APPLICATION FORM Ref: 21807 Primary and Secondary Industry 1. Background Tourist Signs in NSW Tourist signs in Australia have a white legend on a brown background and are installed to assist road users in locating major tourist attractions. Road users who rely on these signs must be assured of the quality of the product and service they are likely to receive at their destination. The visitor experience is therefore the primary consideration when determining eligibility for tourist signage. To maintain road users confidence in tourist signage for major tourist attractions, it is important that any attraction signposted must meet a minimum standard and offer a minimum range of tourist services. The eligibility criteria used to assess applications for tourist signposting have been developed through extensive industry consultation and aim to reflect industry standards for major tourist attractions. The eligibility criteria are contained in the NSW Tourist Signposting Manual (available on line at www.destinationnsw.com.au/tasac) which forms the basis of all decisions regarding tourist signposting in NSW. Applications for tourist signs on State roads in NSW are assessed by the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee (TASAC). TASAC is a group formed by the NSW State Government to have overall responsibility for the planning and implementation of tourist signposting systems in New South Wales. TASAC is made up of representatives of Destination New South Wales, the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), Destination Networks (DNs) and a Secretariat. The RMS is responsible for authorising and erecting signs on State roads. These include all highways and many other major classified roads. Local councils are responsible for installing signs on regional roads (the rest of the classified road network) and are wholly responsible for local roads. The Tourist Signposting Manual is applicable on regional and State roads. It is important to understand the following: (i) (ii) (iii) Signs for eligible attractions will only be provided where there is available space in the road reserve. In other words, a major tourist attraction or destination that meets all the signposting criteria might not receive white on brown signs because the road network has no capacity for any more signs. Signs will only be erected on State roads where the local council agrees to similar signs (where necessary) being erected on their road network, so that road users can be easily directed to tourist attractions and destinations once they leave the highway. Operators are required to pay for the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance and, where necessary, the removal of signs. Page 1 of 11 1213-036
2. General Requirements There are a number of categories of major tourist attraction that are eligible for signposting. These include: individual major tourist attractions (such as galleries, primary industry based attractions), driving routes and product categories (eg seaside or historic towns). Some general eligibility criteria apply to all the categories. There are also additional criteria specific to each category. This Application Form is the relevant form if your attraction fits within the Primary and Secondary Industry category. If you are uncertain about which category your attraction falls into, you should contact the TASAC Secretariat (details below) for advice. Please read the application form carefully and complete all parts. Your application will be assessed based on the information you provide. Conflicting or inadequate information will lead to delays in processing and any omissions may result in TASAC being unable to make a decision on your application. 3. Rationale for Signposting Criteria Primary and Secondary Industry In addition to their economic contribution some primary and secondary industries offer a significant experience to visitors. The appeal generally relates to the production process itself. This may involve innovative or unusual technology, the size or scale of the activity or the opportunity for visitors to learn about industry processes. The economic contribution or commercial element of an industry-based attraction in this category is not a consideration for signposting. The experiences offered to the tourist through viewing the processes and learning about the industry are the deciding factors. In assessing attractions for signposting in this category a useful consideration is: if any retail component was removed e.g. sale of produce, would the attraction still warrant visitation? A solely retail outlet would not warrant signposting. 4. Completing the Application Form To be favourably considered for tourist signposting, applicants must demonstrate that their attraction meets all the relevant criteria, both general and specific. Please provide as much detail as possible, including documentary evidence such as photographs and supporting material such as copies of leaflets and brochures. Generally simple Yes / answers are insufficient. Do not be limited by the space provided on the application form and attach additional pages as required. To support your application and highlight how you meet the criteria please include samples of the following: brochures advertising material descriptions of the services you offer interpretive information provided to visitors your web address if you have one photographs of your attraction, interior and exterior any other material/information that will provide a complete picture of the tourism experience your attraction offers. Page 2 of 11
