FURORE OVER NEW SYDNEY STREET ADS

The new digital outdoor street furniture in Sydney is causing uproar in the community, forcing the Lord Mayor Clover Moore to backtrack on her earlier supportive comments, and pause 82 further signage assets from ten-year tender winner QMS being deployed, with an external inquiry now underway.

Residents, commuters and businesses are complaining the new assets, almost all digital, are both blocking walkways, and causing eyesores. The perception of too many and too intrusive new installations has been exacerbated by Telstra installing its own digital signage on its phone boxes.

The new giant-size screens, most more than  two mnetres tall, have in many cases been placed right in the middle of pavements and walkways, clearly obstructing pedestrians.

Now the City Council has referred the scheme – which provides multi-million dollar input to the council – to an external inquiry.

The reimagined QMS screens are across 26 square kilometres and 33 suburbs, the network reaches 2.6 million people a week, two-thirds of whom live across the Greater Sydney region.

The network includes a newly designed suite of bus shelters, kiosks, 20 new public toilets, 780 benches and 670 bins which replace the current furniture, most of which had been in place since 1997.

Commenting on its new installations around Sydney a QMS spokesperson told Print21 sister title AdNews: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with the City of Sydney to bring this public amenity to Sydneysiders.”

However, Harold Scruby, head of the Pedestrian Council lobby group, says the new billboards prioritise advertising ahead of pedestrian safety. He said the signs should be positioned parallel with the footpath, rather than across it, so that they don’t face the street.

Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney initially brushed aside the issue, and highlighted the financial benefit, she said, “Yes, they are quite large and in some locations – as was the case with the old telephone-mounted panels – you may have to walk single-file.

“But we have worked to ensure compliant, accessible and positioned in accordance with the City’s Street Furniture placement guidelines. Adequate footpath access has been provided to ensure prams, mobility walkers and wheelchairs can continue to use the footpath. 

“And they form part of the bigger contract, which provides so much value to the City. The new suite of furniture will help modernise our streets while also providing significant revenue to the City, which will help us maintain high quality services and public spaces for our residents, businesses and visitors.

“The placement of all bus shelters, communications pylons, kiosks and automatic public toilets were subject to development application process, which included public consultation with a determination made by the independent Local Planning Panel.

“Managing the City’s needs is a constant negotiation. Some benefits require trade-offs.

“I assure you we are listening and responding to your feedback regarding the furniture upgrades and I hope you understand the value of this contract to our work delivering a great place to live, visit and work.”

However just a few days later Moore said, “While our contract with QMS provides significant value to the city – both in terms of attractive, well-maintained street furniture and income – it is clear the balance isn't right.

“I have asked the City's CEO to work with QMS to review the placement of communications pylons and remove those that have a significant negative impact on pedestrian movement.”