Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee Northern Region meeting Wednesday 20 April 2016 in the Conference Room, Byron Shire Council 70-90 Station Street, Mullumbimby Members David Douglas Phil Oliver Maria Zannetides Also present Jane Laverty Ian Shanahan Jessica Healey Belinda Novicky Tom Urban Alicia Wallace Apologies Sarah Workman Regional Coordinator TASAC and Drive, Destination NSW Guidance and Delineation Manager, Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) TASAC Secretariat Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator, Byron Shire Council RMS Northern Region RMS Northern Region Executive Officer, North Coast Destination Network Zone Manager, North Coast, Destination NSW Team Leader Visitor Services, Ballina Shire Council Byron Shire Council AGENDA ITEMS 1. DELEGATIONS / PRESENTATIONS & REGIONAL SIGNPOSTING ISSUES 1.1 Byron Shire Council issues Jane drew the following matters to the Committee s notice: a. The Byron Bay Visitor Information Centre has reported that recent changes to the road network have caused confusion for visitors. Council acknowledges that its tourism materials need to be updated to reflect the changes but sourcing funds for this work will be challenging. b. Bob Higgins of the RMS Pacific Highway office has committed to fund interpretive information panels at the St Helena Lookout on Hinterland Way (the new name of the former alignment of the Pacific Highway). Jane considers that this is an important opportunity to inform visitors, especially those coming from the north, about tourism products such as Macadamia Castle on Hinterland Way. TASAC has no regulatory role in relation to off-road information panels but the nature and purpose of the project were noted. Ian commented that the road pavement at the lookout is unformed gravel and road access could also be improved from a traffic engineering and safety perspective. c. Jane has received representations from the operator of Crystal Castle regarding additional signage for it from the Pacific Motorway at the Ewingsdale Road intersection. In response, TASAC members acknowledged that the recent Tintenbar to Ewingsdale highway upgrade has caused challenges to motorists, including at the Ewingsdale interchange, but these are expected to subside as motorists become more familiar with Final 4 May 2016 1 of 9
the new network. It was also noted that Crystal Castle is currently signposted from the Gulgan Road interchange (east of Mullumbimby) as this is its nearest State road. Ian indicated that, as part of recent changes to the road network, additional north bound signage for Crystal Castle has been designed and will be installed as soon as possible on the motorway in advance of the Bangalow exit for the benefit of north bound motorists. RMS is liaising with Byron Shire Council to ensure that Tourist Drive 28 and attractions along it, including both Crystal Castle and Macadamia Castle, are appropriately signposted and similar discussions are needed with Ballina Council. TASAC members advised that the request from the Crystal Castle operator for signage from Ewingsdale Road is not consistent with the provisions of the Tourist Signposting Manual. However, Council is welcome to raise the matter again in 12 months if warranted. d. Recent changes to the Ewingsdale Road interchange have altered the access to The Farm at Byron Bay causing traffic congestion and confusion for visitors. Ian indicated that RMS has installed variable message signs to assist motorists wishing to access the Farm and these are expected to remain in place till mid May. During the discussion Jane advised that Council will assist the operator of the Farm to address the concerns raised by TASAC in October 2015 when it found that the business was not eligible for tourist signposting. Jane expected that the operator would be in a position to submit a new signposting application in 6 to 12 months. 1.2 Members report on site inspections David and Phil made the following observations arising from their site inspections in the Byron Shire and environs the day before the meeting: i. There are white on brown tourist signs for an Arts and Industrial Centre on Ewingsdale Road. As this a local road, Byron Shire Council is responsible for the signage. However, it was noted that the signs are in advance of the entry in both directions but there is no signage at the entry itself. ii. iii. iv. It was recommended that Council review signage on its roads for the Byron Bay Visitor Information Centre to ensure that it is appropriately signposted. Sections of Tourist Drives 24, 28 and 30 were also inspected prior to the meeting. Members inspected the temporary signs placed at the Ewingsdale road intersection with the Pacific Motorway to accommodate increased traffic to The Farm Byron Bay. 2. NEW TOURIST SIGNPOSTING APPLICATIONS 2.1 Wonganella Winery, Bobs Farm It is understood that Wonganella Winery has five unauthorised tourist signs on Nelson Bay Road and an application has been submitted to enable the destination s eligibility for tourist signposting to be considered. The winery is open from 10 am to 4 pm daily and access to it is by a private, unnamed right of way off Nelson Bay Road. Final 4 May 2016 2 of 9
