A Queensland grandmother says Noosa Council is the "fun police" after being told an inflatable clown in her front garden would have to be removed as it breached local laws.
The large inflatable clown, more fondly known as Karl, is one of several on display across the Noosa and Sunshine Coast regions advertising a touring circus.
Ms Stevens is sad to see Karl go after watching the joy he brought to her family and others during the five days he was inflated on her property.
"Karl was probably three times my height and I'm about five-foot-something; he's quite big, very colourful, with a big smile on his face," she said.
"They all thought it was great, as well as my friends and family; everybody was just all over it going, 'Wow, this is so cool'.
"The children would wave to him as they drove past but, unfortunately, it's a sad day today because all the clowns are gone."
End of the clown
The clown was positioned behind Ms Stevens's front fence and powered by her electricity, in exchange for tickets to the circus and "lots of fun".
Noosa Council gave the Great Moscow Circus 24 hours to remove the clowns, which breached the council's local law on advertising signage introduced in February 2020.
"I just thought it was a little bit ridiculous to take these clowns down because of this silly little issue on signage by-laws," she said.
"Especially in this time we need a little bit of fun, something to smile about something to have a giggle about."
Under the local law, event organisers are prohibited from displaying more than six advertising signs and all signs must not exceed 900 millimetres by 600mm.
Inflatable and third-party signs, advertising on behalf of someone else, are also not allowed in Noosa, despite being on private property.
Noosa Council said its requests to remove the signs followed "a number of complaints from the community".
Noosa Mayor Claire Stewart insists the law is in place to "preserve the look and feel of Noosa's unique environment".
"There was clearly a whole reason that this policy [was introduced], it was before my time, but there's obviously very justifiable reasons why this policy was put in place," Ms Stewart said.
"I'm going to the circus, I'm excited by the circus; I've got small kids so I understand.
"But unfortunately in this instance, there's nothing that myself or any councillor can do unless we revisit that policy.
"Maybe that's on the drawing board after the community feedback."
She urged those opposed to the law to contact each of the councillors.
In the firing line
Confusion over the clowns compounds criticism of council's rules, and comes 10 days after a new local law was introduced banning excessively loud cheering, clapping or singing in short-term accommodation homes in Noosa.
After two decades in the region, Ms Stevens said Noosa council's strict rules were deflating residents.
"They should just maybe revisit these by-laws because after my social media post yesterday, it just went berserk and a lot of new residents are feeling the same way," Ms Stevens said.
"It's just a little bit sad; they (the clowns) weren't doing any harm and they bring in lots of joy to lots of kids and family.
"I don't know, they could look at bigger issues like potholes and trees down around the place."
Ms Stevens said she understood Karl and the other clowns across the Noosa Shire would be relocated a short drive down the coast within the Sunshine Coast Regional Council area, where they are accepted.
The Great Moscow Circus has been contacted for comment.
