Draft Policy and Guidelines adopted by Council

Following Public Exhibition period all feedback was reviewed and report was taken to Council's Finance, Community and Services Committee on 3 October 2023. Read the meeting minutes.

Following this the report was taken to Council on 9 October 2023 where the Policy and Guidelines were adopted. Read the meeting minutes.

Read the adopted Policy and Guidelines.

Project Background

Council's current Creative Hoardings Policy was adopted on 9 March 2020. We have recently reviewed this policy and created a new Creative Hoardings Guidelines document to guide customers / developers through the application and approval process for creative hoardings.

The purpose of the Creative Hoarding program was, and still is to:

  • contribute to the improved visual amenity of the public domain and streetscape during the construction phase of new development;
  • help support and promote arts and artists;
  • promote cultural development within the local community;
  • contribute to defining a ‘brand’ of a retail area such as the Double Bay or Rose Bay centres; and
  • discourage bill posters and graffiti at construction sites.

Key changes

The proposed draft Creative Hoardings Policy and the draft Creative Hoardings Guidelines include clearer definitions, refined eligibility criteria, the removal of the bespoke artwork option, and a more streamlined format. The proposed changes include:

  • All definitions have been reviewed with new ones added for improved clarity;
  • Five new licensed artworks will be made available from March 2024, replacing the existing three options. The new artworks will include options to reflect location and local sustainability and biodiversity.
  • A range of historical images will also be made available;
  • The removal of the bespoke artwork option to expedite the process for the customer, and to utilise Council resources more effectively;
  • Changes to the criteria for requiring a hoarding, so that they now only apply to state roads and local centres;
  • 10% of the overall hoarding will now accommodate corporate branding; and
  • The application and approval process has been clarified through the introduction of Guidelines to accompany the Policy which will improve customer experience.

Next steps

When the public exhibition period closes on 17 September,2023 all feedback will be reviewed and the draft documents may be updated to incorporate feedback. A report will then be taken to Council's Finance, Community and Services Committee and Council in October 2023.

Once both documents have been adopted by Council, all administrative changes will be implemented by the end of 2023. All new hoarding designs will be available for use from March 2024, after the licenses for the current artworks expire.

Have your say

We asked you to take a look at the draft Creative Hoardings Policy and the draft Guidelines and provide your feedback via the following methods:

  • Online: fill in the form below
  • Email: records@woollahra.nsw.gov.au with the subject - Creative Hoardings Feedback
  • Mail: Letter addressed to the General Manager at Woollahra Council, PO Box 61, Double Bay NSW 1360, with the subject - Creative Hoardings Feedback

Feedback closed at 5pm, Sunday 17 September 2023.