Some 13 wine types are made off site from grapes grown at the location and are offered for tasting and sale at the cellar door. Interpretive information comprises a display of framed panels, a grape crushing machine and two presentation books about wine making. The application requests signage in the name of Wonganella Winery. However, its brochure and website refer to the business as Wonganella Estate. By way of comment the applicant will be advised to ensure that all promotional material for the business refers to it by the name that has been requested for tourist signposting. Janelle Gardner, Tourism Development and Events Coordinator at Port Stephens Council has been asked to prepare a site inspection report. Wonganella Winery is potentially eligible for tourist signposting in the Wineries category subject to the receipt of a site inspection report. Secretariat to advise the applicant as above and finalise the application if appropriate after receipt of an inspection report. 2.2 Port Stephens Winery, Bobs Farm It is understood that Port Stephens Winery has five unauthorised tourist signs on Nelson Bay Road and the background to this application is the same as that for Wonganella Winery above. Port Stephens Winery is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily and access to it is by a private, unnamed right of way off Nelson Bay Road. A vineyard of approx. 4 hectares was planted at the site in 1984 and a variety of red and white wines are made from these grapes off site and offered for tasting and sale at the cellar door. A vineyard tour is offered daily at 2.15 pm and plantings of different grape varieties are identified with attractive labels. Interpretive information comprises a Wine Gallery of five posters about wine making, grape variety, wine type, flavours and food matching, some books on grape growing and wine making and a wine process sheet for visitors to take away. Janelle Gardner, Tourism Development and Events Coordinator at Port Stephens Council has been asked to prepare a site inspection report. Port Stephens Winery is potentially eligible for tourist signposting in the Wineries category subject to the receipt of a site inspection report. Secretariat to advise the applicant as above and finalise the application if appropriate after receipt of an inspection report. 2.3 Murray s Brewery, Bobs Farm Murray s Brewery is co-located with Port Stephens Winery and they share a cellar door. While the winery has existing unauthorised tourist signage, there is no such signage in place for the brewery element of the business. In responding to TASAC s request for an application to be submitted for the winery, the operator decided to lodge an application for the brewery as well. The brewery is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily and beer tastings and sales are offered throughout these hours. Brewing is carried out in a large metal building located near the cellar Final 4 May 2016 3 of 9
door. The building has three large roller door entries but does not have a viewing window. The operator has explained that the three roller doors are open except during very poor weather conditions so visitors are generally able to view the brewing equipment from the open doors. A schematic diagram of the brewing process is attached to a wall adjacent to one of the roller doors to provide interpretive information for visitors. Brewery tours are offered daily at 2.15 pm without the need for prior arrangements to be made and are advertised on the business s brochure and website. The tours commence in a small hops garden and then move on to the brewery where key ingredients (hops, malt, water and yeast) are explained and visitors are able to touch, smell and taste the ingredients. The brewing process is outlined with reference to equipment for fermentation, conditioning, filtration, carbonation, ageing and bottling. Tours end with a guided tasting in the cellar door. Also available in the cellar door are beer tasting notes, books on brewing and displays of raw materials, though the presentation of these (loosely mounded on the counter or in unlabelled jars) could be improved. As well as the daily tours, a video of 3 min 51 seconds duration about beer making is available on a wall mounted screen behind the service counter. The video shows the head brewer discussing the raw materials and steps in the brewing process (milling of grains, mashing grains with hot water to produce a liquid known as a wort; adding hops to the wort; cooling and adding yeasts for fermentation and conversion to alcohol; ageing; filtration and bottling). It is understood that there are five minute gaps between screenings of the video to allow other promotional material to be shown. The video, which was produced some years ago at the brewery s previous location at Taylors Arm, explains the beer making process simply and clearly and the ingredients and processes used at both locations are the similar. While not essential, it was noted that a new video depicting brewing at the current location would enhance the visitor experience as it would assist visitors to more easily relate the information in the video to the current brewery setup. Janelle Gardner, Tourism Development and Events Coordinator at Port Stephens Council has been asked to prepare a site inspection report. Murray s Brewery is potentially eligible for tourist signposting in the Primary and Secondary Industries category subject to the receipt of a site inspection report. Secretariat to advise the applicant as above and finalise the application if appropriate after receipt of an inspection report. 3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF 17 MARCH 2016 The minutes of TASAC s meeting of Thursday 17 March 2016 in the Southern Region in Bega were confirmed. The Committee members and Secretariat advised that they had completed all the actions attributed to them from the meeting. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 4.1 Rouse Hill House and Farm No comments were received following referral of an application for Rouse Hill House and Farm to the Heritage Division of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the application was Final 4 May 2016 4 of 9
