TASAC Minutes 20 January 2016 Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee Wednesday 20 January 2016 at the RMS Parramatta office Level 5, 27-31 Argyle Street Parramatta 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 Cameron McIntyre TEO, RMS Sydney Region John Rozos RMS Sydney Region (part meeting) AGENDA ITEMS 1. DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS & REGIONAL SIGNPOSTING ISSUES N / A 2. NEW TOURIST SIGNPOSTING APPLICATIONS 2.1 Paroo Darling National Park, near Wilcannia An application has been lodged to review the eligibility of Paroo Darling National Park for tourist signposting (TASAC found the park to be eligible for signposting in 2008) and allow some of the park’s signage to be updated and also to secure signposting for a new precinct known as Peery Lake Picnic Area within the Paroo Darling Overflow Section of the park. The park is in the north west corner of the State, north east of the Cobb Highway and north of the Barrier Highway. The nearest towns are Wilcannia and White Cliffs, both to the west of the park. The park conserves extensive semi-permanent freshwater wetlands associated with both the Paroo and Darling Rivers. The area is internationally significant for bird migration and recognised under the Ramsar Treaty for conserving wetlands of international importance. Additionally, Peery Lake is the only lake bed in the Southern Hemisphere where mound springs (natural outlets for artesian water) are located. Various Aboriginal artefacts and sites exist in the area and the lake has been recorded as a tourist attraction since the 1910s. The park, which is open daily during all hours, is made up of four former pastoral properties covering almost 200,000 ha and has the following four separate sections: i. The Paroo River Overflow section, 30 km east of White Cliffs and 80 km north of Wilcannia. This area is accessed from Wilcannia via Wilcannia – Wanaaring Road (SR5) or from White Cliffs via Mandalay to White Cliffs Road (SR6). The application indicates that these roads are managed by Central Darling Shire. The Peery Lake Picnic Area is in the Paroo River Overflow section and offers a gas BBQ, sheltered picnic tables, a composting toilet with disabled access, interpretive Final 3 February 2016 1 of 12 TASAC Minutes 20 January 2016 information panels and panoramic open views of the lake with its artesian mound springs, birds and other wildlife. The lake is ephemeral and when dry, visitors can walk across its bed to the mound springs. When wet, there is easy access by kayak to bird breeding areas and sand lunettes on the far side of the lake. ii. The Darling River Section is on either side of the Darling River 40 km north east of Wilcannia. It is accessed from the Wilcannia to Tilpa Road, the east side via MR68A and the west side from SR1. The Coach and Horses Campground is located within this section, on the south side of a bend in the Darling River. It offers a gas BBQ, sheltered picnic table, fishing, kayaking, 12 campsites, composting toilet with disabled access, interpretive information and fish cleaning tables. iii. The Coonavitra Section, located 110 km east of Wilcannia and accessed from the Barrier Highway. iv. The Tilpilly Section, located 130 km east of Wilcannia and accessed from Barrier Highway. Three images have been provided of large interpretive panels, one panel at Peery Lake and two panels at Coach and Horses Campground. The images are small and the text on the panels cannot be read but it is clear that the panels include maps, text and photos. The park also has its own visitor information centre in Keraro Road, White Cliffs, which is open on weekdays from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (and on some weekends but it may be unstaffed). The centre provides interpretive information and a sheltered picnic table. The applicant has advised that the Coonavitra and Tilpilly Sections are “management areas” without public access and do not have toilet facilities. Accordingly, the two sections are not eligible for tourist signposting. Decision: Paroo Darling National Park (Paroo River Overflow and Darling River Sections only is eligible for tourist signposting in the National Parks, State Conservation Areas, State Forests and Major Water Storage Areas category. Action: Secretariat to inform the applicant and RMS Western Region as above. 