Photos provided to STPL News appear to show Anthony Marsh campaign signs placed on council land on Point Nepean Road in Rosebud, including at the kerbside of the vacant land where the Rosebud market is held, in what would appear to be a breach of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s electoral signage rules.
The apparent signage issue is likely to attract particular scrutiny given the Liberal Party has been quick to criticise other candidates and campaigns during the Nepean by-election, while Marsh is also the sitting mayor.
Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Electoral Signage Guidelines state that “Electoral signs are not permitted on roads, municipal buildings, reserves or Council land, including any structures such as bus shelters, light poles within road reserves.”
The guidelines also state that “No signage can be placed/erected on any council road or reserve (including parks and sporting grounds).”
In broader terms, the shire’s published guidelines state that “no electoral advertising is permitted on roads, parkland or Council property.”
You can read up on the council’s election signage rules here: Mornington Peninsula Shire Signage Policy
STPL News contacted Anthony Marsh’s campaign team for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.
Speaking to STPL News said Libertarian candidate Peter Angelico.
The Liberals have been fast to criticise the other parties and campaigns, but once again they don’t have their own house in order.
One Nation candidate Darren Hercus also told STPL News that the shire threatened to issued notices if they did not take the signage down.
The council threatened to issue us with infringement notices if we didn’t start taking our signs down, which we are doing. I sincerely hope Mr Marsh hasn’t used his Mayoral privileges in this situation.
Added Scrutiny On The Mayor’s Campaign
With Marsh the sitting mayor, the placement of the signs is likely to draw further scrutiny over whether his campaign has complied with the shire’s own signage rules.
Under the shire’s guidelines, council may remove non-compliant signs located on council land and retain them for collection by the candidate.
The images received by STPL News appear to show signs positioned on public land along Point Nepean Road in Rosebud. One of the locations described to STPL News was the kerbside of the vacant land where the Rosebud market is held.
Whether council investigates or removes any signage will be a matter for the relevant compliance officers.
Rules on Paper… or on Poles?
I was always under the impression that attaching signs to power poles and council property was not permitted.
Yet a quick drive around town suggests the rules may have quietly evolved. Power poles now appear to function as public noticeboards, and council land seems to have become a convenient display area for anyone with a ladder, a staple gun and a message they feel the rest of us must read.
One can’t help but admire the initiative. After all, prime advertising space is difficult to come by.
However, if these long-standing rules no longer apply, perhaps the rest of us should be informed. It would save a great deal of unnecessary restraint among those of us who have politely avoided decorating public infrastructure.
Until then, it leaves one wondering whether the rules still exist—or whether they’re now simply suggestions for the well-behaved.