Independent candidate seeks legal advice after told to remove campaign sign

Written by STEVE KELLY.

INDEPENDENT Indi candidate, Alan Lappin, is seeking legal advice after being told to remove an election sign visible from the Hume Freeway near Chiltern.

The 4mx2.5m sign promoting the Boorhaman landowner as a candidate in the August 21 federal election is located southbound on the freeway, near the old pioneer cemetery.

And after a complaint and requests from VicRoads, Indigo Shire council has given him until this Saturday to take the sign down.

But Mr Lappin doesn’t intend to comply with the request until he sees legal documentation as to why it is not permitted in the privately owned paddock.

"I’ve got permission from the property owner to display the sign and I feel this to be discrimination of the worst order," he said.

"I talk about the values of community which I will represent should I be elected for Indi, and don’t believe the sign’s content is of concern."

The sign was attached to a pre-existing frame, which used to advertise a proposed business planned for the site.

Indigo Shire general manager sustainable communities, Mark Florence, said Mr Lappin was asked to remove his sign, as it was in breach of the shire’s planning scheme.

"Signs are governed by a number of facets including size, content and land zoning," Mr Florence said.

"The planning scheme dictates that this type of sign, being promotional, is not allowed to be displayed in a farming zone where it is currently positioned."

And although a previous sign was permitted for the site, Mr Florence said this was because its content referred to real estate.

"In this case Mr Lappin is promoting himself," he said.

Mr Lappin argued that other politicians have signs attached to trees in other shires, but Mr Florence declined to comment on the activity of management in other municipalities.

"We’re willing to work with Mr Lappin to find a way for him to put another sign in a different location," Mr Florence said.