TASAC Minutes 18 September 2013 Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee and the Southern Region Subcommittee Wednesday 18 September 2013 at the offices Palerang Council, 10 Majara Street, Bungendore Members David Douglas Regional Coordinator TASAC and Drive, Destination NSW John Harper Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) Southern Region Maria Zannetides TASAC Secretariat Also present Gordon Cunningham Director of Works, Palerang Council Trey Proctor Assistant Engineer Design, Palerang Council Apologies Peter Bascomb General Manager, Palerang Council Debby Ferguson Manager Executive Services, Palerang Council Steve Rosa Executive Manager Tourism Manager, Tourism Southern Highlands Tom Phillips South Coast Tourism AGENDA ITEMS 1. DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS & REGIONAL SIGNPOSTING ISSUES 1.1 Palerang signposting issues (a) Tourist Drive 8 (Goulburn to Federal Hwy via Lake Bathurst, Tarago, Bungendore and Smiths Gap) shared by Palerang and Goulburn Mulwaree Councils Goulburn Mulwaree Council has prepared promotional material for the drive, which was updated earlier this year. The promotional material is available from the Goulburn Visitor Information Centre and can be downloaded from the Council’s website. Sarah Ruberto, Tourism Manager at Goulburn Mulwaree, has provided an electronic copy of the material to Palerang Council for distribution from its shop front. Sarah advised TASAC in August that her Council and RMS have jointly reviewed the actions identified in an audit of the drive’s signs (undertaken by RMS in 2012) and agreement has been reached on which party would be responsible for each action to upgrade the signs. Council has completed a number of its actions and is making progress on the remainder. It was agreed that Palerang Council and RMS Southern Region will work together to prepare signs designs to upgrade signage along the drive in Palerang’s area. Gordon indicated that his Council was committed to completing this work by 30 June 2014. Among other improvements it was noted it would be necessary to install an intersection direction sign on the Federal Highway and a reassurance sign on Bungendore Road. Final 8 October 2013 1 of 12 TASAC Minutes 18 September 2013 Signs on RMS roads for Tourist Drive 8 in both Palerang and Goulburn Mulwaree LGAs will upgraded after the Councils have completed upgrades of the signs on their roads. (b) Tourist signposting policy It was noted that there were some signs for wineries on local roads in Palerang LGA and that Council manages the process of installing and removing signs as wineries open and close. The provisions of the Tourist Signposting Manual were discussed in general terms and Council was encouraged to consider adopting the contents of the Manual to guide the design and location of tourist signposting on local roads. Actions: (a) Trey and Peter Bache to work together to prepare designs for TD 8 signs in Palerang LGA with a view to new signs being installed by 30 June 2014. (b) David to send Trey a copy of the Tourist Signposting Manual for his information. (c) Maria to send Gordon photos of non-conforming signage for Lark Hill Winery. 1.2 Members’ report on site inspections Observations arising from site inspections by David and John in the Bungendore area and environs the day before the meeting related to Tourist Drive 8 signage, which is discussed above. 2. NEW TOURIST SIGNPOSTING APPLICATIONS 2.1 Toboggan Hill Park, Nelson Bay An application in the Theme Parks category has been lodged to enable existing non-conforming signage for Toboggan Hill Park to be upgraded. The business is signposted on Nelson Bay Road as “Toboggan Run”, which is not its current name and the following anomalies with the signage were noted: i. Two signs on Nelson Bay Road and one sign on Salamander Road feature a “toboggan” symbol, which is not standard. ii. One sign on Salamander Road is white on green and also has a “toboggan” symbol. iii. The westbound fingerboard sign on Salamander Way includes the toboggan symbol and this sign and the corresponding eastbound one are not level as they are attached to leaning posts (due to road work by the local water authority). These signs have “white on blue” signs fixed below them to indicate “Open Wed to Sun” in winter and “Open 7 days” in summer. iv. Signs on Salamander Way are not retro-reflective. Toboggan Hill Park is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm during summer (months not specified) and on public and school holidays. During winter (specified as being from April to September) it is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday to Sunday. This information is conveyed in its brochure. However, the opening hours sign at the entry to the park indicates the opening time but does not state the closing time. The sign indicates that “winter” is April to September but does not give the months for “summer” nor does it indicate that the park is also open on Monday and Tuesday in “winter” on public holidays