Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee South West Region Meeting

TASAC Minutes 15 July 2015 Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee South West Region meeting Wednesday 15 July 2015 at Narrandera Shire Council Chambers 1st floor, 141 East Street, Narrandera Members David Douglas Regional Coordinator TASAC and Drive, Destination NSW Phil Oliver Guidance and Delineation Manager, Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) Maria Zannetides TASAC Secretariat Also present Ashleigh Harrison Events and Visitor Services Officer, Narrandera Shire Council Jenny Ryan Administration Officer (Tourism) Narrandera Shire Council Michael Buckley RMS South West Region Nicola James Manager, Economic Development Tourism and Events, Leeton Shire Council Brent Lawrence Visitor Services Coordinator, Leeton Shire Council Greg Lawrence Manager Tourist and Economic Development, Griffith City Council & Chair, Riverina Regional Tourism Apologies Andrew Brown Economic Development and Tourism Manager, Narrandera Shire Council Candace Torres Zone Manager Inland NSW, Destination NSW AGENDA ITEMS 1. DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS & REGIONAL SIGNPOSTING ISSUES 1.1 Narrandera signposting issues Ashleigh referred to a sign on the Sturt Highway approximately 4.2 km east of Narrandera that welcomes visitors to “Riverina M.I.A.” and lists the distances to the Narrandera, Leeton and Griffith visitor information centres next to a Roman “i” symbol. The sign, which is understood to have been in place for some 25 years, is outdated and affected by graffiti. Ashleigh asked about the possibility of changing the sign so that it refers to the “Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area” instead of “M.I.A.” and features an italicised “i” symbol. Phil explained that the design of the sign is outdated and no longer available under the NSW Tourist Signposting Manual. David added that there are several signs near the boundaries of the Riverina Tourism area that welcome visitors to the area and give distances to visitor information centres. The signs were updated in the last year or two. The Manual’s provisions for signs located on State roads to welcome visitors to local government areas and towns were also outlined. The signs are available via a process of consultation between Councils and RMS and, while TASAC appreciates being informed about Councils intentions to upgrade such signs, there is no need for a formal application to the Committee. Final 29 July 2015 1 of 8 TASAC Minutes 15 July 2015 Actions: (a) It was agreed that the subject sign should be removed and replaced with a sign to welcome visitors to the town of Narrandera and Council was invited to contact Michael Buckley at RMS South West in this respect. (b) David to advise the locations of the signs that welcome visitors to the Riverina. (c) David to forward a copy of the Tourist Signposting Manual to Nicola. Please note that signposting for the Narrandera Wetlands is discussed at item 1.3 below 1.2 Town entrance signage in Leeton Shire Nicola informed the meeting that Leeton Shire is looking to refresh town entry signs. The process for town entry markers and/or welcome signs was discussed and Council was invited to contact Michael at RMS about designs and locations. During a discussion on managing recreational vehicles (RV) in Leeton including the provision of information for RV motorists, it was noted that Council’s visitor information bay at Yanco needs to be refreshed and it could be a suitable location to place information for RV visitors. 1.3 Members’ report on site inspections David and Phil made the following observations arising from their site inspections in the district the day before the meeting: i. The tourist radio service in West Wyalong was not operating the day prior to the meeting. Signage for the service is in place on the Newell Highway. Action: Secretariat to contact Jeff Stien at Bland Shire about the radio service. If it is no longer operating, RMS will be asked to remove the signs. ii. A white on brown tourist sign on the Newell Highway near Ardlethan and north of the intersection with Burley Griffin Way is faded and difficult to read. The sign informs visitors of the distances to Leeton and Griffith and refers to the presence of “Wineries, Agricultural Tourism, Irrigation Areas”. It also features a number of white symbols on a blue background. The sign design (which is similar to a sign near the Narrandera Wetlands discussed below) is not supported by the Tourist Signposting Manual. The Committee members were of the view that the sign was out of date, served no useful purpose and should be removed. However, Nicola indicated that it was important to retain signage for Leeton in the vicinity to inform visitors that they could approach Leeton from the north via Burley Griffin Way and Brobenham Way, as well as from the south via the Newell Highway and Irrigation Way. Action: RMS to review the sign and consider what might be