TASAC Minutes 13 November 2013

Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee and the South West Region Subcommittee

Wednesday 13 November 2013 at the RMS Regional Office, 1 Simmons Street, Wagga Wagga

Members Peter Barelli RMS South West Region Maria Zannetides TASAC Secretariat

South West Region Subcommittee N / A

Also present Jennifer Connor Tourism & Economic Development Officer, Lockhart Shire Council Jeff Stien Senior Economic Development & Tourism Advisor, Bland Shire Council Elaine Marshall Hot Glass Gallery, Wyalong John Marshall Hot Glass Gallery, Wyalong Michael Buckley Manager, RMS South West Region Zoe Eldridge RMS South West Region Ben Taber RMS South West Region Nick Els RMS South West Region Brian Ruhle RMS South West Region

Apologies Sally Nolan Riverina RTO Sean Haylan Tourism Manager, Yass Valley Council Anthony Webb Road Safety Officer, Tumut and Gundagai Councils David Douglas Regional Coordinator TASAC and Drive, Destination NSW

Note: Illness prevented David Douglas from attending the meeting. The decisions on signposting applications were made at a further meeting between David and Maria held on 21 November 2013 at Destination NSW’s head office.

AGENDA ITEMS

1. DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS & REGIONAL SIGNPOSTING ISSUES

1.1 Glass Gallery, Wyalong

Elaine Marshall presented her signposting application in the Craft Based attractions category for her Glass Gallery. Elaine is a glass artist who makes items such as platters, bowls, vases and jewellery that are displayed and offered for sale in a gallery located in part of her home. The gallery is open from Thursday to Tuesday from 9 am to 5.30 pm.

Due to the high temperatures, specialised equipment and length of time to produce the glass items, the workshop, which is adjacent to the gallery, is not open to visitors. Elaine has set up a table in the gallery with a monitor for visitors to view a 5 minute DVD about the glass making

Final 28 November 2013 1 of 11 TASAC Minutes 13 November 2013 process. The DVD was screened during the meeting. Also on the table is a selection of equipment and samples of glass representing different stages of the production process that are available for visitors to inspect and handle.

Concerns noted include:

The interpretive table is small compared with the area allocated to the display of glass items for sale.

The labels on the glass items and equipment on the interpretive table cannot be read in the photo provided with the application.

The DVD of the glass making process has no sound and information is communicated by captions. This approach limits the information that is conveyed and the film is less engaging than it might have been had it included a commentary. The DVD does not give a sense of the workshop as a whole because it focuses on the glass cutting and kiln areas.

While the DVD and static display give some insights into the glass making process, the retail sale of glass items appears to be the primary focus of the business and the presentation of the craft process via written or other documentary material for interpretive / educational purposes is not sufficient to justify its signposting as a major tourist attraction. Currently, such material does not appear to adequately present and interpret a number of interesting aspects of the craft making process, e.g. the variety and properties of moulds used to make the various glassware shapes; raking through plain coloured hot glass to mix colours; the importance of cleaning glass before firing; and the layering of glass sheets to create items of different thicknesses.

To be eligible for tourist signposting the interpretive / educational material about the craft process at the gallery needs to be further developed and expanded to achieve a better balance between the tourism (interpretive / educational) and retail components.

Decision: The application does not demonstrate compliance with the tourist signposting criteria regarding interpretive information and further development of these aspects is therefore required.

Action: (a) Maria to advise the applicant as above. (b) David to identify a Destination NSW staff member for the applicant to contact to discuss ways in which the gallery’s tourism experience can be increased and improved.

1.2 Cooma Cottage, Yass

Zoe indicated that RMS has received a request to upgrade signage on Yass Valley Way for Cooma Cottage, which is operated by the National Trust. The signage has become unserviceable to the point where the colour of some signs no longer appears to be brown. Maria advised that TASAC last considered signage for Cooma Cottage in May 2010 when it was resolved to remove signage for the cottage on the Barton Highway because it was more remote than allowable. RMS Gypsycam data indicates that the Barton Highway signage has been removed.