2.2 Gundabooka National Park TASAC found Gundabooka National Park to be eligible for tourist signposting in November 2004 and a new application has been lodged to update its eligibility. Gundabooka National Park is in the semi-arid environment of north western NSW between the towns of Cobar, Bourke and Louth. Signage is sought on and from the Kidman Way (SH421) and NPWS would also appreciate design assistance for signage at other locations, presumably on Council roads. Gundabooka National Park and Gundabooka State Conservation Area are located adjacent to each other and the application refers to both areas as Gundabooka National Park. The park, which is open daily during all hours, contains Mount Gunderbooka, the Gunderbooka Range and the Darling River. It also contains the Mulgowan (Yappa) Aboriginal Art site. Accommodation is available at Yanda Campground (a river campsite) and Dry Tank Campground with views of Mount Gunderbooka. Booked accommodation is also available at Belah Shearers Quarters and Redbank Homestead. Final 3 February 2016 2 of 12 TASAC Minutes 20 January 2016 Gundabooka National Park can be accessed from the Kidman Way, taking Ben Lomond Road (RLR 6), from 50 km south of Bourke and 110 km north of Cobar. The Bourke-Louth Road (MR68S) approximately 50 km north east of Louth and 30 km south west of Bourke, provides access to the Darling River sections of the park. The third main access is via the Cobar-Louth Road along the Mulgaroon Road (RLR7) and merging to the Wilgaroon Road and turning into Ben Lomond Road (RLR6). Visitor facilities include: i. Yanda Campground: Ten campsites; interpretive information, gas BBQ, sheltered picnic tables; and disabled access toilet. ii. Dry Tank Campground: Fifteen unstructured campsites; interpretive information (image provided); picnic tables; and toilets. iii. Bennett’s Gorge Picnic Area and Valley of the Eagles Walk: Interpretive information (images provided); picnic tables; gas BBQ; entry point for Valley of the Eagles Walk; and toilets. iv. Mulgowan Yappa Aboriginal Art Site Walking Track: 1.4 km return medium graded walking track; interpretive information (image provided); sheltered picnic tables; and toilets with disabled access. v. Little Mountains Walking Track: Leaving from Dry Tank Campground, this walk takes visitors through the Mulga woodlands to Little Mountain lookout in the Gunderbooka Range. Interpretive information is available at the start of the walk and along the way. Interpretive information is also available at the park’s entry points at both ends of Ben Lomond Road (image provided). Decision: Gundabooka National Park is eligible for tourist signposting in the National Parks, State Conservation Areas, State Forests and Major Water Storage Areas category. Action: Secretariat to inform the applicant and RMS Western Region as above. 2.3 Conimbla National Park, near Cowra An application has been lodged to update Conimbla National Park’s eligibility for tourist signposting to allow existing unserviceable signage to be upgraded. The poor condition of the park’s signage was identified in an audit undertaken by Cowra Council during 2015 and the application has been submitted at TASAC’s request. Conimbla National Park, which is open daily during all hours, is 9 km west of Cowra along the Mid-Western Highway in the Central West Slopes of NSW. It can be accessed in the following three ways: i. From Cowra, travelling 9 km west on the Mid-Western Highway, then right onto Barryrennie Road for 17 km to the Wallaby picnic area. ii. From the town of Gooloogong, south via Kangarooby Road for 24 km then onto the Wallaby picnic area. Final 3 February 2016 3 of 12 TASAC Minutes 20 January 2016 iii. From Grenfell, travelling 46 km east on the Mid-Western Highway then left onto Barryrennie Road into the park and then onto the Wallaby Picnic Area. Established in 1980, the park covers 7,590 ha and provides conservation for rare species of orchids and grevilleas and has very attractive scenery, including a number of cliff lines, a small gorge and several waterfalls. The park has two sections, a north eastern section, which includes Barabigal Mountain and a south western section, which includes Yambira Mountain. It is understood that the south western section allows horse-riding and also has some vehicular access. NPWS has advised that all visitor facilities are located in the north eastern section of the park and there are no toilets in the south western section. On this basis the south western section is not eligible for tourist signposting. Conimbla National Park is regarded as one of the best walking and nature sites in the area. Its north eastern section provides opportunities for picnicking at Wallaby Picnic Area, two walking trails (the 4 km Ironbark Walking Track and the 4 km Wallaby Walking Track), hiking, nature study and tent based camping at four sites. Specifically, there is a picnic table, BBQ and two interpretive signs at the Ironbark Walking Track, which affords scenic views to Cowra and features dry woodlands, flowering heath in spring and opportunities for bird watching. At the Wallaby Walking Track there is a picnic table, wood BBQ and a composting toilet. The Wallaby track offers opportunities to view wildlife (e.g. wallabies, kangaroos, possums and gliders) along its length. An image has been provided of one of the two large information panels at Ironbark Walking Track.