Western Tiers - Mt Roland - Tourism

[taswegian]

There is now a pursuit to better utilise both these regions (but separately).
Sheffield/ Kentish has its own Mt Roland Study and Deloraine/ Meander its Western Tiers study.
The latter includes what lies behind and obviously means 'The Walls' (ABC uses that for an image on this topic)

This news item is from ABC today (Sunday 6th) http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-05/great-western-tiers-hopes-to-become-an-attraction/3993694

This link takes to Mt Roland article in Advocate http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/luring-more-tourists-to-the-mountain/2529416.aspx

This is an article http://www.kentish.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/AT_COUNCIL_last_April_2012.pdf is from councils minutes.
If you just want to read what thats says then -

The ‘Mt Roland: Developing a Destination Study’ was commissioned to identify experience gaps and opportunities for the Mount Roland precinct and determine viable development opportunities consistent with the area’s natural and cultural values, and which appeal to key target markets. The overarching goal is to increase visitation to the Mount Roland area and to start positioning Mount Roland as a ‘must see’ destination.
The Study established a vision for the precinct and priorities for development and a process for implementation - recognising the economic, social and environmental benefits of tourism.
At the September 20, 2011 Council meeting Council adopted the ‘Mt Roland Developing a Destination Report and resolved to seek a commitment from the Mt Roland Steering Committee, Cradle Coast Authority, Cradle Coast NRM, Tourism Tasmania and Parks and Wildlife to work with Council to commence the recommendations of the report, in particular the development of a management plant, and make a financial contribution and/or assist to secure grant funds to develop the management plan.
A meeting of the steering committee was convened in December 2011 to progress the next stage. The Committee discussed the management plan and decided to develop a Mt Roland Strategic Plan. It was discussed that the majority of land was owned by Parks and Wildlife who have their own procedures for management of Parks Land. The outcome will still be similar.
The Economic and Community Development Manager prepared a consultancy brief for the strategic plan. The brief has been approved by the stakeholders. The brief was reviewed by a consultant to estimate a cost to undertake the plan. It was indicated the Mt Roland Strategic Plan would cost around $30,000 plus GST.
Council has received commitment from the stakeholders that $7,500 would be available to fund the Strategic Plan. It is proposed that because of the importance of the project to the local economy and the expectation from the community that Council would progress the recommendations from the Mt Roland: Developing a Destination Study, that Council fund the remaining amount.
Council resolved to fund up to $22,500 from its unrestricted reserves to engage a consultant to undertake the proposed Mt Roland Strategic Plan.

I hope they get together and don't act independantly.

Also wonder what all this really means for our high country areas?

[steveh72]

I take it the cable car died a natural - lets hope so.

Cheers

Steve

[matagi]

I take it the cable car died a natural - lets hope so.

Cheers

Steve

I believe it did. I think the initial recommendation was to develop Mt Roland/Kentish as an adventure/activity destination.

Council are now funding another consultant to look at investigating the possibility of planning to implement the last consultant's recommendations.

[taswegian]

My main reason for posting this was to hopefully engage those on this forum who use these areas now and in particularly the Western Tiers and what lies behind.
There has been much said about the lack of access to some of the old established and historic tracks, due to floods and damaged roads and lost bridges.
Those are just some of the features that will obviously be mentioned and Forestry Tas stated last week they are working on a new road to Liffey Falls (I think i got that right so please correct me if thats not correct).

Too often not much is said until its too late and by then your opportunity for input is past and we then have to put up and shut up.
It happens all the time and Planning Schemes are one good example of lack of public awareness and at times plain old apathy.
This is not any different.

I would encourage others to have a think and then contact, and these days we are told to 'put it in writing'.
Meander Valley and Kentish Council should be able to receive such submissions.
I haven't been able to find any contacts relating to the article on ABC. So not much help there.

An no I would not assume it (cable car) has died, indeed I reckon it is still very much on the agenda.

[corvus]

Heard on ABC today that FT will not replace bridges on road to Meander Falls as the cost was $200,000.00 however they will re rout a road ? at around $80,000.00.
Sounds like good economic sense to me and perhaps will make us think as to how would easy access be available without FT roads and bridges
corvus

[steveh72]

Hi Taswegian,

I have now taken the time to read the media releases etc in full. I somehow feel that part of the problem is who to contact ie 2 councils, FT & Parks and god only knows how many consultants.