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It has been more than 10 years since the eligibility of Cooma Cottage was considered by TASAC and therefore the cottage’s eligibility for the existing signage is no longer current. It was also noted that the National Trust’s website indicates that the cottage is open for unbooked visitors from Thursday to Sunday 10am - 4pm, which is less than required by the Tourist Signposting Manual.

Action: Secretariat to invite the operator of Cooma Cottage to submit a signposting application so that its eligibility for signposting can be considered.

1.3 Lockhart Signage Matters

Jennifer talked about her Council’s long term plans to improve tourist signposting for destinations in Lockhart Shire. The following possibilities were discussed in terms of their potential for tourist signposting:

Historic town signposting for Lockhart: The town includes many examples of early 20th Century architecture and it is promoted as the “veranda town” because of the many wide shady verandas in its main streets.

Lockhart Sculpture Trail: Farm art sculptures acquired by Council are displayed at various points along the streets of Lockhart and at other locations in the Shire.

Galore Hill Scenic Reserve and Lookout: 16 km north of Lockhart, Galore Hill Scenic Reserve comprises 510 ha of bush land with habitat for a wide variety of native flora and fauna. Galore Hill, which has a lookout tower at the summit rises to a height of 215 m above the surrounding plains.

The Rock Nature Reserve: The reserve is off Olympic Way and is administered by National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Lockhart Museum: Tenders will be called for the construction of a new museum to be located in Lockhart. The Museum is expected to open in 2015

Possible touring route: The potential to develop a touring route from the Sturt Highway via Lockhart and Urana to the Newell Highway near Jerilderie was discussed.

The tourist signposting process was discussed in general terms and in relation to each of the above items and the following advice was provided:

i. Applications for tourist signposting must be in one of the categories set out in the Tourist Signposting Manual. General criteria, such as those relating to opening hours, and category specific criteria, such as requirements for on-site interpretive information was outlined.

ii. Applicants meet the costs associated with the installation of tourist signposting.

iii. TASAC decides which applications are eligible for signposting and RMS determines sign design and location. Local councils are responsible for signposting on local roads.

iv. The Rock is not a focal destination for white on green destination signs within Wagga Wagga. However, RMS advised that it is listed on reassurance signs on Olympic Way.

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v. Lockhart is at the junction of four regional roads, the principal one being the Collingullie to Lockhart Road which connects the Sturt Highway at Collingullie to the Newell Highway near Jerilderie. The town is about 40 km from the Sturt Highway and some 93 km from the intersection with the Newell Highway. Generally tourist attractions should be with 10 km of any signposting. As Lockhart is quite some distance from both the Sturt and Newell Highways, any major tourist attractions in the town would be signposted from the regional road and not from either highway.

vi. Proponents for new touring routes need to demonstrate how the route meets the eligibility requirements of the Touring Route category, including that there are sufficient major tourist attractions which can be accessed from the route; there is a well- established management structure with support from all relevant local Councils and sound financial backing for the route, including for the establishment and maintenance of tourist signposting and visitor information bays with information panels located near the start and end of the route; and there is appropriate promotional material in place to support the route. Generally, touring routes are signposted with their name at each end and with signs featuring a logo unique to that route (but not the route name) at decision points along the way. vii. Tourist signposting encourages turning movements off and on State roads. All such movements have an element of risk and in providing signposting it is important to ensure that the need for turning movements is justified and that the turns can be made safely.

Action: Maria to arrange for a copy of the Tourist Signposting Manual to be sent to Jennifer

1.4 Members’ report on site inspections

Site inspections were not undertaken this month.

2. NEW TOURIST SIGNPOSTING APPLICATIONS

2.1 Glass Gallery, Wyalong (please see 1.1 above for details)

2.2 Matthew Gillett Gallery, Scarborough

The Matthew Gillett Gallery, which opened in April 2013, is set up differently from traditional gallery spaces in that it shares premises with the Scarborough Hotel, which is a pub, restaurant and function venue. The gallery occupies four rooms on two levels of the hotel. The gallery is open on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm.

