News

Glebe Island Silos Signage Conditionally Approved

Posted: 09.09.2022

The NSW Independent Planning Commission has conditionally approved an application to extend the duration of the existing advertising signage on the Glebe Island Silos for three years, after which the structure and signage will need to be removed.

Eye Drive Sydney Pty Ltd sought permission (DA 21/13182) to extend the duration of the existing advertising signage for a period of ten years. No new structures or works were proposed as part of the application.

The Department of Planning and Environment completed its whole-of-government assessment of the application and provided it to the Commission in July this year.

A two-member Commission Panel, comprising Professor Richard Mackay AM (Chair) and Dr Peter Williams, met with the Department of Planning and Environment, the Applicant and its representatives, Inner West Council and the City of Sydney Council, and conducted an inspection of the site and surrounding locality.

The community expressed its view on the project through written submissions to the Commission and at the public meeting. Concerns raised by the community included visual impacts, illumination, heritage impacts, public benefits and the proposed consent duration.

The Commission has today, 9 September 2022, determined to grant conditional development consent to the project, but for only three years, not ten years as requested in the application.

In its Statement of Reasons for Decision the Commission found the application should be approved, subject to conditions of consent, because:

• the site is located on land zoned ‘Port and Employment’ under State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts – Eastern Harbour City) 2021 and is consistent with the objectives of the zone;
• the retention of the advertising signage in the short term does not conflict with the site’s strategic context identified in the Eastern City District Plan and the Bays West Strategy;
• the continued display of existing signs would not result in additional visual or heritage impacts;
• the project would not result in road safety impacts; and
• the project would not hinder the future redevelopment potential of the site and the broader precinct.

The conditions of consent imposed by the Commission also tighten the lighting curfew that requires the sign's illumination to be turned off at 11pm instead of 1am and a requirement for the signs and their structure to be removed within three months of the consent lapsing.

The Commission’s decision is in line with the Department of Planning and Environment’s assessment of the project.