Sign off for election

By Tania Martin
A BELGRAVE man has accused La Trobe MP Jason Wood of flouting the law by erecting a political sign which is larger than the regulation size.
And the complaint has been backed up by the Shire of Yarra Ranges which has asked Mr Wood to remove the signs.
Gerard Doorakkers said the signs located on Glenfern Road, west of the Burrinja Gallery, were a contradiction of the Shire of Yarra Ranges planning scheme. He said under the shire’s regulations Mr Wood could erect signs as big as five square metres but that the signs in Glenfern Road were 8.64 square metres.
Mr Doorakkers said Mr Wood should have had a permit to put up signs that big, but didn’t.
“He is flouting the law and ignorance is no excuse – a former policeman should know better,” he said.
Shire manager of community relations James Martin said the council had contacted Mr Wood’s office regarding the removal of the signs. “We have asked for the signs to be removed or replaced with smaller ones,” he said.
But Mr Wood said he was waiting for advice in writing from the shire about the removal of the signs and will act accordingly with that advice.
“These signs are all about highlighting local projects and informing the local community about what we have achieved together,” he said.