The gallery’s goal is to show art in a space that is accessible to the general public and to feature emerging artists. Works from three to five artists make up each exhibition, which is generally of eight weeks duration. Works are hung throughout the various rooms in a mixed hanging style. Interpretive information includes artwork labels and the gallery’s curatorial statement and artist biographies, which are framed and hung near the entrance.

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The gallery has two staff members - the operator, who is an artist himself and has a studio at the site and one other person. Hotel staff are trained and briefed on each new exhibition so that they can handle inquiries or sales when gallery staff are absent.

Additional information is needed about the following matters before a decision can be made on the application:

i. Opening hours sign: Currently an A-frame sandwich board sign is set up on the footpath to indicate that the gallery is open and there does not appear to be a fixed sign with hours and days of opening near the entry.

ii. Brochure: While there are flyers inviting people to attend exhibition openings, artist postcards, “table flyers” and a DL brochure, they are specific to particular exhibitions and/or do not meet the requirements for a general promotional brochure with address, contact details and opening hours / days.

iii. Time between exhibitions: The application indicates that new exhibitions are bumped in one or two days after the previous exhibition is bumped out. More information is needed about what visitors to the gallery can view between exhibitions. Confirmation is also needed that visitors may view an exhibition as soon as it is hung without the need to wait for its opening night, which may occur several days after the works are displayed.

iv. Functions: The hotel holds functions (weddings, birthdays etc.). Clarification is required about whether casual visitors to the gallery (i.e. people not attending a function) are able to access the gallery’s exhibitions when functions are held.

v. Hotel closure periods: The hotel website indicates that the hotel was closed for the 2013 Melbourne Cup on 5 and 6 November. Clarification is needed about whether the gallery is closed at times when the hotel is closed and if so, details provided about any other times of the year that the hotel is closed.

Decision: More information is required to address the above matters and if appropriate the views of Museums and Galleries NSW (MGNSW) and a site inspection report will be requested.

Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above.

2.3 Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea (Galleries and State Significant applications)

Hazelhurst Regional Gallery has existing signage on The Kingsway (corners with Gymea Bay Rd and Warburton St) and on the Princes Hwy (corner with President Ave). Some of the signage is in poor condition and the signage on The Kingsway is unauthorised. Two applications have been lodged to allow the existing signage to be reviewed.

Galleries category application

The application indicates that the gallery is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm during all months. However, the gallery’s website and promotional brochure give the hours as 10 am to 5 pm and this needs to be clarified.

The gallery holds more than 30 exhibitions each year in its regional and community galleries. Exhibitions in the 450 square metre regional gallery change every seven weeks and many are

Final 28 November 2013 5 of 11 TASAC Minutes 13 November 2013 of national or international significance. Exhibitions in the 70 square metre community gallery change every two weeks and include works produced by art groups, art classes and school students. The gardens adjacent to the gallery building host a changing program of sculptures and murals. All exhibitions are accompanied by extended labels on art work and specially commissioned video interviews with the artists or curators. Catalogues are produced for most exhibitions and many are accompanied by education kits for school students.

RMS has advised that the requested name for signposting (Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre) is too long. The text on any signs could be “Hazelhurst Regional Gallery” or “Hazelhurst Regional Art Gallery”.

Decision: Hazelhurst Regional Gallery is potentially eligible for tourist signposting in the Galleries category subject to the preparation of a site inspection report and consultation with MGNSW. The inconsistency regarding the opening hours noted above also requires clarification.

Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above and finalise the application if appropriate after receipt of the views of MGNSW and a site inspection report.

State Significant category application

The Kingsway is the nearest State road to the gallery and an application in the State Significant category was submitted with a view to securing authorised signposting on the Princes Highway, which is more remote. The requirements of this category are that an attraction is eligible for signposting in another attraction or product category (in this case the Galleries category); it operates for seven days per week for six hours daily; and that visitation exceeds 150,000 visitors per annum.

As noted above, it is expected that Hazelhurst Regional Gallery will be eligible for tourist signposting in the Galleries category and its opening hours meet the requirements of the State Significant category. As there is no entry fee to art exhibitions the applicant has estimated visitor numbers to the gallery in 2012/13 to demonstrate that visitation exceeded the required level. However, the site is also used for a number of activities other than art exhibitions that are not eligible for tourist signposting such as:

Booked events not related to gallery exhibitions, such as weddings and other functions. Workshops and art classes. Studio space for hire. Café. Theatrette that screens films that are not related to gallery exhibitions. The theatrette is also available for hire for presentations and seminars.

