Minutes of the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee Wednesday 21 March 2018 Snowy Monaro Regional Council Offices, 81 Commissioner St, Cooma Members Phil Oliver David Douglas Tom Urban Also present Sarita Atkins Mark Adams Tim Corkill Andrew Weglarz Sue Fabish Yvi Henderson Grant Walker Peter Cottrell Apologies Martin Davies Guidance and Delineation Manager, Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) Regional Coordinator TASAC and Drive, Destination NSW TASAC Secretariat Destination NSW Snowy Monaro Regional Council Snowy Scheme Museum Museum Manager, Cooma Correctional Centre Snowy River Holiday Park Cooma Multicultural Centre Nimmitabel Chamber of Commerce Eucumbene Trout Farm Roads and Maritime Services AGENDA ITEMS 1. PRESENTATIONS AND REGIONAL SIGNPOSTING ISSUES 1.1 Members Report On-Site Inspections Ahead of the TASAC meeting, David Douglas (DNSW) and Phil Oliver (RMS) conducted a number of visits to different sites near Cooma. They reported the following on the basis of their visits. Gladstone lookout is located off the highway towards Jindabyne. The committee noted that while it has a wonderful view, the signs are very old and there is no interpretation to indicate what visitors are looking at. A dial indicating the direction of nearby features is the only interpretive component. There is also a sign to a second lookout called the Southern lookout, however, there is no indication of how far this lookout is from the carpark. Such information would be useful for visitors who may wish to walk there. Council confirmed that the lookout is Crown land but is managed by Council as the trustee. The committee noted some issues regarding signage for the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre. It appears that the centre may have manufactured and installed their own signs which do not meet RMS standards. The attraction is of good quality and most likely should be signposted (if they meet the relevant criteria), however, the current signs are unsuitable. Signs for the Raglan Gallery were also flagged. The gallery was closed and so could not be inspected but does still meet the TASAC requirement of being open five days per week. The current signs direct visitors off the highway, however, there is no follow up sign to indicate where visitors should turn or pull in to the gallery. The gallery itself is not easy to see from the Final 12 April 2018 1 of 7
road and the committee strongly advised council to make arrangements to install follow up signage. Responsibility for this rests with council as the location for the additional signage is on a local road. There is road signage at the entry to Cooma directing people to a local information bay. The condition of the bay was observed as being very poor. It was dirty and there was a considerable amount of rubbish spread around the area. The bay also offered only limited information. As a likely first stop in Cooma for many visitors the poor condition of the bay may lead to a negative impression of the town. It was advised that the bay be monitored more closely and a regimen established to keep it clean. It was noted that the current Visitor Information Centre (VIC) closes at 3pm, which is not ideal for visitors arriving later into town. Council stated that the VIC used to be open until 5pm but was changed by Cooma Council prior to the formation of Snowy Monaro Regional Council due to a perception that VICs are less important than they were in the past. The committee disputed this view and reiterated the value in extending the visitor centre hours. The current council has asked for the opening hours to be re-examined. Council also noted that the current VIC is staffed by paid staff members. 1.2 Gaol Museum and Precinct Signage (Snowy Monaro Region Council and Cooma Correctional Centre) Cooma Correctional Facility has existed for approximately 20 years. Entry to the museum on site can be purchased with a gold coin donation from Monday to Saturday 9am to 3pm. It is a highly rated attraction on Trip Advisor and is listed in Lonely Planet. The museum also has the unique attribute where the tour guides are current prison inmates. Also in the vicinity is a courthouse, cenotaph, post office and the Cooma Hotel. It is considered a historic part of Cooma and is designated a heritage conservation area in the Local Environment Plan. The committee highlighted that the correctional facility museum is a quality attraction, however, because it is closed on Sunday it is not eligible for signposting. It was also noted that TASAC manages signage from state roads and that council is entitled to signpost local roads as they see fit. Andrew Weglarz from the museum indicated that they had paid $300 to have a sign put up locally, however, after two years of follow ups it had still not been installed. Council was requested to follow this up after the meeting. Andrew Weglarz also stated that in the two years since he has been working at the facility he has been pushing hard for recognition and additional promotion of the attraction. A trial period which saw the museum open on Sundays went well, however, the Department of Corrective