and during school holidays. Final 8 October 2013 2 of 12 TASAC Minutes 18 September 2013 The Committee considered that referring to “summer” and “winter” on opening hours signs was unhelpful to visitors. For clarity, where hours/days vary throughout the year, attractions should provide this information with reference to specific months, e.g. “Open 10 am to 5 pm daily October to March and all public and school holidays and 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday to Sunday April to September” on an opening hours sign and all promotional material. In this way visitors perusing promotional material or who arrive at the entry when an attraction is closed can be certain about when they can return to find it open. The application describes the theme as “participant controlled fun activities all ages - all year”. Activities include a 1 km long toboggan run, ice skating, 2 km train ride through the bush, indoor rock climbing, mini golf, giant maze and indoor radio controlled cars and boats. Many of the activities are conducted indoors and the facility offers an alternative to the nature based, outdoors activities for which the Port Stephens locality is well known (e.g. swimming, fishing, boating etc.). The application also indicates that many of the park’s visitors are drawn from beyond the local area: 60% of visitors are from Sydney and Newcastle; 10% from Port Stephens LGA; 25% from other parts of NSW and interstate; and 5% from overseas. While the individual activities available at the site would not be eligible for tourist signposting if they were each a stand-alone attraction, it was considered that the park offers a sufficient number and variety of “fun” activities to satisfy the requirements of the Theme Parks category. A site inspection report which supports the application was provided by Tars Bylhouwer of Destination Port Stephens. Decision: Toboggan Hill Run is potentially eligible for tourist signposting subject to the installation of a sign at its entry to clearly inform visitors of opening and closing times and days in different months throughout the year, as discussed above. The same information should be provided on its brochure and website. Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant as above. 2.2 Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, Heatherbrae An application has been lodged to enable existing signage for Hunter Region Botanic Gardens to be replaced because it does not feature the attraction’s full name. The gardens are open daily from 9 am to 4 pm during all months. The focus of the gardens is to grow, study, conserve and promote plants. The attraction has a living collection of over 3,000 plants and a herbarium with 10,000 specimens. The emphasis of the collection is Australian native plants and in particular plants of the Hunter Region. Theme gardens showcase important Australian plant families and habitats, endangered species, plants used by indigenous people and plants of evolutionary significance. Landscaped theme gardens cover 38 ha and include a camellia lawn; a eucalyptus lawn; forest areas; palms; orchid and bromeliad houses; arid plant area; succulents area; Hunter Region plants area; water features including a pond, waterfall and wetlands areas with boardwalks and a viewing platform. The remainder of the site is maintained as a conservation zone of local flora and fauna. Visitor facilities comprise a visitor centre with an information area offering brochures and leaflets; a gallery with monthly exhibitions; an extensive network of paved walking paths; people mover; library; children’s play area and picnic and BBQ facilities. About 80% of plants are labelled to indicate family, genus, species, accession number and origin. Interpretive panels are placed in individual theme gardens to describe plant groups (e.g. Final 8 October 2013 3 of 12 TASAC Minutes 18 September 2013 Acacias); on walking paths to inform visitors about different habitats (e.g. wetlands); and in areas of interest to inform about ecology, indigenous plant use, plant evolution and the history of the botanic garden (e.g. The Web of Life on a Eucalypt, Gundabooka Track, Wildflower Walk, Grevillea Garden, and Kids Adventure Trail). The gardens are a member of the Botanical Gardens of Australia and New Zealand and botanical information and plant specimens are shared with the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney and Melbourne among other institutions. Staff are involved in a number of botanical studies and research projects. A site inspection report which supports the application was provided by Tars Bylhouwer of Destination Port Stephens. Decision: Hunter Region Botanic Gardens are eligible for tourist signposting in the Outdoor / Nature Based (Botanic Gardens) category. Action: Secretariat to advise the applicant and RMS Hunter Region as above. 2.3 Oakvale Farm & Fauna World, Salt Ash An application has been lodged to allow the existing non-standard tourist signposting for Oakvale Farm & Fauna World to be reviewed.