From the information provided it appears that visitation in excess of 150,000 per annum is only achieved by including a significant proportion of visitors attending activities that are outside the scope of tourist signposting. If visits for non-eligible activities are excluded, the gallery’s visitation does not satisfy the requirements for signposting as a State Significant attraction.

Decision: Hazelhurst Regional Gallery is not eligible for tourist signposting in the State Significant category.

Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above.

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2.4 Dalwood House and Dalwood Heritage Trail, Dalwood

Dalwood House and Dalwood Heritage Trail are located on the site of Wyndham Estate, which is signposted as a major tourist attraction in the Wineries category. The house and trail can only be accessed via the grounds of Wyndham Estate. An application has been lodged seeking additional signposting to recognise Dalwood House and Dalwood Heritage Trail as tourist attractions in their own right and separate from Wyndham Estate.

Dalwood House and Heritage Trail are open from 9.30 am to 4 pm daily, which is the same as Wyndham Estate’s hours. Currently, the opening hours sign at the property’s entry only refers to Wyndham Estate’s opening hours but the applicant has advised that the sign is in the process of being redesigned, presumably to refer to the additional attractions.

Dalwood House was constructed between 1829 and 1838 by George Wyndham, who also established vineyards on his property on the banks of the Hunter River. Significant work was undertaken about 30 years ago to stabilise the historic house, which is listed on the State Heritage Register. Dalwood Heritage Trail was opened in 2012.

Parking and toilet facilities for the heritage experiences are located at the winery cellar door, though some parking is also available along a gravel road that leads to Dalwood House. Large information panels inside the cellar door introduce visitors to the heritage experience. One panel gives an introduction to the trail, another is a map of the trail and a separate panel includes thematic designs, one for each of the eight stops along the trail. Dalwood House is the seventh stop on the trail. Examples of themes at some of the other stops are:

Fire and Flood (farming practices introduced in response to harsh weather conditions) The Grape Harvest (measures introduced to improve grape yields and respond to pests and weeds) The Family Graveyard Maintaining the Kitchen Garden and Orchard The Cooper and Distillery.

The heritage trail brochure gives an overview of each of the eight stops and facilitates self- guided tours of the trail. The experience is further enhanced by more detailed material presented on a series of interpretive panels along the trail. These panels use extracts from newspapers, letters, memoirs and drawings to enliven the history of the Wyndham family and the farming property they developed.

The following points were noted:

i. Dalwood House is in a fragile condition and can currently only be viewed externally. While work is planned to allow internal access, the timing of this is not certain.

ii. Dalwood Heritage Trail has its own promotional brochure whereas Dalwood House does not. The heritage trail brochure includes address, phone and other contact details but it does not give opening hours.

iii. Considerable interpretive material (walking trail brochure, large introductory panels at the cellar door and smaller panels along the trail) is in place for Dalwood Heritage Trail.

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Interpretive material for Dalwood House is only one element of a broader heritage trail experience.

Decision: The primary heritage experience at the site is considered to be Dalwood Heritage Trail and not Dalwood House, which is one element of a broader experience. For the trail to be considered for signposting its brochure needs to include opening hours information and there should be an entry sign for the trail with opening hours at the property’s entry, either in the form of a joint sign for the trail and winery or a separate sign for the trail. If a joint sign is preferred, the trail and the winery should have equal prominence. A site inspection report and consultation with the Office of Environment and Heritage are also required.

Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above.

3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF 16 OCTOBER 2013

The minutes of TASAC’s meeting of Wednesday 16 October 2013 with the Northern Region Subcommittee in Kingscliff were confirmed. The Committee members and Secretariat advised that they had completed all the actions attributed to them from the meeting.

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

4.1 History House Museum, Glen Innes

A positive site inspection report from Peter Teschner, Manager Tourism and Events at Glen Innes Council, completed the assessment process for this application. The operator was advised that the museum is eligible for tourist signposting on 4 November and RMS Northern Region was also informed.

