•Clover Moore wants 15 per cent of every electronic billboard for city

•City of Sydney argues it should have the free advertising space for ‘public benefit’

•660 car spaces lost to Sydney CBD as a result Moore’s bike lanes obsession

SYDNEY Lord Mayor Clover Moore wants advertisers using electronic billboards in the city to give her 15 per cent of their ad space — so she can promote herself for free. 
 
The messages she wants to get out there — without paying for it — include her support for worm farms, and instructions on how to keep bees in the inner city.

The latest bizarre idea from Ms Moore comes as Sydney council launches a review of outdoor advertising regulations in response to growing demand for big flashy billboards.

The review, which will be completed by August, is designed to protect sensitive locations and shield residents and motorists from bright billboards.



But industry body the Outdoor Media Association opposes key parts of it, including a blanket ban on converting existing ads into electronic signage in locations including Millers Point, Circular Quay, Bridge St and Town Hall.

It has also refused to accept Mr Moore’s demands that 15 per cent of “electronic variable content” ad space is made freely available for the council to promote itself.

City of Sydney argues it should have the free advertising space for “public benefit”, in accordance with state planning laws.

It claims a precedent for the 15 per cent level was set during a ruling by the NSW Land and Environment Court on a billboard near the Coca-Cola sign on Darlinghurst Rd.

In an example of the material it could run, City of Sydney pointed to an advert directing viewers to its Green Villages website, which contains a message from Ms Moore as well as information about worm farms.

One article about “sustainable meat and fish” advises people to eat less. Under the heading “Eat Less” it says: “How many servings of meat, dairy, seafood or eggs do you have each day? For many Australians, that number has been steadily growing for the last 60 years.”

Another article describes how to become an urban beekeeper.

The Outdoor Media Association described the city’s demand for 15 per cent advertising space as “unlawful”.

The OMA’s submission added: “Advertising plays a fundamental economic role in Australian society, with an overall spend of $11.6 billion in 2014. Last year the out-of-home industry raised revenue of $602 million, making up approximately 5.2 per cent of advertising spend in Australia.

“By limiting the advertising spaces available, many integral community members will be affected including local businesses, tourism operators, art institutions and charities.”

Lord Mayor parks reason in search for cycling nirvana

Miles Godfrey

A WHOPPING 660 car parking spaces have been ripped out of the Sydney CBD as a result of Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s $64 million obsession with bike lanes.

Ms Moore has built 13.4km of cycle lanes and recently unveiled plans for another 10 routes — two scheduled to be built later this year, during the upheaval caused by the George Street light rail construction.

The new lanes are being funded by City of Sydney and managed by the state government.

Since 2007 the city council has spent $64 million on “streetscape upgrades”, including huge stretches of separated bike paths — with five more kilometres being planned or built.



The cost to motorists from the construction work so far was revealed last night as Ms Moore said 660 car kerbside parking spaces have been torn up to make way for cycle paths.

Councillor Christine Forster — who forced Ms Moore to reveal the figure with a question on notice during last night’s full council meeting — slammed the situation.

“This is a massive loss of on-street parking and reflects the city’s cavalier attitude to the community’s need for what is an incredibly scarce and valuable asset for our residents and businesses,” she said.

“When we plan our new bicycle and footpath infrastructure, we should be going to whatever lengths it takes to preserve as much parking as possible on city streets.”

Ms Moore defended the loss of car parking spaces and said it amounted to two per cent of the 39,000 on-street car spots on City of Sydney’s local government area.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/attempted-billboard-heist-just-another...

when you read stuff like this.. it makes you want to vote for amalgamation of local councils.....something happens to people when they get these jobs.. they think they become royalty...

maybe its time they had a two term only for these pompous wannabees..

The more cycle paths the better. Its good for people generally and for the environment, unless of course you are happy with your obesity and are addicted to Beijing air.  If business is going to pollute our skies with their repugnant messages all over the place I see nothing wrong with requiring them to devote 15% of the space they are polluting to worthwhile community messages. 

I don't expect you to understand this but there are some positive community benefits to Clover Moore's proposals but all you reproduce here (you can only reproduce, you can't think it up for yourself) is an absurd exaggerated account of what a disaster it's bound to be.  Why? Because your string pullers financial interests may be affected. If you ever privatly assess these thing for yourself do you ever want to give some thought to what may be good for the community instead of what is good or bad for business. 

Armchair_Politician wrote on May 19^th, 2015 at 8:59am:


I have never driven in the Sydney CBD, not for shopping or anything else. Drive to the outer suburbs and then use public transport. The public transport system in Sydney is actually pretty good.

Only an idiot would claim more bikes is a bad thing, how do all those Chinese do their shopping armpit?

Armchair_Politician wrote on May 19^th, 2015 at 8:59am:
Yes, for the moment lets just say that all that is true.  But what about the good things it can bring.  Cars are turning our innercity roads into a nightmare. I drive to the innercity of sydney (from canberra) about once a month and I can see why city people are so on edge. Encouraging people to use bikes instead of cars can alleviate that. Also, 5 years ago I was headed for a heart attack. I started riding my bike and I can tell you from personal experience it has been nothing less then wonderful in every respect.  I'm extremely health (great heart now), I'm fantastic in the bedroom with no drugs needed and I save a hep of money, not to mention the good I'm doing for the air and the environment. Now your DT article mentioned none of that, just simply went hysterical about what a disaster of an idea it was because it made some business people (whop are also headed for a heart attack) unhappy.  Why don't you put your ideology for your fellow man ahead of your ideology for business.          

John Smith wrote on May 19^th, 2015 at 9:04am:


You mean like this?

Armchair_Politician wrote on May 19^th, 2015 at 9:18am:
I'm taking it that you don't really think that's an argument for anything.

Armchair_Politician wrote on May 19^th, 2015 at 9:16am:
Yes but consider this. You and your mates can't be expected to hop on a bike form Penrith to the sydney CBD but those living in sydney can, which will alleviate the traffic conditions you encounter when you drive into the city, which in turn will alleviate conditions for the public transport system. Also I don't think this proposal in any way suggests that Ms Moore believes that cars have no place today and nor is it accurate to suggest that by providing people with the facility to use bikes amounts to forcing people to use bikes. I'm not asking you to agree with me but to consider the possibility that that article is trying to bully it's readers into accepting one point of view before they can give any real consideration to the possible advantages of the alternative point of view.