finalised accordingly. A letter was sent to the operator on 8 April 2016 advising of the attraction s eligibility for tourist signposting and RMS Sydney Region was also informed. TASAC noted that the Rouse Hill House and Farm is eligible for tourist signposting in the Historic Properties and Sites category. 4.2 Vaucluse House No comments were received following referral of an application for Vaucluse House to the Heritage Division of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the application was finalised accordingly. A letter was sent to the operator on 8 April 2016 advising of the attraction s eligibility for tourist signposting and RMS Sydney Region was also informed. TASAC noted that the Vaucluse House is eligible for tourist signposting in the Historic Properties and Sites category. 4.3 Eurobodalla Tourist Drives 5 and 7 On 31 March 2016 Jesse Fogg of RMS Southern Region advised Eurobodalla Council that signage on Council roads along Tourist Drive 5 is satisfactory. As noted at the March 2016 TASAC meeting, Council has more work to do in relation to improving southbound signage for Tourist Drive 7. On 5 April 2016 Lysanne Cameron informed the Secretariat that she had added custom Google maps to Council s website (www.eurobodalla.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/sport-and- Adventure/drives-and-lookouts) to promote Tourist Drives 5 and 7. While fit for purpose, the maps are not ideal because they are highly stylised. However, visitors can zoom in on the maps to explore the drives in more detail and they relate well to the descriptive information on the website. Council is considering what maps might be suitable for use in an updated hardcopy brochure for the drives, which is to be published later this year. If a better map is developed it could be inserted into the website to replace the custom Google maps. Tourist Drive 5 (Princes Hwy-Dalmeny-Kianga-Princes Hwy) is now complete in terms of signage on local roads and promotional material. RMS Southern Region to upgrade signage for Tourist Drive 5 on the Princes Highway and inform the Secretariat when this has been done. 4.4 Killer Whale Museum, Eden The Killer Whale Museum was found to be eligible for tourist signposting in August 2010 and its eligibility for signage under that approval lapsed in September 2015. Signs for the museum were not upgraded during the currency of the approval because some are shared with Eden Lookout and Eden Wharf. An application for the wharf was found to be ineligible in September 2013 and an application for Eden Lookout was found to be eligible in February 2016. Now that signage for Eden Lookout can proceed, the Killer Whale Museum wishes to upgrade its signage and has written to TASAC to request an extension to its eligibility period. Final 4 May 2016 5 of 9
The letter demonstrates that the museum continues to operate in a manner that is consistent with the Tourist Signposting Manual and the specific approval granted in 2010, which recognised that while the museums weekend opening hours of 11.15 am to 3.45 pm are 1.5 hours less than required, it offers an adequate experience in its grounds that is accessible when the museum building is closed. The experience takes the form of a Cavalcade of History wall with seven large murals and text boards about the history of Eden and Twofold Bay from the Dreamtime to the present. There is also a replica lighthouse in the grounds and visitors are able to collect brochures from weatherproof boxes outside the museum s entry relating to the Eden Heritage Walk (stops 1 26) and Drive (stops 27 34, south of Eden) and the Killer Whale Trail. Since 2010 the following improvements have been carried out at the museum: Refurbishment of the Cavalcade of History wall. Installation of coin operated binoculars outside the museum and overlooking the bay. These are popular during whaling watching season. A 10 metre tall marker buoy, originally located at Munganno Point, has been restored and installed in the museum grounds. Other improvements have also been made e.g. installation of automated gates, which assist disabled visitors, extensions to the library and archives and the preparation of a video which screens in the theatrette throughout the day. The museum received 46,765 visitors in 2015. The information provided demonstrates that it is appropriate to extend the Killer Whale Museum s eligibility for tourist signposting in the Museums category for a further five year period. Secretariat to inform the operator and RMS Southern Region as above. 4.5 Chipping Norton Lakes Liverpool City Council was requested to submit a signposting application by 8 April 2016 to allow existing tourist signage referring to Chipping Norton Lake on the Hume Highway near Warwick Farm to be reviewed. However, an application has not been received. RMS Sydney Region to remove the existing signage for Chipping Norton Lakes. 4.6 Opal Centre, Korora It is understood that the Opal Centre is in the process of relocating from a site at Korora to premises at the Big Banana. When this occurs, tourist signposting at the Korora site will be removed. Tom to inform Maria when the relocation has occurred so she can request RMS to remove the existing signposting. Final 4 May 2016 6 of 9
