Eden, aged 19, dismisses the accusation that he is targeting the live music community and states that he is simply upholding two of the four platforms he ran for election on; protection of open spaces and elimination of anti-social behaviour – littering. “There’s been a bit of confusion about what the actual motion was, particularly the report that was online [Tone Deaf]. The motion was moved on the November 17 because there was a mass of signs going up throughout the area on lighting posts advertising events by a large corporation alongside some other groups. This motion was moved to deal with the litter that was coming up and being blown into people’s yards and to the beach, only a couple of 100 metres away.” Cr Eden’s final comment is in regards to the Nepean Highway that, from Mordialloc to Frankston, runs only a block away from the beach. “The motion does not mention the music industry nor does it mention music signs or bands, it is directive to tackle littering in this area.”
Enforcement of the motion is left up to the discretion of the council. “The fines are only there if the council deems it appropriate to issue fines. In terms of prosecution and who is held to account obviously the promoter, who are often multimillion dollar companies, are the ones organising for the material to be printed and the one who puts it up are held responsible.”
“We have regulatory service officers patrolling around and if they catch someone actually putting them up it is a $282 on the spot fine. If for some reason the council, or relevant authority decide to pursue it through the courts, it would go up to $1,408 [for each offence]. I wouldn’t have raised this issue if it wasn’t to such a scale that it is. We’re not talking about two or three signs up at the station and one by the shops, it is to a point where every second light post has these huge big glossy signs stuck up that don’t even breakdown when they fall.”
“Like some of my local councillors I am keen to see local music take off and small bands to be given a go, I’m just not going to stand there and ignore community and help big business promote themselves to make millions of dollars each year.”
Eden also acknowledges comments from Mordialloc Traders Association president Megan Thorntonin the Mordialloc Chelsea Leader that the money could be better spent on public amenities like public toilets. “To put it in perspective, public toilets cost hundreds of thousands of dollars often; they take quite a while to plan. This motion is nothing more than regulatory officers carrying out their job, there are no extra funds being expended and as far as I’m concerned lawyers haven’t been engaged. It just a directive to council staff to make sure this issue is dealt with to save environmental impact and the cost of cleaning that up.”
