Recreation Reserves and Facilities Signage Policy

Background

The Latrobe Planning Scheme (the Scheme) currently prohibits the display of promotional signs in the Public Park and Recreation Zone (PPRZ) and Public Use Zone (PUZ). Latrobe City Councils ‘Recreation Reserves and Facilities Signage Policy’ has been developed to establish guidelines for the review and approval of requests from sporting clubs and public land managers to display promotional signs and to temporarily name Council recreation reserves for sponsorship purposes.

Sporting clubs are constantly investigating new promotional and revenue raising opportunities for sponsors, with the display of signage and temporary naming of Council recreation reserves, facilities, buildings and infrastructure being seen as a potential revenue raising opportunity.

Objectives

  • To provide applicants clear criteria and guidelines for the display of signs and naming rights requests.
  • To allow the display of promotional signs within the PPRZ and PUZ subject to meeting conditions set out in Schedule 1 to Clause 52.05 of the Scheme.
  • To provide Council Officers a clear criteria and guidelines in the review of naming rights requests.
  • To ensure the visual amenity of Council recreation reserves is maintained to an acceptable standard.
  • To ensure the display of signs at Council recreation reserves is of an acceptable and safe standard.
  • To allow clubs and community groups the opportunity to raise sponsorship revenue through acknowledgement signage at Council recreation reserves.
  • To ensure Council facilities continue to be accessible and safe for use by all sections of the community.
  • To ensure consistency in approvals across Council recreation reserves.

Scope

This policy relates to all Council recreation reserves and associated facilities including sports grounds, pavilions, toilets, buildings and club infrastructure (including scoreboards, coaches/official boxes and fencing). The zoning designation of these areas is typically PPRZ and PUZ.

Principles of Management

Temporary Renaming of Sports Grounds

Applications for the temporary naming of sports grounds will be only accepted from groups that have a current ‘Sporting Reserves and Pavilion Licence’ with Council. Permission for the installation of temporary naming rights signage is limited to the duration of a sporting clubs seasonal licence. However in the instance where summer and winter resident sporting clubs agree in writing for a shared sponsorship naming rights arrangement, Council will consider up to a three year installation period. All applications must be submitted using the online application form and meet the following conditions:

  • Naming rights will not be permitted for the renaming of recreation reserves;
  • Naming rights are limited to individual sporting grounds, hardcourts and scoreboard structures;
  • The naming rights sponsor should be the club’s top tier sponsor;
  • The proposed name of the sports ground should not be offensive or discriminatory in any way;
  • The proposed sponsor is not associated with alcohol, cigarettes (including tobacco products), gambling, adult entertainment services or political advertising;
  • The reserve is only referred to by the approved ‘sponsored name’ in club, association, competition or league promotions and marketing only. Council’s geographical name for the reserve is to be used in all other public documents; and
  • Any signage installed must meet the ‘Signs’ criteria outlined in section 4.2 of this policy.

Applications will be approved at Council’s absolute discretion. Council is not obliged to approve any proposal irrespective of compliance with the above conditions. In relation to signage, enquires should be made to Council’s Statutory Planning Department as to whether a Planning Permit is required under the Latrobe Planning Scheme.

Council may cancel, suspend or amend the terms of an approval at any time, particularly if it considers a significant breach of the conditions has occurred or where a compliance request has been disregarded.

Should an approved naming rights sponsorship arrangement be affected by a reserve closure or other unforeseen restrictions, Council will not compensate the club for any resulting loss of sponsorship.

Signs

Latrobe City Council has the responsibility to ensure there is a consistent approach to signage and to ensure that signage is safely erected, maintained and does not detract from the amenity of the reserve or the nearby area.

The following criteria need to be met in order for Councils Planning Officers to consider a planning permit application for the display of signage within the PPRZ and PUZ.