You are encouraged to consult with the TASAC Secretariat prior to completing your application to ensure that all the necessary material is submitted. Please refer also to the Destination NSW website (www.destinationnsw.com.au/tasac) which contains information to assist you in preparing your application. When all the relevant sections of the Application Form have been completed, and supporting information attached, please send it to the TASAC Secretariat. Please contact the TASAC Secretariat for any further information regarding the application process: TASAC Secretariat Tourism Foundry Contact is Tom Urban PO Box 4061, East Gosford NSW 2250 Ph: 0432 219 151 Email: TASAC@tourismfoundry.com.au OR TASAC@dnsw.com.au Please note that in addition to the written application, TASAC and/or their representatives will generally conduct a site inspection or visit. This is done to fully assess the application and to ensure the service provision meets visitor requirements. 5. Assessment of your application Applications for tourist signs in NSW are assessed by TASAC. The Committee meets monthly, and your application will be considered at the first available meeting. If your application is complete and demonstrates you meet all the criteria, your eligibility for signage may be determined within 6 weeks. The time will vary depending upon when in the meeting cycle your application is received and whether or not TASAC requires more information regarding your business, services, etc before a decision is made. Applications assessed as eligible for signposting are then referred to the RMS who will determine where the signs can be placed. The signs will then need to be designed and installed. It is important to note that in some cases, due to the local circumstances, it might not be possible to install signs, notwithstanding that an application has been assessed as eligible by TASAC. For example, there may be insufficient space available for additional signs at the relevant intersection. Should your application proceed to this stage the RMS will advise you in this respect. Page 3 of 11
SECTION A: GENERAL INFORMATION Name of Attraction (this will form the basis of the wording on the sign(s), if eligible): Street Address of Attraction (please attach a map showing where it is located): Local Government Authority Area: Proprietor / Owner/ Applicants Name: Name of Key Contact (if different from above): Position Title: Postal address for correspondence (if different from address): Ph: Fax: Email: Page 4 of 11
Conditions If your attraction qualifies for white on brown signposting, it is your responsibility, as the operator, to ensure your attraction continues to comply with the criteria for your type of attraction. If your attraction is found to no longer comply with the criteria the RMS will remove the sign at your expense. Therefore, after you are granted a sign you will need to regularly review your attraction against the criteria to ensure you still comply with it. All tourist signposting is provided on this basis. It is therefore a requirement that operators indicate they accept this condition as part of their application. All approvals are granted for a 5 year period. After this period you will be contacted by TASAC and ask to demonstrate how your product still qualifies for signage. The RMS has an electronic database of all guide signs including tourist signs erected on the State road network in New South Wales. This database provides ready access to TASAC to ensure conformity to this Manual for tourist signposting. TASAC assumes that the attraction has all the approvals, licenses and insurances necessary to legally operate. A signature below confirms that the information you have provided in all parts of the application is true and accurate, and that the above conditions have been read, understood and are agreed to by the applicant. Please sign here: Name: Date: Please note unless digital signature can be applied please mail or scan and email this page to the TASAC secretariat Page 5 of 11
SECTION B: GENERAL CRITERIA FOR ALL ATTRACTIONS All tourist attraction types must meet the following general criteria: They are well established in their present form They are open for at least: 5 days per week (including both weekend days); 6 hours per day; and 11 months of the year. They must display their opening hours at public entrance points on the property boundary pre-booking is necessary They have an up to date brochure showing opening hours There are adequate car parking facilities and publicly accessible toilets Please provide the following general information about your attraction: 1. How long has the attraction been operating in its present form? Please see te 1 t yet operating Specify planned opening date: Less than 1 year Between 1 and 5 years Between 5 and 10 years More than 10 years 2 (a) What are the attraction s opening days and hours? Please see te 2 Please note any variation on opening times during School Holidays. Day Hours Seasonal variations (specify) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Page 6 of 11
2(b) 2(c) Is the attraction open on public holidays? Yes Which months of the year is the attraction open? 3. Does the attraction have the opening hours/days displayed on-site? Please see te 3 Yes (Please provide a photo showing the sign and its location.) 4. Is pre-booking necessary? Please see te 4 Yes Provide details: 5(a) Does the attraction have all-weather access & parking? Please see te 5 Yes (Please provide a photo of access points & parking facilities go to 5(b)) 5(b) How many car and coach spaces are available?. of car spaces:. of coach spaces: 6. Does the attraction provide publicly accessible toilet facilities for visitors? Please see te 6 Yes 7. Does the attraction cater for casual tourists and/or tour groups? Please see te 7 Casual tourists Tour groups 8 Does the attraction have a brochure and/or other printed material? Please see te 8 Yes (Please provide copies) Page 7 of 11
9. Does the attraction currently have "white on brown tourist signs? Please see te 9 Yes (Please provide a photograph of existing sign(s), with their location marked on a locality map.) 10. Which category best describes the attraction? Please see te 10 Galleries Museums Craft based attractions Aboriginal sites and cultural centres Historic Properties, sites and tracks Wineries Primary and secondary industry based Outdoor/Nature based Theme Parks Architectural/Engineering Structures Other attractions not specified here State Significant attractions The following part of the application form specifically relates to the Primary and secondary industry based category. If you did not select Primary and secondary industry category from the above list you will need to complete a different application form. Please contact the TASAC Secretariat. Page 8 of 11
SECTION C: SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY INDUSTRY BASED ATTRACTIONS This section is to be completed when the major tourist attraction is based on an agricultural or industrial operation. In addition to the general criteria in Section B, the following specific criteria apply: Guided tours must be available during business hours Displays of high quality educational and explanatory information to permit interpretation of the agricultural or industrial processes must be available. There must be opportunity (where appropriate) to sample the produce on site. Please provide the following specific information about your attraction: 1. Provide an outline of the guided tours available to visitors including the timetable. Please see te 11 2. Describe and provide copies and/or legible photographs of the educational and explanatory information available to visitors. Please see te 12 3. What opportunities to sample the produce are available to visitors? Please see te 13 Page 9 of 11
