Our work in visual impact evidence takes us across a range of commercial and residential projects, and this time it was all about creating photomontages for a proposed signboard atop an existing retail precinct. The council had objected, citing multiple reasons, but ultimately the decision was overturned, and our visualisation provided clear evidence that the proposed signboard was suitable for that location.

We undertook our work in compliance with VCAT’s Practice Note PNVCAT 2, further enhancing the accuracy of the work by surveying a number of hardscape points across the streetscape in 3D.

Our principal, Stan Zaslavsky, was requested to attend the VCAT hearing for cross-examination by the council’s representative, who questioned the choice of locations, among other fairly rudimentary matters. The more interesting conversation was when the panel member asked about the perceived size of the signboard in relation to the surrounding context, the closer one is to it. i.e., as a driver of the car approaches the intersection, would the signboard appear larger or smaller in relation to the houses in the background sitting on a ridge? Being able to handle some of these challenging conversations on the spot was perhaps also a factor in the positive decision to award the planning permit to the applicant.