Criteria for signage

All Reserves

  • A copy of the layout (including colour scheme) and the wording of the proposed sign is to be submitted as part of the approval process.
  • Freestanding signs for sponsor advertising will not be permitted except where there is no oval fencing or extenuating circumstances can be demonstrated.
  • Clubs must be able to remove or cover all signs on request to deliver a clean venue for Council managed or controlled events.
  • Major promotional, high wall or sky signs on any land, facility, building or structure on the reserve will not be permitted.
  • Signs must not be painted directly onto the walls or the roof of any facility, building or structure on the reserve.
  • Reserves may be temporarily renamed in connection with an agreement under the conditions outlined in section 4.1 of this policy.

Regional Facilities

  • Signs on coaches/official' boxes, player shelters or scoreboards will be permitted provided it does not detract from the main purpose of the structure nor cover more than 50% of the surface of the structure.
  • Signs on soccer, Australian Rules football, cricket or tennis court nets must not cover more than 50% of the net. Note: Consideration must begiven to the nets footings as signage increases the wind loading on the nets/fencing.
  • Signs placed on sports oval fencing must have a three metre gap every 20 metres to allow access to the oval by passive users of the reserve.
  • Unless with the prior written consent of Council, electronic or animated signs must only operate between the following hours and must only operate during sporting or special events:

 

  • Saturdays: 9am to 11pm
  • Any other days: 9am to 10pm

Local Facilities

  • Signs on coaches'/official boxes, player shelters or scoreboards will be permitted provided it does not detract from the main purpose of the structure nor cover more than 25% of the surface of the structure.
  • Signs on soccer, Australian Rules football, cricket or tennis court nets must not cover more than 25% of the net. Note: Consideration must be given to the nets footings as signage increases the wind loading on the nets/fencing.
  • Signs placed on sports oval fencing must not cover more than 50% of the internal circumference of the oval and must have a three metre gap every 20 metres to allow access to the oval by passive users of the reserve.
  • Signs on the external circumference of the sports oval/court fencing will not be permitted.
  • Unless with the prior written consent of Council, electronic or animated signs must only operate between the following hours and must only operate during sporting or special events:
    • Saturdays: 9am to 11pm
    • Any other days: 9am to 10pm

Planning Permits

A Planning Permit is not required when a sign:

  • Is sited around the sports oval/court fencing (on the actual fence itself);
  • Is orientated towards the playing field/court; and
  • Does not have a display area exceeding 3 square metres.

Installation Conditions

  • A Building Permit from an appropriately qualified registered Building Practitioner is required for all freestanding signs on reserves (where approved).
  • Freestanding signs must be erected by an approved contractor.
  • Signs are considered assets of the club and must be maintained and inspected by the club on a regular basis to ensure that they are fit for a public reserve and represent no danger to the public.
  • If the signs are considered unsafe, they will be removed at the club’s cost and Council will advise the club prior, of its intended action. The relevant Council Officer(s) will enter into discussions to be satisfied of safety issues prior to re- installing the signs.
  • Sponsorship sign agreements between clubs and their sponsors are only allowed for a period of up to three years subject to all resident clubs agreeing in writing.
  • Where a sponsorship agreement has ceased all attributed signage must be removed within 30 days.

Accountability and Responsibility

Accountability and responsibility for this policy is outlined below.

Council

  • Responsibility to ensure this Policy is consistent with Latrobe City Council Strategic Direction and other Latrobe City Council Policy
  • Responsibility for the decision to approve this Policy by Council Resolution

Chief Executive Officer

  • Overall responsibility for compliance with this policy
  • Overall responsibility for enforcing accountability
  • Overall responsibility for providing resource
  • Overall responsibility for performance monitoring

General Manager

  • Responsibility for compliance with this policy
  • Responsibility for enforcing accountability
  • Responsibility for providing resources
  • Responsibility for performance monitoring

Manager

  • Develop frameworks and procedures in compliance with this policy
  • Enforce responsibilities to achieve compliance with frameworks and procedures
  • Provide appropriate resources for the execution of the frameworks and procedures

Employees, Contractors and Volunteers

  • Participate where required in the development of frameworks and procedures in compliance with this policy.
  • Comply with frameworks and procedures developed to achieve compliance with this policy.

