TASAC Minutes 12 December 2012 Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee and the Hunter Region Subcommittee Wednesday 12 December 2012 at the offices the Central Coast Visitor Information Centre 52 The Avenue, Mt Penang Parklands, Kariong Members David Douglas Regional Coordinator TASAC and Drive, Destination NSW Wayne Wilson Roads & Maritime Services (RMS), Hunter Region Maria Zannetides TASAC Secretariat Hunter Region Subcommittee Jacqui Greaves Business Development Manager, Central Coast Tourism Valerie Antaki Marketing Coordinator, Tourism Hunter Also present Robyne Abernethy CEO, Central Coast Tourism Sandra Kerr Board member, Central Coast Tourism & Hannan Properties Richard Old Manager Tourism and Marketing, Great Lakes Council Wendy Dollin Tourism Development & Events Coordinator, Blue Mountains Council Apologies Ken Saxby RMS Hunter Region Rhiannon Stevens Cessnock Council Bob Burch Wyong Council Keith Dawson Gosford Council Sheridan Ferrier Tourism Hunter Susan Davis NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Matthew Lysaught Muswellbrook Council Steve Green Gosford Council AGENDA ITEMS 1. DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS & REGIONAL SIGNPOSTING ISSUES 1.1 Mt York Convict Roads, Blue Mountains City Wendy Dollin presented an application from Blue Mountains City Council, which seeks to replace existing signage for Mt York with new signage for Mt York Convict Roads. Predominantly a natural area, the site has many layers of Aboriginal significance. The site is also known for its relevance to the first European crossing of the Blue Mountains in 1813 by explorers Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth. The location was important during construction of the first road across the Mountains in 1815 by William Cox and for various descents of the escarpment that were built by convicts between 1823 and 1829, such as Lawson's Long Alley, Lockyers Line of Road and Berghofers Pass. The roads are among the most accessible and impressive of the remaining convict roads in NSW. Blue Mountains Council took over management of Mt York Heritage Conservation Area in 2006 from the Department of Lands. The roads and the precinct are identified as heritage items in Blue Final 18 December 2012 1 of 16 TASAC Minutes 12 December 2012 Mountains LEP 1991. Access to Mt York Heritage Conservation Area is by a sealed 5km road from the Great Western Highway at Mt Victoria. It is also accessible on foot from Mt Victoria Station but car, coach and mountain bike are the most popular forms of transport to the site. Existing interpretive information at the site takes many forms. For example, the monument at Mt York day use area, which was built in 1813 for the centenary of the first European crossing of the mountains, features various layers of interpretive information relating to the construction of the convict roads. Also at the site are an obelisk with interpretive plaques and a set of brass interpretive panels mark points of interest (e.g. Berghofers Pass). Council is in the process of refurbishing the site in time for bicentenary celebrations to be held in May 2013, with a major civic event planned for 28 May 2013. Landscaping work has commenced and designs for new interpretive information are being prepared. The application was accompanied by two plans which show proposals for: a) New precinct entry signs, which refer to the area as Mount York Heritage Conservation Reserve and Convict Roads. b) Various site improvements, including an interpretive walk with interpretive panels mounted on low concrete walls that explore themes associated with the area; on-site signage such as at the head of Cox’s Road; a new picnic shelter; new retaining walls; improvements to on-site parking; maintenance works to the pavilion; and upgrades to the toilets. The requested name for signposting is Mt York Convict Roads. However, as indicated above, the proposed entry signs will refer to Mt York Heritage Conservation Reserve and Convict Roads. Some published materials refer to Mt York Historic Site or Mt York Heritage Conservation Reserve. In addition, there is a well known lookout at Mt York with views to the north and west over Hartley Valley and Mt Blaxland, which was the terminal point of the 1813 crossing of the mountains. In this respect, Mt York Lookout is another name by which the site is known. The applicant has prepared a plan for tourist signposting and has also indicated that it would like the walking trails symbol to be used on finger board signs. The Committee provided the following feedback: i. The application is signed by Council’s Manager Environmental Sustainability. However, applications from councils need to be signed by or submitted with a letter of support from the General Manager of the council. ii. As noted above, the site is associated with a variety of names. The requested name for tourist signposting is insufficiently descriptive of the visitor experience and the use of