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
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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.
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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. The application submitted was also incomplete.
Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above.
3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF 18 SEPTEMBER 2013
The minutes of TASAC’s meeting of Wednesday 18 September 2013 with the Southern Region Subcommittee in Bungendore were confirmed. The Committee members and Secretariat advised that they had completed all the actions attributed to them from the meeting except that Maria has not yet contacted the Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Association about the Mudgee Wine Region signposting scheme.
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4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS
4.1 Historic Armidale 4.2 Historic Hillgrove 4.3 Bakers Creek Falls & 4.4 Metz Gorge
The Committee noted Tony Broomfield’s advice that he expects Armidale Dumaresq Council to lodge applications for the above attractions during November.
4.5 Armidale town entry signs
The Committee noted that RMS has granted its concurrence to Armidale Dumaresq Council’s development application for new Armidale entry signs. Ian will check with Council to ascertain whether installation of the entry signs will may make the existing “Historic Armidale” tourist signs superfluous.
4.6 Murramarang Resort, South Durras
RMS Southern Region is in the process of removing tourist signs with the legend “Murramarang Resort” and replacing them with white on blue service symbols to indicate that the establishment offers camping and caravan park accommodation. On 10 October a representative of the company that owns the resort called Maria to request that the signs remain in place so that the chief operating officer could write to TASAC about the matter. The company was informed that the existing signs would be retained until 18 October to allow time for a letter to be submitted.
4.7 Historic Ben Lomond
Guyra Shire Council has responded to TASAC’s request to lodge an application to demonstrate the eligibility of Ben Lomond village for existing signposting in the Historic Towns, Village and Precincts category by requesting a 12 month extension of time. The Council’s letter indicates that there are two visitor information panels in the town (one recently established at the historic railway station and another installed at a car park in 2010) with historical information about the town, including the railway station and other heritage items such as a war memorial hall, a public school, three churches and a cemetery. New public toilets, a public BBQ, picnic area and walking tracks have been completed.
Ben Lomond was home to the highest altitude (1,363 metres) operational railway station in Australia until its closure in 1998. Council is lobbying the NSW Government to open a rail cycle (cycle and walking trail) along the disused rail line between the villages of Ben Lomond and Black Mountain. Should this proposal be approved Council will look to further develop Ben Lomond station into a coffee shop/restaurant incorporating a historic/tourist information centre.
RMS Northern Region has received feedback over several years from visitors who followed the existing tourist signs to Ben Lomond and were disappointed with the tourism experience. Ian has visited the town and was similarly disappointed with the experience. The Committee was also mindful that the proposal to develop a rail cycle may not succeed and if it does, it is not known how long it would take to develop and whether it would necessarily enhance the
Final 29 October 2013 5 of 8 TASAC Minutes 16 October 2013 presentation of the village as a tourism experience in the Historic Towns, Villages and Precincts category.
The Committee was concerned that the quality of the “historic village” tourism experience at Ben Lomond may not be sufficient to warrant the retention of the existing tourist signposting and considered that a 12 month extension of time to demonstrate the village’s eligibility for the signposting would be excessive.
Decision: A signposting application is to be lodged by 4 April 2014 so that it can be considered at the next Northern Region TASAC meeting. If an application is not received by that time TASAC will ask RMS to remove the existing tourist signposting.
Action: Secretariat to advise Council as above.
Note: An officer of RMS visited Ben Lomond on 24 October and provided photos of the village including the railway station, which is locked and can only be viewed externally. The photos indicate that the station is poorly maintained.
4.8 History House Museum, Glen Innes
The operator of History House Museum has provided further information to demonstrate that interpretive information and has been installed with respect to all outdoor exhibits (farm machinery / equipment) at the museum. The interpretive information is in the form of large colour panels with photos and descriptions for each item of machinery / equipment.
This completes the information requested by TASAC in connection with the application. Peter Teschner, Manager Tourism and Events at Glen Innes Council, has been asked to prepare a site inspection report.
Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above and finalise the application if appropriate after receipt of the site inspection report.
4.9 Yarrawarra Aboriginal Art Gallery
The applicant has provided additional information to address the outstanding issues identified by TASAC in connection with this application, including corrections to information on the business’s website and the submission of photos showing interpretive information associated with exhibited art works. A site inspection report will be arranged to complete the assessment process.
Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above, request a site inspection report and finalise the application if appropriate after receipt of the report.
4.10 Sealy Lookout Coffs Harbour
The Forestry Corporation of NSW has submitted photos to demonstrate that appropriate interpretive information has been installed at Sealy Lookout to complete the information requirements for this application, which was lodged in April 2012.
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Decision: Sealy Lookout is eligible for tourist signposting in the Outdoor / Nature Based (Natural Features) category.
Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant and RMS Northern Region as above.
5. INQUIRIES RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING
The following inquiries received in the period since the last meeting were noted:
5.1 Bonville Golf Course 5.2 Glass Gallery, Wyalong 5.3 Summerland Antiques, Ballina 5.4 Madison’s Mountain Retreat, Kurrajong Heights
6. POLICY ISSUES
6.1 Northern Region Tourist Drives
Please refer to Attachment 2 for information about progress with the review of tourist drives in the Northern Region.
Action: To facilitate completion of the tourist drive review, RMS Northern Region to will initiate an internal audit of tourist drives and work with Councils with a view to upgrading signage along the drives.
7. OTHER BUSINESS
7.1 NPWS inquiries re signage for Waa Gorge and Terry Hie Hie Aboriginal Site
NPWS Western Branch has indicated that it plans to submit applications for Waa Gorge and Terry Hie Hie Aboriginal Site in time for the November meeting.
7.2 Tourist signage at Eltham
It was noted that RMS removed unapproved tourist signs for the Eltham Hotel during MAB road improvement works in the locality.
7.3 TASAC Meeting Schedule
The next Northern Region meeting will be held in Nambucca on 16 April 2014. Please refer to Attachment 1 for the schedule of meetings for the next six month.
8. NEXT MEETING
Wednesday 13 November 2013 in Wagga Wagga with the South West Region Subcommittee.
The meeting concluded at 12.20 pm
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Attachment 1 – TASAC Meeting Schedule
Region Location Date 2013 South West Wagga Wagga 13 November 2013 N / A Sydney 11 December 2013 2014 N / A Sydney 15 January 2014 Western Dubbo 19 February 2014 Southern Batemans Bay 19 March 2014 Northern Nambucca 16 April 2014
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