The billboard in Prebbleton was granted consent by the council in August without public notification. Residents only became aware of the project once groundwork began on the 9m-high sign.
The Prebbleton Community Association wrote to the council last month in a bid to stop the construction.
“Whilst this may be commercial land, it is also alongside one of the most dangerous pedestrian crossings in Prebbleton and very close to residential properties,” the letter said.
Association chair Jane Elms said the biggest concern was safety around the crossing on Springs Rd.
She said, although few accidents were recorded in official statistics, there were many anecdotal reports of residents having near misses at the crossing, which is about 50m from the billboard site.
The billboard would be an “added distraction” for the already busy area, particularly when Prebbleton School pupils are going to and from school, Elms said.
A “pause on consent” was put in place by the council after concerns were raised by council staff.
Said acting council chief executive Steve Gibling in a response to the association: "This is because our roading team has raised the concern that some of the preparatory works might extend into the road reserve (land set aside for the road), which is not permitted under the resource consent.
"The consent only allows the billboard to be fully within private property."
Gibling said a corridor access request would be required for work to continue.
"We’ve also asked the consent holder to arrange a survey to confirm exactly where the preparatory work has been done.
"We do not expect these extra steps to be completed by the consent holder until mid-January at the earliest," Gibling said.
He said they hoped to meet with the consent holder.
She thanked the council for listening to the group’s concerns.
Elms said the association ultimately wants the billboard plan scrapped altogether.
While digital billboards are a common sight in Christchurch, getting one built in Selwyn has proved more difficult.
In May, strong community opposition saw the council reconsider its plan for a similar-sized billboard near the Selwyn Aquatic Centre in Rolleston. It was also processed as a non-notified consent.
