Northern Grampians Shire Council Tourism Signage Strategy

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Northern Grampians Shire has a combined population of nearly 12,000 people and a land area of 5,700 sq kilometres. The two main population centres are Stawell and St Arnaud. Other population centres are the tourist town of Halls Gap, Great Western and a number of small villages.

The desired outcome of the development of a Northern Grampians Tourism Signage Strategy is to guide the development of consistent and relevant signage across the region that leverages key visitor economy strengths, captures the high traffic flow from major arterial roads and encourages visitor dispersal across the region.

The Northern Grampians Tourism Signage Strategy includes all of the following:

  • A full audit and recommendations report of all tourism vehicle wayfinding signage (green, brown and blue signs) within Northern Grampians Shire including major highways, tourist drives and routes linking major roads to designated tourist attractions, and all directional signs to tourism services (car/caravan and RV parking, caravan parks, RV dump points, rest areas, accommodation etc.)
  • An audit and recommendations report of all destination signage and tourism infrastructure including promotional billboards, Northern Grampians Shire and town/village entry signage, directional signage to visitor centre(s), visitor information bays, temporary and community event promotional signage and interpretive signage.
  • Principles and Guidelines based on current national and state guidelines supported by Australian National Standards, VicRoads, NTSRG (National Tourist Signage Reference Group) and VAS (Visitor Attraction Signposting).
  • A strategy implementation plan based on audit recommendations. This will be broken down into quick fixes, and projects to be budgeted for in the next 12 months and beyond.

Community Engagement

Step 1.Feedback

Feeback on survey findings to come in June 2024.

Step 2.Community Engagement:

Online Survey: Monday, 15 April - Monday, 13 May 2024

Feel free to fill in the survey.

Step 3.Completed Community Engagement:

Session 1: Thursday, 9 November 2023 - Western Engagement

Focusing on the western side of the Shire - Stawell, Halls Gap, Great Western and Glenorchy. 

Session 2: Tuesday, 14 November 2023 - Eastern Engagement

Focusing on the eastern side of the Shire - Navarre, Marnoo, Stuart Mill and St Arnaud.

Online Survey. 

Timeline

Step 1.Planning - Project Kick Off

November 2023

Step 2.Site Visit and Signage Audit 

9 - 15 November 2023

Step 3.Community and Stakeholder Engagement Workshops

Stawell (Western side of shire) - 9 November 2023

St Arnaud (Eastern side of shire) - 14 November 2023

Step 4.Community Consultation Sessions via an Online Survey

15 April - 13 May 2024

Step 5.Final NGSC Tourism Signage Strategy Report

June 2024

Project Objectives

The strategy’s objectives are:

1. To ensure that current and future signage facilitates safe and positive journeys and enhances the dispersal of visitors and their connection with the people and the places of the Northern Grampians Region.

2. To promote the many tourist attractions and services within the Northern Grampians Shire.

3. To improve the presentation of the Discover Northern Grampians and Northern Grampians Shire Council brand through improved signage design at our facilities, parks and places of recreation.

4. To give council clear guidance for developing a suite of distinctive, innovative, and consistent road and destination signage.

5. Signage Style Guide - To give the council direction for choosing the right signage for the particular circumstance and location.

6. Development of a Northern Grampians Shire Council Signage Policy - To lay the groundwork for the establishment of a signage application procedure and Northern Grampians Shire Council Signage Policy.