Bellingen Master Plan (4.9mb)

Shire Signage Notes

There are four basic documents that pertain to signage in the Bellingen Shire - SEPP 64, BLEP 2003, DCP 2 - Outdoor Signage Code and DCP 18 - Advertising Signs with the Conservation Area and on Heritage Items.

These documents are complex and Council acknowledges that at times these polices have not been implemented uniformly. Obviously efforts are being made to improve consistency where possible.

BLEP 2003 must be reviewed within 3 years. This will be jointly funded by State Government and the review process will begin soon. Minor amendments will not be given high priority during this time. There will be a full consultation process and the Chamber will included in that process.

Signage within the heritage Conservation Area is very tightly controlled and is restricted to Building and Business Identification Signs only. The Heritage Conservation area pertains to the main street area and includes parts of Coronation, Ford, Mary, Oak, Robert, William, and Prince Streets and across the bridge to Bat Island.

Certain "significant buildings" may have different requirements depending on their heritage value and also architectural style.

Generally one under awning sign is permitted per building but some buildings that have a wide street front may be allowed two under awning signs. Council is investigating whether or not further under awning signs are allowed if two or more businesses are housed in the one building. Other signage is allowed and you should consult with Council staff or obtain a copy of DCP 18.

DCP 18 allows for signage for franchise businesses however they still need to comply with the DCP and may often need to be modified to fit in with the character of the area.

Provided that you have all the necessary information and you proposal is consistent with Council policy you should allow 4 weeks to obtain approval through Council. More complex signage proposals can take up to 6 to 7 weeks especially if they need to be referred to the heritage Advisor. It should be noted that when staff are sick or on leave applications can take longer to process. If you need your sign expedited you should discuss with the relevant officer dealing with your application. There is usually some flexibility in the application process and negotiation is usual.

A suggestion was made to publish some information on getting signs approved. Just so people don't make false starts, which is the part of the process that leads to frustration. Perhaps the www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au web site would be a good place for this.

A suggestion was also made for a directory, maybe road side, to direct people to tourist facilities.

Presently tourist operators (B&B’s) are allowed to apply for directional (fingerboard) sign/s. These are attached to street signs and there is a policy which relates to them. They are white on blue, show the international symbol for a B&B a bed and state the distance from the sign to the B&B. The business name is not presently allowed and this can cause confusion. This will be reviewed in the future.