SIGNAGE SOUGHT TO INCREASE CAVES PATRONAGE
June 15, 2011
The Buchan community is rallying to attract more visitors to the town by seeking support to install signs promoting the famous Buchan Caves along the Bruthen-Nowa Nowa bypass.
The Buchan Business and Tourism Association (BBTA) has joined forces with the Buchan Caves Reserve as well as local MPs Darren Chester and Tim Bull to seek the support of VicRoads and Tourism Victoria to have the signs implemented.
Local examples of pictorial signs include the recently installed Gippsland Lakes signs on the Princes Highway at Nowa-Nowa and on the Great Alpine Road outside Bairnsdale.
Tourist Signage Guidelines currently prevent pictorial signage on roadsides for attractions with a paid patronage of less than 200,000. The Buchan Caves Reserve has an annual throughput of almost 140,000 people.
Mr Chester, a former Lakes Entrance Business and Tourism Association President, said there needs to be more relaxed signage criteria to promote local tourism attractions.
“The current guidelines are too restrictive and are placing a barrier on promoting some of our local tourism assets,” Mr Chester said.
“Local small businesses in towns like Mallacoota and Marlo are also frustrated that they are prevented from installing major pictorial signage which could help to motivate the travelling public to turn off the highway and explore more of our region’s attractions.
“It is an issue which I have raised in the past and I have sought support from VicRoads and Tourism Victoria for the Buchan Caves Reserve which fulfils all bar one criteria – a paid patronage of 200,000.”
Mr Bull called for some common sense in the issue. He said local tourism attractions needed to be supported by all levels of government.
“The Buchan Caves Reserve is one of the most popular attractions to people visiting East Gippsland all year round,” Mr Bull said.
“Promoting tourism attractions is a responsibility for all levels of government.
“Installing pictorial signage to promote the caves and encourage people passing through the region to visit Buchan only makes sense in a long-term tourism strategy.”
