Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee and the Northern Region Subcommittee
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TASAC Minutes 16 October 2013 Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee and the Northern Region Subcommittee Wednesday 16 October 2013 in the Board Room at Mantra on Salt Beach, Gunnamatta Avenue, Kingscliff Members David Douglas Regional Coordinator TASAC and Drive, Destination NSW Ian Shanahan Roads & Maritime Services (RMS), Northern Region Maria Zannetides TASAC Secretariat Northern Region Subcommittee Liz Smith RMS Northern Region Also present Trevor Harris Engineering Assistant, Tweed Shire Council Apologies Belinda Novicky Executive Officer, North Coast Destination Network Bill Tatchell CEO Destination Tweed Wayne Lowe Tourism Manager, Nambucca Shire Council Joanne McMurtry Tourism Officer, Byron Shire Council Caroline Klose Tourism Co-ordinator, Ballina Council AGENDA ITEMS 1. DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS & REGIONAL SIGNPOSTING ISSUES 1.1 Tweed tourist signposting issues The following signposting matters relevant to Tweed LGA were discussed: i. Surfing Australia has made inquiries to TASAC and Tweed Shire Council about signposting for its business at Casuarina known as Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre. The business’s website indicates that the centre is dedicated to the development of elite surfers and coaches with state of the art education facilities, surf specific gym, auditorium, offices, testing and treatment room and accommodation. TASAC advised Surfing Australia in April that a training venue for surfers was not eligible for signposting as a tourist attraction. Trevor Harris indicated that Council has removed unauthorised white on blue signs for the business on Casuarina Road a number of times. ii. Trevor indicated that the operator of jet boat races at Round Mountain installs unauthorised temporary white on brown signs on the Pacific Motorway at the Clothiers Creek / Cudgera Creek intersection prior to events. iii. Tweed Shire is considering the future of fingerboard signs which name a range of businesses such as B&Bs and homestays. The signs, which state the name of each Final 29 October 2013 1 of 8 TASAC Minutes 16 October 2013 business and which were installed on local roads many years ago, are becoming unserviceable. The Tourist Signposting Manual and RMS accommodation signposting policies do not support the signposting of accommodation establishments with business names. Ian suggested that the use of signs with service symbols rather than ones with business names might provide a solution to the problem. 1.2 Members’ report on site inspections Ian, David and Liz made the following observations arising from their site inspections in the Tweed area and environs the day before the meeting. i. The following signposting was inspected: Welcome signs for the Legendary Pacific Coast Tourist Route. Tourist signs for Crystal Castle. Tourist signs for Tropical Fruit World, which are installed at numerous locations on the road network. ii. Liz will contact Coffs Harbour Council to find out if a Pewter Gallery business on Coramba Road has relocated. 2. NEW TOURIST SIGNPOSTING APPLICATIONS 2.1 Cathedral Rock National Park Cathedral Rock National Park is 70 km east of Armidale and 60 km west of Dorrigo in the New England Tablelands. It has two main access points, one from the south at the intersection of Round Mountain Road and Waterfall Way and the other in the north off the Ebor - Guyra Road. The park, which is open daily during all hours, contains two camping areas (Barokee and Native Dog) and four walking tracks of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty. Landscapes within the park feature granite outcrops and there are a variety of flowering plants, native animals and opportunities for bird watching. Visitor information panels are located near the park entry. Decision: Cathedral Rock National Park is eligible for tourist signposting in the National Park, State Conservation Areas, Forests and Water Storage Areas Category. Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant and RMS Northern Region as above. 2.2 Ebor Falls The Guy Fawkes River plunges 100 m over two waterfalls at Ebor Falls, which is a day use area within the Guy Fawkes River National Park. Ebor Falls is open daily during all hours. There are three lookout platforms at different positions along the edge of the gorge with walking tracks between them, two picnic areas and visitor information panels describing the falls and Waterfall Way. Decision: Ebor Falls is eligible for tourist signposting in the National Park, State Conservation Areas, Forests and Water Storage Areas Category. Final 29 October 2013 2 of 8 TASAC Minutes 16 October 2013 Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant and RMS Northern Region as above. 