Services remains unwilling to provide funding for the museum to open permanently on Sundays. The committee did suggest that the creation of a passive attraction on private property owned by the gaol (but outside of the museum) might offer something for visitors to do on a Sunday when the museum is closed. If this was developed to a point where TASAC considered it sufficient, then the Gaol might be eligible for signposting. Another alternative was to signpost the entire historic precinct of Cooma of which the gaol is a part. David Douglas and Phil Oliver inspected the area the day before the meeting and concluded that more work would need to be done before it could be signposted as a precinct. At present, there is little or no interpretive signage or wayfinding resources. The development of Final 12 April 2018 2 of 7
attributes to highlight and explain the historic nature of the area would potentially make signposting possible in the future. Council and Destination NSW may also be able to offer some assistance for the increased promotion of the gaol. 1.3 Bombala Visitor Centre Signage (Snowy Monaro Region Council) Mark Adams of Snowy Monaro Regional Council wanted to discuss the possibility of road signage for the Bombala Visitor Information Centre (VIC) as he believes it would result in increased visitation to the centre. When coming around a bend on the road as you enter town, there is no advanced notice that the centre is there so it is very easy to miss. As the centre is not accredited, TASAC would be unable to signpost it. Council are working towards getting the centre accredited which for a level 2 centre would require opening 7 days per week for a minimum of 42 hours. The committee noted that some centres use paid staff to manage the centre but also use volunteers which may be a viable option for Bombala. One suggestion to make the site eligible for signposting was to turn it into a rest area and signpost it accordingly. This would require the installation of a number of features such as picnic tables and would also require the toilets to be accessible every day of the week. This may be problematic as the toilets at the site are located inside the VIC and are not accessible when the centre is closed. Another alternative would be to install permanent information signage outside of the VIC which would be accessible twenty-four hours per day. If the information signage is deemed sufficient by TASAC, it can receive signage as an information bay rather than a VIC. Council would need to take action to design and install such signage. 1.4 Capital Country Sign Removal / Replacement Destination Southern NSW had flagged the desire to discuss the removal or replacement of existing Capital Country signage within their region. The Destination Network have flagged their intent to present a proposal for new signage to TASAC at a subsequent meeting. David Douglas indicated that it is not a requirement to speak to TASAC in this instance and that the Destination Network would be better off speaking with Destination NSW directly. David Douglas has made himself available for this purpose. Destination Southern NSW also wanted to pass on their thank you to Destination NSW and RMS for their assistance in installing a new sign for the town of Young within their region. 1.5 Dalgety Signage (Item added in meeting not on agenda) Sue Fabish from Snowy River Holiday Park raised the issue of a lack of green signage for the town of Dalgety. She believes it should be included on green signs with other main towns and presented to drivers as an alternate scenic route into Jindabyne. This is not a TASAC issue, however, Phil Oliver responded by pointing out that not every town can be signposted. There Final 12 April 2018 3 of 7
are also issues in getting people off the main road to a town that is more than 30km away. Sue may engage with Phil Oliver directly outside of TASAC if she would like to discuss this further. 1.6 Snowy Scheme Museum (Item added in meeting not on agenda) The Snowy Scheme Museum is located in the town of Adaminaby which was an essential location during the construction of the Snowy Hydro Project. It is staffed entirely by volunteers and is currently open two days per week on Saturday and Sunday. The museum was formed when a local committee raised money to purchase various snowy scheme artefacts which went up for auction about fifteen years ago. The museum has been open for around six years. The focus of the museum is the history and construction of the Snowy Hydro Scheme, as opposed to the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in Cooma which focuses on current operations and future plans for the scheme. As the museum is only open two days per week it is currently ineligible for signposting by TASAC. However, plans are being developed for a number of items and interpretation to be placed in the park outside the museum which would be accessible at all times. If these outdoor exhibits constitute a sufficient experience in their own right then it may be possible for the museum to receive signposting. The issue of the 80km/h speed limit though the town was also raised, however, this is not a TASAC issue. Tim Corkill is welcome to contact Phil Oliver regarding this issue; however, it is not a matter for Phil and would be passed to another RMS department. 