A
Dunedin advertising agency says the Dunedin City Council
should support rather than ban its ''clean'' signs promoting
a football match at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Clean Advertising
NZ uses stencils and water blasting to create footpath
impressions promoting events and campaigns.
Its most recent campaign, carried out at the weekend for
Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML), promotes the March 3
game between Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Heart. The
impression fades as people walk over them, although the
council says the ''etching'' does lasting damage.
There were about 80 football match signs throughout the city.
Agency media director Jo-Anne Cook said the temporary signs
promoted an event that helped the stadium and Dunedin. The
council should support it, she said.
The council called her on Wednesday, saying the signs did
''microscopic'' damage, and should be removed. She does not
agree the signs do permanent damage.
In an absence of council policy, the agency had tried hard to
work with the council. The agency carried out only socially
responsible work, so footpaths would not end up covered in
advertisements.
Roading maintenance engineer Peter Standring said he had
called Miss Cook on Wednesday following a complaint from a
member of the public.
''It's actually etching into the footpath'', which caused
damage, he said.
The agency was ''running roughshod'' over council bylaws, and
had been warned many times.
Miss Cook's point the signs promoted an event at Dunedin's
stadium was irrelevant.
''It's a commercial operation advertising another commercial
operation,'' Mr Standring said.
He had advised DVML the work did not have resource consent.
The company received consent for mental health awareness
signs it created in 2011, effectively a ''dispensation''
because of the nature of the campaign.
Formal policy being developed would deal specifically with
footpath water blasting, but the council had existing control
through general bylaws, Mr Standring said.
Because of the damage it caused, water blasting was unlikely
to receive consent.
DVML communications manager Jo Scully said DVML had no
comment about the council's objection to the signs.
- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
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