4.7 Signage for Links Shell Cove golf course Further to a discussion at the March meeting about tourist signposting for the Links Shell Cove golf course that was not authorised by TASAC, Dean Simmonds of RMS Southern Region advised Maria that a site inspection has confirmed that the signage is no longer in place. 5. INQUIRIES RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING The following inquiries received in the period since the last meeting were noted: 5.1 Quad Bike King, Williamtown 5.2 Mary MacKillop Hall, Eden 5.3 Killer Whale Museum, Eden 5.4 Urban Winery Sydney, St Peters 5.5 Akuna Bay (RMS) 5.6 Baha i Temple Ingleside (RMS) 5.7 Katandra Bushland Sanctuary, Ingleside (RMS) 5.8 Classic Car Museum, West Gosford During the discussion the Secretariat was asked to contact the land managers / operators of each of the destinations listed at 5.5, 5.6 and 5.7 to advise that RMS is undertaking road improvement works along Mona Vale Road and it will be necessary to submit applications to TASAC so that each destination s eligibility for tourist signposting can be reviewed. Secretariat to contact the land managers / operators as above. 6. POLICY ISSUES 6.1 Northern Region Tourist Drives The position with respect to the review of numbered tourist drives in Northern Region was discussed and is outlined in Attachment 2. In particular, the following matters were noted: i. Promotional material on the Great Lakes tourism website refers to Touring Drive 1 and 2 instead of Tourist Drives 6 and 2 respectively and the map for drive 2 is incorrect in that it shows the northern end as being at Nabiac on the Pacific Highway, instead of at Purfleet, which is also on the highway. ii. iii. iv. Greater Taree Council has loaded promotional information on its website for its tourist drives. However, the map for Tourist Drive 8 shows it extending east of the Pacific Highway to Port Macquarie, which is incorrect. The drive s northern end is the intersection of the Oxley and Pacific Highways. Kempsey Council has engaged a consulting engineer to review signage on Tourist Drive 12. Bellingen Council no longer wishes to pursue combining Tourist Drives 16 and 18. It has audited the signs along Tourist Drive 18 and has liaised with RMS about signage required for the drive s connections with the new alignment of the Pacific Highway. Final 4 May 2016 7 of 9
v. While RMS has completed some of the signage changes for tourist drives required as a result of the recent completion of the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade, there is still some work to be done. 7. OTHER BUSINESS 7.1 Changes to accreditation and signage for visitor information centres Lyn Penson, Manager of the NSW VIC Accreditation and Marketing Program has advised Destination NSW of some changes to the accreditation of centres. The changes were discussed and actions agreed as follows: i. A new visitor information centre (VIC) which will open in Grenfell in May has been accredited at Level 2 and its operator would like to commence the process to secure road signage for the centre. RMS Western Region to liaise with Claire Myers (claire@grenfell.org.au) about signage for the centre. ii. The Maitland VIC is now accredited at Level 3 and is no longer entitled to road signage. RMS Hunter Region to remove signage for the centre from the road network and advise the Secretariat when this has been done. iii. Newcastle VIC has been accredited at Level 3 for some time. However, some road signage for the centre is still in place. RMS Hunter Region to remove road signage for the Newcastle VIC and advise the Secretariat when this has been done. iv. Accreditation for the Leeton VIC changed to Level 3 in March and it is therefore no longer entitled to signage on the road network. RMS South West Region to remove signage for the centre from the road network and advise the Secretariat when this has been done. v. An information centre at Booderee in Jervis Bay National Park is no longer accredited. However, it is not known if the centre has any road signage. RMS Southern Region to check whether there are any roads signs for the Booderee VIC, make arrangements to remove any signs that might be in place and advise the Secretariat of the position. vi. Penrith VIC closed in June 2014. RMS Sydney Region to check whether there are any remaining roads signs for the Penrith VIC, make arrangements to remove any that are found and advise the Secretariat of the position. Final 4 May 2016 8 of 9
7.2 TASAC Meeting Schedule Please refer to Attachment 1 for the schedule of meetings for the next six months. The next Northern Region meeting will be held on 19 October 2016 in Coffs Harbour. 8. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 May 2016 in Katoomba (Sydney Region). The meeting concluded at 1.10 pm Attachment 1 TASAC Meeting Schedule Region Location Date 2016 Sydney Katoomba Tuesday 17 May 2016 Hunter Wyong 15 June 2016 South West Wagga Wagga 6 July 2016 Western Bourke 24 August 2016 N / A TBA 21 September 2016 Northern Coffs Harbour 19 October 2016 Final 4 May 2016 9 of 9