TASAC Minutes 20 August 2014 Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee Western Region Meeting Wednesday 20 August 2014 at the Stables, Market Street, Mudgee Members David Douglas Regional Coordinator TASAC and Drive, Destination NSW Phil Oliver Guidance and Delineation Manager, RMS Maria Zannetides TASAC Secretariat Also present Sharon Grierson RMS Western Region Marty Cassell RMS Western Region Andrew Kearins Works Engineer, Mid-Western Regional Council Virginia Craney Interim Tourism Manager, Mudgee Region Tourism Inc David Bennett Treasurer, Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Association Inc Apologies Andrew Stein Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Association Lucy White Central NSW Tourism Jacki Parish Tourism Manager, Dubbo City Council AGENDA ITEMS 1. DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS & REGIONAL SIGNPOSTING ISSUES 1.1 Mudgee Wine Tourism Region signage Issues relating to the completion of a signage scheme for the Mudgee Wine Tourism Region were discussed and the following points were noted: a) Signs for wineries in the Mudgee area were installed without TASAC authorisation in mid-2011. Unfortunately, the Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Association (which applied to TASAC for the wine region signage scheme) has yet to establish information bays populated with visitor information panels detailing the region’s wineries at its main entry points. To comply with TASAC requirements the visitor information panels must include a map of the wine region showing the winery locations and give the following information for each winery: o Name o Street address o Opening hours and days o Contact phone number It would also be desirable for the information panels to recommend that visitors contact the Mudgee Visitor Centre for more details. In this event, the panels should also include the centre’s phone number, street and website address and show its location on the regional map via the use of an italicised “i” symbol. Final 1 September 2014 1 of 18 TASAC Minutes 20 August 2014 To facilitate regular updates of the information for visitors to the wine region, it would be desirable for the panels to comprise a large replaceable sheet mounted behind a transparent protective panel. Andrew indicated that Council has three large sign frames with Perspex panels that would be suitable for the purpose. b) The failure to establish information bays with details of the region’s wineries has meant that TASAC has not been in a position to authorise the installation of signs in the road reserve at each of the region’s entries and in advance of each information bay. The road signs would welcome visitors to the “Mudgee Wine Tourism Region” and direct them to the nearby bay. c) The preferred locations for welcome signs and associated information bays are: Ilford rest area on the Castlereagh Highway near the intersection with the Goulburn Ilford Road, some 55 km south of Mudgee. While this is further away from the first of the Mudgee wineries than is generally desirable, the rest area is well established with a large hard stand area, toilets and existing visitor information panels on a variety of subjects. It also has the advantage of being located prior to the Rylstone turn-off for north bound traffic. Theresa Lane Park, in Gulgong adjacent to the Castlereagh Highway near its intersections with Fisher and Herbert Streets, for visitors coming from the north west. Ulan Road near the intersection with Wollar Road for visitors coming from the north east. This location is affected by road works, which are expected to take place from September to December 2014. A hard stand area will be constructed for the road works, which could be used to accommodate information panels for the wine tourism region when the works are completed. Welcome signs in the roadway would only be installed in association with each of the above three locations. However, if the Association so desires, similar information panels about the wine region could be installed at other locations such as at the Mudgee visitor information centre or in an existing information bay on Sydney Road within Mudgee, but roadway Welcome signs would not be installed in association with such panels. d) Mid-Western Regional Council is able to contribute $6,800 to assist with the completion of the signage scheme. To facilitate the completion of the Mudgee wine region signage scheme, Phil offered that RMS would fund the manufacture and installation of road signs to welcome visitors to the region if the Association works with the Council and Mudgee Region Tourism to install visitor information panels at the Ilford and Gulgong locations mentioned above prior to 31 October 2014. In this event, Council funds could be applied to offset other costs associated with the scheme. Decision: (a) If Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Association works with the other