Viva Pakenham!

A BILLBOARD near the corner of Bald Hill Road has been rejected by Cardinia Shire Council for fears the intersection could turn into ‘Las Vegas’.
The application was put before Cardinia Shire councillors on Monday night and council officers recommended rejecting the permit.The application was for a double sided, seven-metre-high flood-lit billboard to be erected near the corner of Bald Hill Road and Racecourse Road.
Cr Collin Ross was vocal in his disapproval and said an approval would ‘open Pandora’s box’ and encourage further advertising of this kind.
“Where this sign is positioned, it is on the corner of a roundabout and one of the major entrances to Pakenham,” Cr Ross said.“We don’t want it to turn into Las Vegas or some kind of show.”
Cr Jodie Owen supported the motion to reject the application, saying council need to ‘put its foot down initially’ on applications of this kind.
The officer’s report said the billboard was an inappropriate sign and in an inappropriate location.“The subject site is located at a busy gateway to Main Street and Council officers consider that this area should be protected from inappropriate development in order to provide an ensure an aesthetically pleasing entry point to the main thoroughfare,” the report read.
It is considered that the proposed sign has an adverse effect on this significant gateway location and will form a dominant and obtrusive visual element in the streetscape.”
Mayor Brett Owen also noted that there were currently two signage applications, which were refused by council, awaiting hearing at VCAT.