 8-12 Punt Road, Windsor; and 1226 Glen Huntly Glen Huntly.
Asble Pty Ltd
Stonnington CC [2010] VCAT 1780
Octopus Media Pty Ltd v Port Phillip CC [2005] VCAT 2786
Octopus Media v Boroondara CC [2007] VCAT 507
Octupus Media v Boroondara CC [2008] VCAT 650 [sic]
VicRoads v Bayside CC [2009] VCAT 2734
VicRoads & Anor v Bayside CC [2010] VCAT 564
Tewlen Pty Ltd v Melbourne [2010] VCAT 535
Octopus Media Pty Ltd v Canada Bay City Council [2006] NSWLEC 580