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.jpg) The Barossa Valley is one of the prime tourist destinations in Australia, offering some of the best wines in the world, along with gourmet food and picturesque scenery.
Member for Schubert, Mr Ivan Venning says that many visitors to the region experience problems finding out how to get between the different townships and visit different places of interest in the area.
Mr Venning voiced his concerns about the lack of appropriate signage in the region in 2006, and recently following complaints by constituents, wrote to the Minister of tourism, the Hon. Jane Lomax-Smith requesting a review of signage in the area be undertaken.
“I am disappointed by the Minister’s response”, said Venning, “The Schubert Electorate is renowned to be home to the best tourist destinations in South Australia, but people who have never been here or heard of some of these towns or places, would have no idea how to get to them, due to the lack of signage in the area.
The Minister’s response stated:
The South Australian Tourism Commission does provide assistance to Local government for generic (brown and white) tourism signage. However, it does not have a funding program for town/regional gateway signage, or marketing signage for individual commercial businesses. Marketing and gateway signage is typically funded by Local Government and/or the Regional Tourism Associations.
8 December 09
“Talk about passing the buck! This type of response is becoming all too common from the state Rann Labor Government, who consistently shirk responsibility and pass in onto another level of government. ‘Town/Regional gateway signage’ is exactly what is needed, and being on the Sturt highway – surely it’s a State Government responsibility?
“The Minister refers to signage for commercial businesses, which I never raised as a concern” Mr Venning said.
“Many people coming from the Eastern states travel along the Sturt Highway and the signage directing them to the Barossa Valley is clearly not adequate as demonstrated by the complaints I have received.
“There is no warning that you are 30 kilometres from the Barossa on the highway – giving time for decisions and plans to be made. There are many tourists that are just ‘cruising the highway’ and will make decisions on an impulse after seeing a sign or billboard.
“This problem would be easy to fix – just install more signs! It would not cost a lot and it would prevent tourists and visitors getting frustrated because they have lost their way.
“Yet again I fail to understand the Rann Labor Government refuse to do anything.
“The Barossa Valley contributes an enormous amount of tax generated revenue to the State coffers, but what do we get in return?” said Mr Venning.
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