Mr Gentleman says the review will be focused on regulatory inconsistencies and working out a clear way forward. 

“It is clear that there is no appetite from the community [following an inquiry], or from the ACT government, for Canberra to become Times Square,” he says.

“However it is also clear that the current regulatory settings for billboards and outdoor advertising signage in the ACT are overly complex, they have been for a long time and are in need of review. 

“There is already outdoor advertising in Canberra that some might describe as billboards, so we definitely need to make the rules clearer. We also need some sensible regulation around digital and moveable advertising.”

Currently, Mr Gentleman says responsibility for billboards and outdoor signage in the ACT is handled between two different tiers of government.

“Dependent on the specific location, the responsibility for signage policies and development approvals rests with the ACT government or the NCA under the operation of the Territory Plan and the National Capital Plan, respectively,” he says. 

“This review will consider a coordinated approach between the ACT and Federal Government where possible, as well as incorporating a number of recommendations required to reform and clarify regulations for outdoor advertising signage and billboards.”

He says billboards are not currently a permitted form of signage in the ACT but timely to be reviewing signage policies in the ACT to ensure we have a consistent approach for the future.