Published . Updated .
Councils use LED signs to tell residents about community events, road closures, fire and weather notices, meetings and changes to services. The signs work best at town entries, outside council offices, in libraries and community hubs, and as portable signs for roadworks and events.
Councils and community groups have a lot to tell residents and a tight budget to do it with. A digital sign reaches everyone who passes, can be changed from the office in seconds, and doesn’t need reprinting every time something changes. Here is how councils and community groups use LED signs, and where they work best.
What do councils put on their signs?
- community events, markets and festivals
- road closures and detours
- fire and weather notices
- council meetings and consultations
- welcome messages at town entries
- changes to services, such as new library hours or a new bus timetable
Where do council signs work best?
Town entries
An entry statement with an LED sign welcomes visitors and tells them what is on in town. The Shire of Wagin’s entry sign is double-sided, so traffic from either direction sees its messages.
Outside council offices and community centres
A sign on the building, or on a pylon by the road, reaches people walking and driving past. Use it to ask for feedback on a proposed development, remind people about a meeting or share news from the shire.
Libraries and community hubs
Libraries and information centres hold a lot that people don’t know about. A screen near the entrance can show what is on, where to find things such as children’s books, local history or the public computers, and any changes to services. It answers the common questions, so staff have more time for the people who need their help.
Halls and meeting rooms
A screen behind the speaker at a public meeting or media event shows the topic and the key points, so everyone in the room can follow along.
Staff areas
Council staff are part of the community too. A screen in a staff room or break area shares news, upcoming events and safety messages with the whole team.
Road closures and events
For roadworks, closures and events, a portable or trailer sign goes where it is needed and leaves when the job is done. We hire double-sided and solar trailer signs anywhere in Australia. See LED sign hire and LED safety signs.
Make it easy for everyone to read
Public information is only useful if people can take it in. A few habits help:
- large, clear text with strong contrast
- one message per screen, held long enough to read
- symbols and photos alongside the words
- key messages in the languages your community speaks
Can staff update signs from the office?
Staff update the signs from a computer, tablet or phone, straight away or on a schedule. Messages can change through the day and night, and one person can look after several signs across the shire.
If your signs are spread across several towns, you don’t have to drive out to change a message. Our signs can also be run online, so an officer at the shire office can update a town entry sign, a library screen and a portable sign from the same computer. Step by step guides for the VNNOX and LED-Cloud online systems are on our Brochures & Guides page.
Single colour or full colour
For notices, closures and meeting dates, a single colour sign does the job and keeps the cost down. For events, festivals and tourism, full colour shows the photos and video that make people want to come. You can mix them: a full colour sign at the town entry, and portable signs for roadworks and events.
Built for the outdoors
Our outdoor signs are built for sun, wind, rain and even frost in higher areas. A double-sided sign can show a different message on each side, for example to traffic coming into town and traffic leaving it. Changing a message costs nothing, so you save on printing and reprinting banners and posters every time something changes.
We have built signs for the Shire of Wagin, the Shire of Gingin and the Tasmanian Government, and our town planning service helps with approvals at no extra cost. If your council runs a visitor centre, see digital signs for tourist information centres.
See LED signs for councils and shires and our outdoor LED signs, or talk to us. Call Aaron on 0416 053 335 or the office on (08) 9335 7944.
