Wentworth MP Dave Sharma looks set to keep his billboard on the side of the Edgecliff Centre as he battles to retain his seat for the Liberals.

Sharma is fighting off a high-profile challenge from independent candidate Allegra Spender, who is campaigning on a platform of climate action and integrity in politics.

Political signage has become an increasingly fraught issue in the formerly blue-ribbon seat, though it did not come up at a meet-the-candidates event in Wentworth on Saturday where voters asked questions on climate change, a federal integrity commission, asylum seekers, and public education.

Dave Sharma’s billboard is in breach of the building’s development application, but is likely to remain in place until after the election.

The Sun-Herald previously reported that Woollahra Council had started the process of ordering the removal of the billboard because the development approval for the building did not allow any advertising signage.

However, a spokesperson said council had now determined that the building owner can submit a new development application to allow advertising, and the billboard can remain in place until that is considered by council.

Given the turnaround time for a development application, that in effect means the billboard has been given the green light to stay until after the election, which is only three weeks away.

Dave Sharma attends a Meet the Candidates event on Saturday. Credit:Brook Mitchell

Meanwhile, AusGrid has been removing corflutes from power poles in the electorate, citing safety risks. The Australian reported that of the 70 corflutes removed in Wentworth, about 95 per cent were for the Spender campaign.

The Sun-Herald has video of workers removing Spender signage from poles outside her office, on the intersection of New South Head Road and Darling Point Road in Edgecliff.

Spender, the daughter of former Liberal frontbencher John Spender and late fashion designer Carla Zampatti, has accused the Liberal campaign of encouraging supporters to submit complaints to AusGrid.

She said the local MP had signs on telegraph poles at the last two elections and other candidates also have corflutes on poles in Wentworth and across Sydney this election. She said her campaign has legal advice saying they can have posters on the poles.

Independent candidate Allegra Spender. Credit:Brook Mitchell

“It is only now, when the Liberal Party is confronted by a community movement, that they have decided to have problems with the posters,” Spender said in a statement posted on Twitter.

“Because of the Liberal Party complaints, AusGrid has picked out our campaign for special attention. That’s politics!”

Spender declined to comment on the Sharma billboard issue.

Sharma told The Australian earlier this week it was “the height of hypocrisy” for Spender to refuse to comply with AusGrid’s directive to remove her signs while campaigning on political integrity. He declined to comment to The Sun-Herald.

There is no shortage of Spender and Sharma corflutes on private homes around the electorate, often revealing neighbours at political odds.

Shortly before the official campaign there was controversy about Sharma sending out political materials using the same teal or turquoise used by Spender and many other climate independents, and omitting the Liberal logo.

In his defence, Sharma said he had “always been on the blue spectrum” and “no one owns a colour”.

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