stakeholders to install visitor information panels that satisfy TASAC requirements at off road locations at Ilford and Gulgong prior to 31 October 2014, then RMS will fund the manufacture and installation of “Welcome” signs in advance of the two locations. (b) The Association and Council will work towards the establishment of an information bay off Ulan Road near Wollar Road as soon as possible after road works at the location have been completed. Welcome signs (to be paid for by Final 1 September 2014 2 of 18 TASAC Minutes 20 August 2014 the Association) would be installed in the road reserve in advance of the location after the information panels have been established. Action: Secretariat to advise the Association as above and inform Council and Mudgee Region Tourism 1.2 Other Mid-Western Regional Council signage issues Virginia raised the following matters: i. Directional Signage to Mudgee on Ulan Road: Marty advised that RMS has agreed to install green on white directional signage for Mudgee on the Golden Highway at the Ulan Road intersection. Action: Phil to liaise with RMS Hunter Region to progress the provision of directional signage at the location, which would include the distance to Mudgee. ii. Signage for Gulgong visitor information centre: As the centre is not currently accredited at any level it is no longer eligible to use the italicised “i” symbol on any signage (either in the roadway or at the premises). It was noted that only centres accredited at level 1 or 2 are able to use the symbol on road signage and level 3 centres may use the symbol on signage within the property boundary. TASAC members indicated that the Gulgong centre could use the Roman “i” symbol on Council roads or at the centre but not on State roads. Action: RMS Western Region to remove signage for the centre that uses the italicised “i” symbol from the Castlereagh Highway. 1.3 Members’ report on site inspections David and Phil made the following observations arising from their site inspections in the Mudgee area and environs the day before the meeting. i. Gooree Park Wines Unauthorised signs are installed for Gooree Park Wines on the Castlereagh Highway. The business is located at 1154A - 1154B Castlereagh Highway north west of Mudgee. Its website gives its opening hours as weekdays from 10.00 am - 5.00 pm and weekends from 11.00 am - 4.00 pm. The weekend opening hours are less than is required for tourist signposting from a State road. Action: Secretariat to write to the operator with a view to determining eligibility for the existing signposting. ii. Moothi Estate Unauthorised signs are installed for Moothi Estate on the Castlereagh Highway. The business is located at 85 Rocky Waterhole Road east of Mudgee. Its website gives its opening hours as Friday to Monday from 10 am – 5 pm, which is less than required for tourist signposting from a State road. Final 1 September 2014 3 of 18 TASAC Minutes 20 August 2014 Action: Secretariat to write to the operator with a view to determining eligibility for the existing signposting. iii. Mongrel Vineyard Unauthorised signs (“Mongrel Wines 3 km”) are installed for Mongrel Wines on the Castlereagh Highway. The business is located at 571 Springflat Road south east of Mudgee. Its website indicates that it is open from 10 am to 4 pm on weekends and public holidays or by appointment, which is less than required for tourist signposting from a State road. Action: Secretariat to write to the operator with a view to determining eligibility for the existing signposting. iv. Rocky Waterhole Road sign The design of a white on brown tourist sign on the Castlereagh Highway at the intersection with Rocky Waterhole Road denotes that more than one winery is located along that road. However, this is no longer the case. Action: The existing tourist sign is to be replaced with a black on white street name sign. RMS Western Region to supply Council with appropriate sign designs for it to arrange manufacture and installation. v. Mudgee Sports Complex Numerous white on blue signs were observed for the Mudgee Sports Complex, including a number of dilapidated signs and some that are more remote from the facility than is allowable. Signs for the facility on the Castlereagh Highway are unauthorised. Action: RMS Western Region to liaise with Council regarding the Glen Willow signs. vi. Windamere Dam Intersection signs for Windamere Dam on the Castlereagh Highway are in good condition but its advance signage is faded. TASAC found the dam to be eligible for tourist signposting in October 2012 following consideration of an application from Mid-Western Regional Council and its eligibility remains current until November 2017. Action: RMS Western Region to liaise with Council regarding upgrading of the advance signage. vii. Bathurst Sheep and Cattle Drome There is a tourist sign for the Bathurst Sheep and Cattle Drome on Gilmour and Hereford Streets near the Bathurst end of Tourist Drive 3.