NOTES 1. Existing and proposed attractions In general, signage is only provided when an attraction has been operating long enough to be well established. It is usually not possible to demonstrate that an attraction is eligible for signage before it has opened, as it is difficult to demonstrate that all the eligibility criteria have been satisfied. Therefore, it is generally expected that major tourist attractions have been operating for a minimum of 3-6 months so that a track record and a basis for assessment can be established. Signposting eligibility is not generally given to proposed attractions, those which are not completed, or may take a considerable time to open. This aims to avoid inconvenience to the motorist and to ensure that signs correctly reflect the actual attraction / experience on offer to the tourist. 2. Opening Hours All major tourist attractions must meet the criteria for opening hours to be eligible for tourist signposting. Tourists have a legitimate expectation that a major tourist attraction will be open when they see a white on brown sign and decide to visit the attraction. Inadequate opening days / hours / number of weeks, result in visitor dissatisfaction. Ultimately this reflects badly not only on the credibility of the particular attraction, but also on the tourism industry generally and the credibility of the New South Wales tourist signposting system. Major tourist attractions in New South Wales need to be open to the public for at least five days per week including both days of the weekend. The requirement that attractions be open all weekend is to ensure their availability on the days when a majority of recreational trips are undertaken. It is desirable, though not essential for all attractions to be open on public holidays. 3. Sign on property boundary Attractions must have signage displayed at the public entrance points on or near the property boundary to assist motorists in identifying the property and outlining the hours of operation. This is particularly beneficial where an attraction is some distance from the property boundary. The sign also indicates to visitors arriving out of hours when they might return to find the attraction open. Applicants are requested to provide a photograph as evidence of property-boundary signage. 4. Pre-booking It is expected that major tourist attractions operate to a scale and standard that enable them to cater for the demands of casual tourists without the need for pre-booking. This aims to avoid inconvenience and ensure a satisfactory visitor experience. While it is acceptable for attractions to require pre-booking for coach groups, it must be demonstrated that the experiences on offer are also available to casual visitors without the need to pre-book. Attractions that only cater for pre-bookings are NOT eligible for tourist signposting. 5. Car parking It is essential that adequate car parking is available either onsite or within close and convenient proximity to the attraction and that the parking can be accessed in all weather conditions. It is generally expected that car parking be provided on-site, particularly in rural areas. In urban areas on-site parking is desirable, but if not feasible, adequate on or off-street parking needs to be provided within a convenient distance of the attraction. Adequacy of car parking is assessed on a case by case basis. 6. Toilets All commercial attractions (ie that offer goods for sale and/ or charge an entrance fee), are required to provide toilet facilities on site. Some short stay attractions (ie visitors would be anticipated to stay less than 15 minutes to fully experience the attraction) that are not commercial in nature (eg lookouts or monuments) may be exempt from providing toilets, but this will be assessed on a merit basis by TASAC. 7. Casuals and tour groups It is expected that major tourist attractions operate to a scale and standard that enable them to cater simultaneously for individual tourists as well as tour groups. This aims to avoid inconvenience and ensure a satisfactory visitor experience for those travelling independently or in small groups. Applications must demonstrate that the quality experiences on offer are available equally to visitors travelling in single vehicles as well those visiting as part of an organised coach tour. 8. Brochures To be eligible for tourist signage, all major attractions must have available a current brochure that indicates opening hours, days and any seasonal variations in opening times. It is also desirable if the brochure includes a map showing the location of the attraction, and some brief details about its story. Establishments that do not have a brochure with the attraction s opening hours will NOT be eligible for signage. Providing examples of advertisements promoting your business (eg in the local visitor s guide) is also useful but not a substitute for a current brochure. 9. Existing tourist signs If you wish to alter the wording of an existing sign, or are seeking additional or replacement signs you must be able to demonstrate that your attraction still meets the signposting requirements before the attraction can be deemed eligible to receive new signs. Signposting eligibility requirements are revised periodically and it is important to ensure that attractions continue to meet current eligibility requirements. 10. Eligible attractions The following categories of individual major tourist attractions may be eligible for white on brown tourist signposting: Galleries - places displaying collections of artworks (eg paintings, sculpture etc.) Does not include museums, which are the subject of a separate category. Museums - eg local history museums, museums devoted to specialised collections or topics, or the major State and National museums. Does not include collections of artworks, which are the subject of a separate category. Craft based attractions places that feature objects made by hand using wood, glass, ceramics, jewellery, metal, textile/fabrics and mixed media. Aboriginal cultural centres and sites - sites that have the remains of prehistoric/ historic Aboriginal occupation; sites of contemporary significance to Aboriginal community (eg purpose built cultural centres displaying Aboriginal culture). Historic properties, sites and tracks includes historic properties managed by National Trust, Historic Houses Trust or other managers, historic sites, and heritage tracks or walks. Does not include Aboriginal attractions, historic towns and villages, and historic precincts within major regional centres, which are the subject of separate categories. Page 10 of 11
