Signs scrutinised

By Lia Bichel
UGLY signs preying on vulnerable homeowners have plagued the City of Casey.
The owners of the home-made signs which advertise people wanting to rent, sell or purchase homes at a cheap price may soon be prosecuted following a motion moved by Cr Kevin Bradford at a council meeting last week.
Councillors agreed to have council officers investigate and, where possible, identify and prosecute the owners or installers of the illegal signage.
Cr Bradford said the signs first popped up during the Brookland Greens methane mess, and were now appearing across the City of Casey and neighbouring municipalities.
“They are preying on vulnerable people, who might be in a stressful situation from their mortgage repayments,” he said.
“I started seeing the signs when the Brookland Greens incident first arose, and there was some undesirable people putting up signs offering to put offers on houses in gas-affected areas. Now, it’s progressively getting worse.”
Cr Bradford said the signs were also an eyesore.
“Another reason we want them taken down is because they look cheap and nasty, and are bringing down the look of the whole community,” he said.
“They are turning the area into a second-hand shop with a cheap form of advertisement.”
Cr Bradford said he had called a number on the signs to confront the person responsible, but when he told them he was a councillor for the City of Casey, the person hung up and turned off the phone.
He said he thought council had an obligation to find a way to get the signs removed permanently.
“These people have not received a permit from the council to enable them to erect the signs,” Cr Bradford said.
“If people want to buy houses, then let them do it the proper way and not prey on unsuspecting people.”