2.3 Guy Fawkes River National Park Guy Fawkes River National Park, which is open daily during all hours, is between Armidale and Grafton. It comprises rugged wilderness areas bisected by the Guy Fawkes, Aberfoyle, Sara and Boyd Rivers. There are two camping areas at Chaelundi in the south and Dalmorton in the north, two picnic areas (Mount Hyland and Vista Point) and walking tracks. Visitor information panels describing the park’s history and wildlife are located at each of the camping areas and along the Escarpment Walk from Chaelundi Campground to Chaelundi Falls. Decision: Guy Fawkes River National Park is eligible for tourist signposting in the National Park, State Conservation Areas, Forests and Water Storage Areas Category. Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant and RMS Northern Region as above. 2.4 Thursday Plantation, Ballina Thursday Plantation is open from 10 am to 5 pm on week days and from 10 am to 4 pm on weekends and most public holidays. An education centre at the site allows visitors to learn about the production of therapeutic products using tea tree oil by various means. A theatrette screens 15 minute DVD about the harvesting, distillation, manufacture and packaging of tea tree oil products, there are static displays / information boards about the history of the tea tree industry, products may be sampled at a tester table and staff members give product demonstrations. Visitors are also able to explore a tea tree maze formed by 2,500 tea trees and Lilly Pillies in the shape of the Southern Cross and there is an adjacent rainforest walk featuring bush-tucker plants. Visitors who have no prior knowledge of the business would not know what sort of tourism experience to expect if the term “Thursday Plantation” was used on tourist signs. The Committee felt that it would be more descriptive and helpful for visitors for tourist signs to refer to “Thursday Tea Tree Plantation”. Caroline Klose of Ballina Shire Council is preparing a site inspection report. Decision: Thursday Plantation is potentially eligible for tourist signposting in the Primary and Secondary Industries category subject to the receipt of a positive site inspection report. Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above and complete the assessment process if appropriate after the report has been received. Note: A site inspection supporting the application was received on 22 October, enabling the application to be finalised. 2.5 Gan Gan Lookout, Nelson Bay The Rotary Club of Nelson Bay has applied for signposting of Gan Gan Lookout, which is on land owned by Port Stephens Council. The lookout is accessed via Lily Hill Road off Nelson Bay Road, south west of Nelson Bay. The lookout, which is open daily from 5 am to 9 pm, was Final 29 October 2013 3 of 8 TASAC Minutes 16 October 2013 recently refurbished by Council and the Rotary Club with some funding from the NSW Government and a second south facing viewing platform was added. The two viewing platforms afford views over Nelson Bay, Port Stephens and Myall Lakes to the north and Stockton Beach, Newcastle and Norah Head to the south. Visitor information panels describe the views and give information about the area’s history and cultural significance. The lookout is promoted in the Port Stephens Visitor Guide where it is listed as one of the area’s top 10 attractions and shown on Map 2 of the guide. However, the name of the access road is not shown at either place in the Guide and should be added to either the listing or map or both and the addition of a map reference number to the listing would assist visitors wishing to go there. A letter of support from Council as the land owner is also required. Tars Bylhouwer, Marketing Manager of Destination Port Stephens will be asked to prepare a site inspection report. Decision: More information including a letter of support from Port Stephens Council and improvements to the promotion of Gan Gan Lookout in the Port Stephens Visitor Guide is required to enable TASAC to complete its assessment of the application. Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above and request a site inspection report. Note: A site inspection report supporting the application was received on 23 October along with advice that the requested changes to the Visitor Guide would appear in the next edition to be published in April 2014 2.6 Absalom’s Gallery, Broken Hill Absalom’s Gallery displays the art work (oil paintings and prints) of Jack Absalom, one of the five Australian artists known as “Brushmen of the Bush”. Also available for viewing and sale are items featuring the art work such as placemats and coasters along with DVDs and books. The gallery also has an opal display. The gallery is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm from March to December. The two months period of closure during January and February is longer than allowed by the provisions of the Tourist Signposting Manual. Also, the application received did not include Part C of form relating to specific eligibility requirements for Galleries. Decision: Absalom’s Gallery is not eligible for tourist signposting because it is closed for two months each year which is longer than allowable under the provisions of the Tourist Signposting Manual.