possible for this and other similar signs, such as the one near Narrandera Wetlands. iii. Tourist signage for the CSIRO Radio Telescope at Parkes was observed to be in good condition. iv. Unauthorised signage on the Newell Highway south of Forbes for Gum Swamp Bird Hide has been removed. Final 29 July 2015 2 of 8 TASAC Minutes 15 July 2015 v. New signage for a Glass Gallery at Wyalong was observed. David and Phil also visited the gallery, which was found to be eligible for tourist signposting in 2014. Narrandera Wetlands During the meeting it was noted that Council had applied to TASAC in 2011 for tourist signposting for Narrandera Wetlands but the application was never finalised because Council did not respond to a request for additional information regarding entry signs at the site and the availability of brochures. Ashleigh, David and Maria visited the wetlands after the meeting and the following observations were made: i. Narrandera Wetlands are south of the town about 1 km from the Narrandera Visitor Information Centre. Access is via Lizard Drive off the Newell Highway. ii. Non-standard unauthorised signage with dark lettering on a white background for “Narrandera Wetlands” is in place on the Newell Highway at the intersection with Lizard Drive. The sign is attached to posts below a large white on brown sign that gives information about distances to Leeton and Griffith, refers to “Wineries, Agricultural Tours, Irrigation Areas” and has six white symbols (tent, caravan, hospital, bed, knife and fork and petrol) on a blue background – this sign is similar to another sign north of Narrandera, which is discussed above. iii. The wetlands feature a circular walking track, three bird hides and several interpretive panels with background information about wetlands, migratory birds etc. Some of the panels are near the entrance while others are inside the hides. A sign that welcomes visitors to the wetlands is incongruously sited in that it is several metres away from other signs at the entry and it is angled away from the access track making it difficult to read. iv. There are no toilets at the site. The nearest facilities are at the Narrandera Visitor Information Centre. v. There is no formal parking area. vi. The wetlands are open daily during all hours and there is no entry fee. vii. Council is welcome to submit a new signposting application to regularise signposting for the wetlands. Prior to doing so the welcome sign should be relocated closer to the entry point to make it easier to read; information about the location/distance of the nearest public toilets should be placed at the entry; a promotional brochure should be accessible at the site either in a weather proof box or via a digital link displayed on one of the signs near the entry; and the parking area and spaces should be clearly marked. 2. NEW TOURIST SIGNPOSTING APPLICATIONS 2.1 HARS Aircraft Museum, Albion Park Rail The operators of the HARS Aircraft Museum have submitted a new application to address concerns raised by the Committee with respect to an application lodged earlier this year following reopening of the museum after a period of closure. Final 29 July 2015 3 of 8 TASAC Minutes 15 July 2015 The museum, which is located within three main buildings at Illawarra Regional Airport, is open daily from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm during all months. It has an exhibition space of 10,870 sq. m. For safety reasons, entry is via guided tour with a maximum number of 10 people per tour and the operator has advised that sufficient guides are available every day to allow tours to commence on demand at any time during the opening hours. The museum’s brochure has been revised to clarify the address and opening hours details and improve the location map. It is understood that the museum receives over 40,000 visitors annually. It has an extensive collection of aircraft from the Tiger Moth and Dakota of the 1930s, military aircraft such as Caribous used in the Vietnam War, a Mirage jet fighter and a Catalina flying boat and jets and airliners of the 2000s. Flagship exhibits are the Lockheed Super Constellation (the craft that pioneered the Kangaroo route between London and Sydney) and the Boeing 747-438 City of Canberra, which was added to the collection in March 2015. Many engines are also displayed. Interpretive information comprises large information panels for each exhibit, fact sheets for many exhibits and the information conveyed by guides during tours. Guides typically talk about an aircraft's historical context, its specific history, including information about why it is important that it be preserved, details of how and why the aircraft was recovered and restored by HARS, aviation and military technology and detailed specifications. A site inspection report is being prepared by Diane Johnston, Tourism Manager at Tourism Shellharbour and consultation is underway with Museums and Galleries NSW (MGNSW).

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