By Luke Voogt
A furious Waurn Ponds resident has taken aim at supporters of Kardinia ward candidate Bruce Harwood attacking his right to free speech.
Ross Carlson put up a sign on his front fence criticising the three current Kardinia ward councillors, including Cr Harwood, over what he described as neglect of Ghazeepore Road.
With ever-increasing traffic on the narrow road, Mr Carlson had hoped the several thousand motorists using the thoroughfare each day would see the sign.
But while he was out of town for a few days, someone posted a sign saying ‘VOTE 1 BRUCE HARWOOD’ underneath his message without his permission.
“I am disgusted. It’s negating my point of view,” he said.
Cr Harwood said he had not been aware of the sign on Mr Carlson’s property.
“There’s been some issues occurring this election with signs that I don’t condone at all and I don’t condone the misuse of electoral signs.”
According to Geelong council bylaws, election material can only be placed on private property with the owner’s permission.
But City Hall planning director Gareth Smith said “there has been no breach of the Neighbourhood Amenity Local law 2014 or planning provisions.”
“This is a civil matter for the property owner to proceed with the police.”