2. NEW TOURIST SIGNPOSTING APPLICATIONS 2.1 Lake Wallace, Lithgow City Council Lake Wallace consists of a lake with parklands within the Lithgow City Council region. It is currently signposted and includes a detailed information bay, a Charles Darwin Memorial, playgrounds, sports facilities and ample locations to launch watercraft and make use of the lake. The committee reviewed the application. The site is currently well tended by council and features on many different websites and in a variety of promotional materials. On this basis, the committee believes that it should continue to be signposted. It was also noted that Council is the applicant and Marty Cassell from RMS has visited the site in the past. As a result the requirement for a site inspection was waived by the committee. TASAC accepts the application for Lake Wallace and agrees that it is eligible for signposting. Decision: Action: Application is approved. TASAC Secretariat to finalise the application and send relevant correspondence. 2.2 Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple, Helensburgh Sri Venkateswara Temple in Helensburgh is a Hindu Temple with considerable architectural and religious significance. The attraction is open to visitors every day and can cater to individual travellers through to large coach groups. Interpretation is provided to visitors in the form of Final 12 April 2018 4 of 7
several pamphlets which explain information about the temple, its many statues and about the Hindu faith. Tours are also available free of charge and food can be purchased from the canteen on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The application that has been presented to TASAC is very comprehensive and of a high quality. It includes many pictures and examples of interpretive materials. Sufficient information has been provided to show that the attraction meets all of the requisite TASAC criteria. The committee has decided that the temple is therefore eligible for signposting. A site visit is still required before the application can be completely finalised. It will be arranged through Wollongong Council. Two pieces of feedback will also be passed on to the applicant with the relevant approvals a suggested listing on ATDW and an update of the website to make it more visitor focused. Decision: Action: Application is tentatively approved subject to a successful site inspection. TASAC Secretariat to arrange site inspection and finalise application as required. 3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF 21 FEBRUARY 2018 At the time of the TASAC meeting on Wednesday 21 March 2018, the matter related to the Broken Hill Heritage Rail Trail signage still required some approvals from Destination NSW. The minutes are therefore unable to be confirmed at this meeting and will instead be presented to the committee for approval at the next meeting in April 2018. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS No matters noted. 5. INQUIRIES RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING 5.1 Eden Brewery 5.2 Port Stephens Community Arts Centre 5.3 Cooma Correctional Museum 5.4 Oakvale Farm 5.5 NPWS Eligibility 5.6 Dolphin Marine Magic RMS has flagged that signs for this attraction in Coffs Harbour still refer to its former name of Pet Porpoise Pool. TASAC archives indicate that it has been more than five years since the attraction applied for signage thus eligibility has lapsed. A new application will be required, which will also allow for new signage that corresponds to the attractions new name. Action: Secretariat to contact Dolphin Marine Magic to request a new signage application. 5.7 Nepean Belle Final 12 April 2018 5 of 7
5.8 Tenterfield Information/Welcome Signage 5.9 Mudgee Showground Signage 5.10 Snowy Mountains Model Aero Club Field, Jindabyne 7. Other Business 7.1 TASAC Meeting Schedule The next meeting is to be held in Lismore (Northern Region) on 18 April, 2018. The meeting for September 2018 has tentatively been set to take place in Armidale (Northern Region) following their offer as per section 7.2. The meeting for October 2018 has tentatively been set to take place in the Tweed region (Northern Region). Due to the large number of issues that currently exist in Northern Region (highway upgrades and tourist drives) it was determined that there would be value in having two Northern Region meetings in a row. 7.2 Armidale Offer to Host Meeting Armidale have offered to host a TASAC meeting at some point in the near future. As per section 7.1 it was determined that September 2018 would be a suitable date for such a meeting. The meeting concluded at 12.25 pm. Final 12 April 2018 6 of 7
Attachment 1 TASAC Meeting Schedule Region Location Date Southern Cooma 21 March 2018 Northern Lismore 18 April 2018 N / A RMS Offices, Parramatta 23 May 2018 Hunter Gloucester 13 June 2018 Western Parkes 4 July 2018 Sydney Penrith 22 August 2018 Northern Armidale 19 September 2018 Northern Tweed 17 October 2018 Final 12 April 2018 7 of 7