One could get writer's cramp very quickly.

I do take the point though if we do not speak up then we have no right to gizzle about the outcomes.

I do wonder though if the outcomes are pre-determined and our input is merely a PR excercise or am I being cynical.

Cheers

Steve

[vagrom]

...Anything left over from the 50 million dollar Fox taskforce?

[Drifting]

No the Cable Car is not dead. Don Thwaites, Mayor of Kentish, was recently cited in the Advocate as saying that it was clear that the people of Kentish want a developer to put their stamp on the mountain.

I don't know what meetings he went to, or what reports he read.

Here's a bit from the Advocate:

The new plan would identify possible places on the mountain that could be developed for adventure tourism or the like.

The motion was passed as a result of a previous council meeting, community meeting and plan, which identified a potential need for more infrastructure on the site.

Kentish Mayor Don Thwaites said so far the plan had had phenomenal community support.

"We haven't had any opposition, not that I've heard," Cr Thwaites said.

Cr Thwaites said the point of the study was to develop Mt Roland as an active tourist destination and encourage more people to visit the area.Mt Roland is already a significant tourist drawcard for Kentish, but aside from admiring the view, or climbing it, ways to enjoy the mountain are a bit limited.

"This study is just to identify ways that more people can enjoy the mountain in other ways."

Cr Thwaites said the next step in the process, after the plan had been read, would be to encourage more developers to come in to make their mark on the mountain.

Is this guy desperate, or what? Talk about reaching for straws.

[norts]

I hope he isnt related to Jack Thwaites, poor old Jack would be spinning in his grave!

[steveh72]

I guess my point re outcomes being pre-determined comes into play ???

Cheers

Steve

[Drifting]

I hope he isnt related to Jack Thwaites, poor old Jack would be spinning in his grave!

That would be cruel irony indeed.

[Drifting]

I'd love to wake up and see this view with a rusty cable car swinging in the gale force winds. It's just what Sheffield needs...

(photo is by the wife from this morning)

[matagi]

I'd love to wake up and see this view with a rusty cable car swinging in the gale force winds. It's just what Sheffield needs...

(photo is by the wife from this morning)

Except it would be on the other side, where the terrain is a little easier to deal with.

[tilleydog1]

I was in Sheffield during my last visit in Dec 2011 and Jan 2012 and the one thing that I really noticed were the number of unfriendly shop keepers and the lack of a decent coffee! I would think these are the things that need addressing before encouraging people to visit.

[corvus]

I was in Sheffield during my last visit in Dec 2011 and Jan 2012 and the one thing that I really noticed were the number of unfriendly shop keepers and the lack of a decent coffee! I would think these are the things that need addressing before encouraging people to visit.

OOPS ?
Is this perceived or otherwise unfriendliness something we need to address Coffee well that is subjective and did you visit every vendor in town tilleydog ??
In general we Tasmanians are very friendly to those who are likewise and not up themselves in which establishment were they unfriendly (can you quote) as you are maligning a really good group of Shopkeepers and service providers I believe


corvus

[matagi]

I was in Sheffield during my last visit in Dec 2011 and Jan 2012 and the one thing that I really noticed were the number of unfriendly shop keepers and the lack of a decent coffee! I would think these are the things that need addressing before encouraging people to visit.

You mean you actually found shops that were open?

I know one place* in Sheff where you can get good coffee and also decent food, but the biggest problem I find with regard to coffee is that most places overheat the milk.

*shameless plug for Naomi's Kitchen (formerly Highlander Restaurant)

[Miyata610]

Yeah the old scone shop, now Naomi's Kitchen is great. Ask for a bowl of coffee. Awesome.

Other good coffees can be had at Skwiz, who does stay open later but isn't open early morning.

The veggie shop near the information centre does a good takeaway coffee with organic ingredients.

Stay away from the pub or the bakery.

[Drifting]

As a Sheffield resident I can vouch for the coffee from the Fruit and Veg store- they are great. I haven't been to the Scone Shop/Naomi's Kitchen. She closes at 3:30 and doesn't open on all holidays or Sundays. The bakery is pathetic, and they weren't even open during the big Muralfest/Easter week. Squizz is ok, and funky. The big grocery store closes at 6pm, and often runs out of stuff. The little grocery store had a wide and eclectic range, and he is very keen to build a market with backpackers/bushwalkers.

