Selwyn Council allows light-up billboard by ‘dangerous’ crossing, orders crash reports

Tuesday, 9 December 2025

A new light-up billboard in Prebbleton could distract drivers and cause crashes at a nearby pedestrian crossing, according to a neighbour.

But Selwyn District Council is combating the risk by getting the sign’s owner to let them know if more people than usual are injured in crashes.

The nine-metre tall, three-metre wide electric sign is being installed at the intersection of Springs Rd and Williams St, about 50 metres from a pedestrian crossing.

Selwyn District Council approved the consent for the sign, lodged by landowner Anthony Lee’s company Shugborough Properties Ltd, in August.

The initial application was for a static sign, but updates were made for the installation to rotate through different advertisements every eight to 20 seconds, depending on the time of day.

Advertisements will be turned on from 5am and turned off at 10pm, and its light pollution was reduced from 10m² to 2m² to reduce the impact on neighbours.

A council spokesperson said the sign’s specifications did not meet the legal requirement for being publicly notified, but neighbour Nicola Willett wishes it had.

Willett, who says her bedroom will have light pollution from the sign across the road, found out about the sign from her niece on Sunday. While the light would impact her, she said, it was the road safety that was her biggest worry.

“I am very concerned from a traffic safety perspective. That very dangerous crossing has already taken a life.”

That was the life of Ruth Mason, who died of her injuries in 1990 after being struck by a car at the crossing. She was the previous owner of Willett’s home.

“The billboard is very close to the crossing,” Willett said. “And what is the purpose of an electronic billboard? It’s for someone to look at the billboard. That’s what its there for - to get eyes on it - and what does that do to [an] already acknowledged dangerous crossing?”

According to a transport assessment done for the council by planning specialists Novo Group the billboard’s impact on distracting drivers and traffic safety was “less than minor,” but observations found drivers had little respect for the pedestrian crossing.

The plan to combat that is for Lee to provide crash analysis - for five years to the council - of all crashes that injure people within 50 metres of the crossing. The information must include any pedestriansor cyclists who are hurt, or whether there are more vehicle crashes. It must also detail if the billboard was a likely factor.

There is nothing in the consent saying that if crashes increased the billboard would be removed.

That situation was unacceptable, Willett said.

“I just don’t see how it could be less that minor.

“It’s one of the busiest roads in Selwyn, there’s an enormous number of traffic movements down that road, which is precisely why Mr Lee thought there’s an opportunity to get some passive income.”

Kā Puna Springs Councillor Denise Carrick said she was not aware of the billboard, but was disappointed the consent application was not notified.

“Sometimes, even if you don’t have to, it would be the done thing to notify the community,” she said.

“Everyone in the council they are doing their jobs, but because of all the policies and all the layers of bureaucracy we’ve forgotten who this is all for which is the ratepayers.”

“People notice what is outside of their house or down the roads that they walk on, so somehow we’ve got to make time for that ordinary stuff.”

Lee was approached for comment.