Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH - 1994-08-25
Recently, I organised a meeting in the Litchfield Shire Council's offices with senior Department of Transport and Works staff and people in small business in the shire. The object of the meeting was to discuss fully the vexed question of roadside advertising by the small business people of the Litchfield Shire. Was the minister told of this meeting and what action will ensue from the Department of Transport and Works?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I was expecting a report on the meeting from its chairman, the member for Nelson, who organised and chaired the meeting. I thought that it might have been appropriate to have some written advice from the chairman on the conclusions that the meeting reached and the recommendations that it made. However, I was given that advice because some officers from my department attended that meeting.
Jesting aside, I thank the member for her contribution because the problem of signs in the rural area is of increasing concern to the community. The rural area is experiencing rapid growth in both residential accommodation and businesses. Business people, especially those with small businesses, wish to make their services known to the community and the best way to do that is with a sign that advertises their wares or services. However, it is obviously undesirable to have a situation whereby people are free to erect signs of any size anywhere they like at any time. If that were the case, visual pollution would become a problem.
A number of people representing different views attended the meeting. Some complained that their signs had been removed. I think they accused the government of stealing
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them. Some claimed that there were too many signs. Some claimed that there were not enough signs. There was general consensus ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, the member for Wanguri cannot help himself. He has constantly interrupted every minister who has attempted to answer a question ...
Mr Bailey: Its such boring stuff.
Mr MANZIE: ... this morning. He cannot keep his mouth closed. He says that this is a boring subject. It may be boring for the member for Wanguri, but people in the Darwin rural area are concerned about the number of signs that are appearing willy-nilly.
Mr Bailey: Answer the question. Don't make a speech.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, he wants me now to answer the question. He interrupts ...
Mr Bailey: You are dragging it out for so long.
Mr MANZIE: He is rude.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: He is bad-mannered. He prevents other people from hearing answers ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable minister will answer the question.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, despite their differing views, most people agreed there was a need to control the signs and their proliferation. On the major arterial roads - the Stuart Highway and the Arnhem Highway - the Department of Transport and Works has control of signs up to a certain area on the road reserve. On other roads in the rural area, the signs are under the control of the Litchfield Shire Council. In view of the concerns and the differing areas of control, the department is establishing a group to review the matter of signs. That group will be comprised of representatives from local government, the tourist bureau, small business and government. The aim is to try to come up with something that will meet the desires of people in the shire. I hope that the member for Nelson will continue to be active in representing the community's views in relation to this matter.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I was expecting a report on the meeting from its chairman, the member for Nelson, who organised and chaired the meeting. I thought that it might have been appropriate to have some written advice from the chairman on the conclusions that the meeting reached and the recommendations that it made. However, I was given that advice because some officers from my department attended that meeting.
Jesting aside, I thank the member for her contribution because the problem of signs in the rural area is of increasing concern to the community. The rural area is experiencing rapid growth in both residential accommodation and businesses. Business people, especially those with small businesses, wish to make their services known to the community and the best way to do that is with a sign that advertises their wares or services. However, it is obviously undesirable to have a situation whereby people are free to erect signs of any size anywhere they like at any time. If that were the case, visual pollution would become a problem.
A number of people representing different views attended the meeting. Some complained that their signs had been removed. I think they accused the government of stealing
Page 81
them. Some claimed that there were too many signs. Some claimed that there were not enough signs. There was general consensus ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, the member for Wanguri cannot help himself. He has constantly interrupted every minister who has attempted to answer a question ...
Mr Bailey: Its such boring stuff.
Mr MANZIE: ... this morning. He cannot keep his mouth closed. He says that this is a boring subject. It may be boring for the member for Wanguri, but people in the Darwin rural area are concerned about the number of signs that are appearing willy-nilly.
Mr Bailey: Answer the question. Don't make a speech.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, he wants me now to answer the question. He interrupts ...
Mr Bailey: You are dragging it out for so long.
Mr MANZIE: He is rude.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: He is bad-mannered. He prevents other people from hearing answers ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable minister will answer the question.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, despite their differing views, most people agreed there was a need to control the signs and their proliferation. On the major arterial roads - the Stuart Highway and the Arnhem Highway - the Department of Transport and Works has control of signs up to a certain area on the road reserve. On other roads in the rural area, the signs are under the control of the Litchfield Shire Council. In view of the concerns and the differing areas of control, the department is establishing a group to review the matter of signs. That group will be comprised of representatives from local government, the tourist bureau, small business and government. The aim is to try to come up with something that will meet the desires of people in the shire. I hope that the member for Nelson will continue to be active in representing the community's views in relation to this matter.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016