Service in Sheffield is hit and miss. A local businessman was recently quoted in the paper as promoting Sheffield's "Low-effort" style of tourist service. Yes, he said that.One of the gift stores slips religious propaganda into your bag when you're not looking, all about how sinners burn in Hell. Nice thing to give to the Asian tourists. The candy shop and Tazmazia owner refers to tourists as "boat people."

Don't take a picture of the alpaca Man's alpaca. He'll try to charge you a gold coin for it, even though he's wandering around in public. Apparently he gets quite agro if not paid, even though he doesn't really have grounds to get agro. He'll become quite abusive of tourists if they are not of an ethnicity or national origin he approves of (he's French).

Sheffield is a bit like that old American TV show, Green Acres. Every morning I expect to find a talking pig named Arnold hanging out on my driveway. It keeps us amused, to say the least.

[gayet]

I will add my 2c worth

Recently I required the assistance of a mechanic on a Sunday. The Caltex servo staff called the fellow (his shift wasn't due to start for another hour or so) and he came in early. He checked what he could, tested what he could, called another knowledgeable chap in the field, and in the end, was only able to suggest I take it easy getting back to Hobart. All with an easy friendliness and good cheer. It cost me nothing for his time or efforts.

Mind you after a week of testing and some minor parts replacement, the initial problem is still evident, under certain conditions, so I don't complain that he didn't find the problem in an hour.

And the alpaca man didn't ask for money, but I didn't take a photo either. We just chatted a bit while the grass was mown.

[tilleydog1]

Hi Corvus, my apologies I did not mean to malign the people of Tas, I had better not because I'm marrying one next year!! And in general the people of Sheffield were very friendly. I suppose that it was because my experiences in Sheffield this year differed so much from my previous visits which had been extremely pleasant. I visited several shops on one day this year and in three of them ( two mentioned in the previous posts) the proprietors were just plain rude when asked a question so that is three establishments I will not be going back to. I realise that this will probably not matter to them, but my point is that if a town wants to encourage tourism then it needs to present a friendly face to strangers. Regarding the coffee, guess that's a personal choice as you say, but I do miss the bakery.

[corvus]

Hi Corvus, my apologies I did not mean to malign the people of Tas, I had better not because I'm marrying one next year!! And in general the people of Sheffield were very friendly. I suppose that it was because my experiences in Sheffield this year differed so much from my previous visits which had been extremely pleasant. I visited several shops on one day this year and in three of them ( two mentioned in the previous posts) the proprietors were just plain rude when asked a question so that is three establishments I will not be going back to. I realise that this will probably not matter to them, but my point is that if a town wants to encourage tourism then it needs to present a friendly face to strangers. Regarding the coffee, guess that's a personal choice as you say, but I do miss the bakery.

G'day tillydog,
Sorry you had a bad experience seems like you were met with bad manners which even the locals have commented on, so I owe you the apology
corvus

[Miyata610]

...... I visited several shops on one day this year and in three of them ( two mentioned in the previous posts) the proprietors were just plain rude when asked a question so that is three establishments I will not be going back to......

I'm curious about the question asked and the three establishments.

[Drifting]

what do you mean phil?

[Miyata610]

what do you mean phil?

I was referring to this comment....

...... I visited several shops on one day this year and in three of them ( two mentioned in the previous posts) the proprietors were just plain rude when asked a question so that is three establishments I will not be going back to......

[corvus]

Must admit I was also curious as to the question asked of the Proprietors ?? but feel it may have a legitimate one.
corvus

[Drifting]

I could think of a few. But in general it's not THAT bad here.

[tilleydog1]

Regarding the questions I asked. I politely asked two of them to repeat what they had said because I hadn't heard them properly,I'm slightly deaf in one ear, and I received very sarcastic overly pronounced answers, difficult to explain properly in writing but I was taken aback by their attitudes because this was my first experience of this kind of reaction from a Tasmanian, I have been to Tas three times in the last two years and have always found people to be helpful, friendly and always willing to help.

[Drifting]

Not really good enough, eh? Not for a tourist town.

[corvus]

Not really good enough, eh? Not for a tourist town.

Not for any town or retail establishment.
corvus

[matagi]

Sheffield does seem to have it's share of "interesting" characters. Unfortunately, some of them work in retail.