By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
SIMONDS Stadium’s light towers are “works of art” that should be saved from becoming an “eyesore”, according to objectors fighting a council advertising plan.
Council has proposed advertising on the towers to help offset a $160,000 annual bill to connect the lights to the electricity grid.
But the proposal has attracted four objections, forcing council to amend the plan or send it to an independent planning panel for resolution.
Objectors said the light towers were “elegant, an icon for the city and considered to be more or less a piece of art”.
“Sponsorship on them will only detract from their aesthetic appeal and create an unsightly eyesore in the form of advertising in the heart of Geelong.
“The light towers have made an impact on the skyline of the City with their elegant, slender design and profile.
“Compared with other stadiums around Australia, the towers themselves are a design feature and not just a functional element for the stadium.
“The light towers can be seen from many vantage points across the city but they have been reasonably well accepted because of their simple and clean but strong design.”
Planning portfolio holder Cr Michelle Heagney said council had decided to restrict the height of the advertising on the towers to 20 metres.
The limit would ensure the signage did not distract passing motorists or detract from the “aesthetic” of the towers, she said.
“Council is seeking to greatly expand the use of Simonds Stadium, especially now that we have the ability to stage night events,” Cr Heagney said.
“Selling advertising space on the light towers provides an opportunity to off-set the costs associated with having capacity in the power grid.
“Any specific proposal for advertising signage will still be subject to a planning permit application at which point the scale, form and function of the signage will be assessed.”
Planning Minister Matthew Guy will appoint an independent panel to consider the proposal.