Wineries cellar doors that either make wine at the premises, or are located adjacent to the vineyard which grows the grapes from which the wine being tasted is made. Cellar doors that are not adjacent to the wine making premises or vineyards from which the wine is made are not eligible for tourist signage. Primary and secondary industry based - primary and secondary industries (eg lavender, macadamia, olive, cotton farms; wool mills; chocolate factories; cheese factories; beekeeping/honey-making) with a unique production process (eg innovative or unusual technology, notable size or scale of production activity) that visitors can view and learn about. Outdoor/nature based attractions - includes walking trails, riding schools, natural features (eg lookouts, waterfalls), caves and recreation reserves as well as zoos and botanic gardens. Does not include special interest sporting or recreation based tours (eg diving, fishing, 4WD, mountain bike, horse track tours; or motor boat rides; or scenic flights/cruises). Theme Parks major tourist attractions with a specific, identifiable and consistent theme that attract high visitor numbers from a large catchment area. Does not include local sport and recreation facilities (such as go-karting, local amusement parks, skating rinks, bowling alleys, golf courses, mini golf, swimming complexes, sporting grounds, racecourses, trotting tracks). Architectural/Engineering Structures - structures regarded as major tourist attractions due to their size, high level of technological innovation or iconic cultural status (eg Lennox Bridge, Snowy Mountains Scheme). Other attractions not specified here - major tourist attractions that do not easily fit within any of the above categories. State Significant attractions - attractions that enjoy a very high level of visitation by local and overseas visitors, due to their size, nature or iconic status (eg Three Sisters). Establishments not eligible for tourist signage t all businesses that provide a service to tourists are eligible for signage as major tourist attractions. For example, shops, cafés/restaurants, accommodation establishments and sporting venues (eg golf courses, race courses) are not eligible for tourist attraction signposting under the provisions of the Tourist Signposting Manual. Some tourist attractions are more local in nature and while these may be eligible for signage on local roads, they may not meet all the necessary criteria for signposting on the RMS s classified road system. The following establishments are not eligible to apply for a white in brown sign: Licensed clubs Amusement parks (except under Section 2.1.10) Community sporting facilities, eg swimming pools, golf courses, race courses. Cinemas, theatres and shopping centres, and Tour operators 11. Tours for visitors In addition to their economic contribution some primary and secondary industries offer a significant experience to visitors. The appeal generally relates to the production process itself. To qualify for signposting, the establishment must offer tours for casual visitors (i.e. those visitors arriving without a prior booking) to experience the unique features of the factory/production process, such as an innovative or unusual technology, the size or scale of the activity or the opportunity for visitors to learn about industry processes. While these don t need to be available on call to casual tourists there must be a regular daily program of organised tours, rather than only by appointment and visitors arriving without pre-booking must be able to join a tour without having to wait for unreasonably long periods of time. 12. Interpretive information Primary and Secondary Industry based attractions The provision and quality of supporting literature and explanatory material are major criteria for selection. Such interpretive information is required at all attractions because it provides the opportunity for the visitor to engage with the attraction ie to learn the story of the enterprise, understand why it is significant and/ or learn more about what the visitor is viewing/experiencing. To be eligible for signage as a major tourist attraction it is necessary to explain how the facility offers a high quality tourist experience independent of any retail component. Primary or secondary industry attractions must be supported by interpretative material that creates an experiential journey for visitors that gives them the opportunity to learn about a particular product and / or the region in which it is produced. This could be achieved by demonstrating that there is a selection of information available for visitors about the industry/production process, its history and the raw materials and processes used. The attraction must be able to demonstrate its focus is on presenting the production process for educational and interpretation purposes, rather than being simply a retail outlet offering goods/food items for sale. Different media are required there should be a mix of verbal and written material, and attractions should not rely solely on the presence and verbal presentations of key personnel to tell the story of the attraction. Possible interpretive material could include copies of brochures, leaflets, fact sheets, displays, books and other reference material that explain or relate to the production process being demonstrated (eg cultivation of the raw material, nutrition, recipes). 13. Samples of produce If your establishment is a food-based production facility, it should provide visitors with opportunities to sample the produce, without the obligation to actually purchase the end product. For nonfood based production lines, visitors might be invited to touch or handle a raw material before or after it is processed or to activate or participate in the production process in some way. Page 11 of 11