the word “roads” on a road sign is not appropriate because it will confuse motorists who might expect to be able to drive on “convict roads”. TASAC considers that the most appropriate name for signposting purposes is Mt York Historic Site. iii. There is existing interpretive information at the site but it is dated and not comprehensive and more interpretive information is planned. TASAC requires details of the new material and evidence that it has been installed to enable it to finalise its consideration of the application. iv. Existing published material for Mt York is a mix of references to it in free omnibus publications and guides available for retail purchase. Council is considering the preparation of new published material specific to Mt York, either as a fact sheet or a DL size brochure. Final 18 December 2012 2 of 16 TASAC Minutes 12 December 2012 TASAC requires a copy of the new published material to enable it to finalise consideration of the application. v. Decisions about the design and location for all road signs, including the use of symbols, will be made by RMS Sydney Region after TASAC finalises its consideration of the application. vi. A site inspection report is required for the application. However, the proposed improvement works, and in particular the new interpretive material, must be completed before this could be done. David could visit the site on 19 February (prior to a TASAC meeting in Penrith) and prepare the report but only if the works have been completed. Alternatively, if the works are not finished by then, another appropriate person (such as a tourism officer from an adjoining council) could complete the task at a later time. vii. As the application has been submitted in the Historic Properties and Sites category, the views of the Heritage Branch of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage will be sought. viii. Suggestions in the application about possible changes to signage for Hartley Vale are considered to be separate matter. Requests for white on brown tourist signs for Hartley Vale should come to TASAC from Lithgow Council, which is the relevant local government authority, and will require a separate application. Inquiries about white on green destination signs for Hartley Vale should be made by Lithgow Council direct to RMS Western Region. Decision: Mt York is potentially eligible for tourist signposting in the Historic Properties and Sites category subject to the completion and/or resolution of the matters outlined above. Action: Secretariat to liaise with the Heritage Branch, inform the Council as above and list the matter for further consideration in January and February 2013. 1.2 Central Coast signage issues Jacqui Greaves addressed the meeting about several Central Coast signage matters: a) Central Coast Tourism has received positive feedback from visitors regarding new road signage for its Gateway Accredited Visitor Information Centre (AVIC) at Kariong, which RMS installed on a gantry structure above the Central Coast Highway near the intersection with The Avenue. b) There was a gap of some months between the installation of a road sign with a Roman “i” symbol on the Pacific Motorway near the Ourimbah Rest Area and the installation earlier this month of visitor information signs in the rest area for The Legendary Pacific Coast (TLPC). The erection of the road sign so far ahead of the visitor information signs to which it relates caused confusion for many visitors. This could have been avoided if RMS had better co-ordinated the timing of their installation. During the discussion it was noted that 10 more visitor information signs would be installed in rest areas or other off-road locations along the Pacific Motorway before Christmas. Each sign will have four panels and will incorporate the logo of TLPC. RMS has also identified sites at Tweed Heads and Mooney Mooney for the Welcome to TLPC signs. An additional 10 sites for similar visitor information signs have been identified, including one at Mooney Mooney Bridge, should RMS have sufficient funds. c) Central Coast Tourism is upgrading maps for its area and Jacqui inquired about the correct route number for Central Coast Highway. Wayne advised that the highway will be badged “B43” and all white on blue shields on road signs will be covered up from Kariong to Doyalson in the next two months. RMS website http://haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/document/show/521 shows the new MAB route numbers for the Hunter and Central Coast areas. Final 18 December 2012 3 of 16 TASAC Minutes 12 December 2012 d) The recent interest in seaside town signage for the Killcare / Hardys Bay localities was discussed and it was noted that the operator of Bouddi Gallery had expressed some interest in applying for tourist signposting. The Committee provided the following advice: i. Applications for seaside town signage must come from or be supported in writing by the General Manager of the relevant council. ii.