Evaluation and Review

This policy will be reviewed on request of Council, in the event of significant change in the Executive team, significant changes to legislation applicable to the subject matter of the policy or, in any other case, during each Council term (generally four years).

Definitions

Temporary

For the purposes of the temporary naming rights of Council reserves, ‘temporary’ refers to the length on tenure of a club at a Council reserve for a seasonal tenancy.

Promotion Sign

A sign of less than 18 square metres that promotes goods, services, an event or any other matter, whether or not provided, undertaken or sold or for hire on the land or in the building on which the sign is sited.

Major Promotional Sign

A sign which is 18 square metres or greater that promotes goods, services, an event or any other matter, whether or not provided, undertaken or sold or for hire on the land or in the building on which the sign is sited.

High Wall Sign

A sign on the wall of a building so that part of it is more than 10 metres above the ground.

Sky Sign

A sign:

  • on or above the roof of a building, but not a verandah;
  • fixed to the wall of a building and which projects above the wall; or c) fixed to a structure (not a building) so that part of it is more than 7 metres above the ground.

Animated Sign

A sign that can move, contains moving or scrolling parts, changes its message, flashes, or has a moving or flashing border.

Electronic Sign

A sign that can be updated electronically. It includes screens broadcasting still or moving images.

Display Area

The area of that part of a sign used to display its content, including borders, surrounds and logo boxes. It does not include safety devices, platforms and lighting structures. If the sign does not move or rotate, the area is one side only.

Regional Facility

A regional facility is generally a facility that has the capacity, due to its large size, exceptional or unique function, to support activities and events that draw people from across a region. A regional facility caters for a broad catchment across municipal boundaries, equitably distributed and not replicated across the region. A regional facility meets the strategic intent and standards as required by the State and National Sports Bodies, and specific targeted elite teams.

Council recreation facilities in Latrobe City classified as Regional include:

Active Reserves:

  • Morwell Recreation Reserve (AFL Gippsland Preferred Facility)
  • Ted Summerton Reserve Moe (Cricket Victoria Regional Cricket Hub)
  • Traralgon Recreation Reserve and Showgrounds
  • Traralgon Tennis Centre, Harold Preston Reserve Traralgon (Gippsland’s Regional Centre of Excellence)
  • Latrobe City Sports & Entertainment Stadium – (Gippsland Centre of Excellence for Football)
  • Latrobe City Synthetic Sports Field – (Gippsland Regional Facility for Hockey)
  • Morwell Archery Facility Toners Lane Morwell (Gippsland/Victorian Standard Facility for Archery)
  • Moe Racecourse – Joe Tabuteau Reserve Moe (Regional Horse Racing Facility)
  • Glenview Park Traralgon (Regional Greyhound Facility)
  • Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre – Regional Aquatic Facility
  • Traralgon Sports Stadium – Regional Stadium Facility

Passive Reserves:

  • Newman Park Traralgon – Regional Play Space
  • Morwell Town Common Play Space – Regional Play Space
  • AAA/Lions/Apex Play Space – Joe Tabuteau Reserve Moe – Regional Play Space

Local and District Facility

A local and district facility will tend to draw people from within one local council area, unless the facility is close to a Council border. The catchment for a ‘local’ and ‘district’ facility could be neighbourhood, or very local i.e.: one suburb or one town.

  • All reserves and parks not recognised as a regional facility, including rural reserves are classified as local level or district facilities.

Council Recreation Reserves

A Council Recreation Reserve means:

  • A reserve owned by Council
  • A reserve managed by Council on behalf of the crown, Department of Education or other private entity
  • A reserve owned by the Crown and managed by a Crown Committee of Management.
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