Decision: It was noted that History House Museum is eligible for tourist signposting in the Museums category.

4.2 Correspondence re signage for Murramarang Resort

RMS Southern Region has contacted the owner of Murramarang Resort regarding the replacement of non-conforming tourist signs for the resort with white on blue service symbols. Advice about the outcome of the discussions is awaited.

4.3 Yaraandoo Environment Centre, Ebor

The operator of Yaraandoo Environment Centre did not reply to TASAC’s letters of 6 May and 21 June 2013, which requested that a new application be lodged to allow existing unauthorised signposting to be considered. Consequently, the Secretariat asked RMS Northern Region to remove the existing signs on 4 July but due to an oversight the matter has not previously been noted at a TASAC meeting.

4.4 Liaison with National Parks and Wildlife Service

NPWS has recently undergone a major restructure and contact points for TASAC in the agency are being reviewed.

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5. INQUIRIES RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING

The following inquiries received in the period since the last meeting were noted:

5.1 Trattoria La Vigna Winery, Camden 5.2 Dalwood House, Dalwood 5.3 Short Sheep Wines, Mudgee 5.4 Gymea Echo Resort, Uki

6. POLICY ISSUES

Southern Tablelands Tourist Drives

6.1 Tourist Drive 7 (Yass-Wee Jasper-Tumut)

Tourist Drive 7 is shared by Yass Valley, Tumut and Gundagai Councils. John Maxwell, Director Engineering Services at Tumut Shire advised Maria on 3 July 2013 that Council had replaced all Tourist Drive 7 signage within its Shire and provided photographic evidence to that effect, which has been passed on to Peter at RMS South West Region. Photographs provided by Yass Valley Council in April 2011 showed that all but one of the signs for the drive in its area are in good condition and Peter advised that Council has ordered a replacement for a buckled sign reassurance sign. Anthony Webb, Road Safety Officer at Tumut and Gundagai LGAs has advised that there are only two short portions of the drive in Gundagai’s area and there is no need for signage along either portion.

Sean Haylan, Tourism Manager at Yass Valley Council, has provided copies of the latest promotional material prepared by his Council for the drive. This comprises a promotional brochure and references to the drive in the Yass Visitor Guide and on Council’s website. The brochure includes a map of the whole drive but the brochure text refers only to items of interest in Yass Valley LGA. Sean would be happy to work with Tumut Council to make the next iteration of the brochure a better representation of the entire drive.

Actions: Maria to identify a contact person at Tumut Shire to work with Yass Valley on new promotional material.

6.2 Former Tourist Drives

o Former Tourist Drive 1 (Kiandra-Cabramurra-Khancoban-Thredbo-Jindabyne- Snow Resorts-Cooma) o Former Tourist Drive 5 (Gilmore-Batlow-Tumbarumba-Kiandra) o Former Tourist Drive 6 (Gundagai-Tumut-Adelong)

Karl Brough, RMS Southern Region advised on 8 November that signage for those parts of TDs 1 and 5 within Southern Region had been removed from RMS Roads (TD 6 did not extend into that region). Peter indicated that signage for all three drives has been removed from RMS roads in South West Region.

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7. OTHER BUSINESS

7.1 Correspondence re Australian Painted Panorama, Glenbrook

At RMS’s request the Secretariat replied to representations sent to RMS regarding signposting for the Australian Painted Panorama at Glenbrook on 4 November 2013.

7.2 TASAC Meeting Schedule

The next South West Region meeting will be held in Young on 16 July 2014. Please refer to Attachment 1 for the schedule of meetings for the next six months.

8. NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 11 December 2013 at Destination NSW’s Sydney office.

The meeting concluded at noon.

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Attachment 1 – TASAC Meeting Schedule

Region Location Date 2013 N / A Sydney 11 December 2013 2014 N / A Sydney 15 January 2014 Western Dubbo 19 February 2014 Southern Moruya 19 March 2014 Northern Nambucca 16 April 2014 Sydney Katoomba 21 May 2014

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