Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula (RDAWEP) have now travelled much of the Eyre Peninsula region to ask the following questions.

Where is the ageing infrastructure? Can visitors find our iconic locations and service providers? Are there assets (particularly inland) that are under appreciated? Do we have a good touring route connection between our coastal and outback towns? Are we affording the right protection to plants and wildlife?

The most striking feature is how truly magnificent (and huge!) our region is with little known gems and wonders at almost every turn. From the Shingle Beach Ridges at Fitzgerald Bay, the Darke Peak Range and Carapee Hill to Point Brown, Whistling Rocks and the caves of the Nullarbor. The breadth of experiences for the visitor is simply staggering. Even in peak holiday season, isolation and having a beach or 4WD trail to yourself was the case more often than not.

RDAWEP would like to share some of our images collated so far, the good, the bad and the ugly and to remind residents, businesses and visitors that they are invited to share their views to add to the direction setting of future investment in our region.

RDAWEP Chief Executive Officer, Mr Dion Dorward believes the size of our region requires us to think smart, embrace technology and to act regionally to procure coastal access, campground and wayfinding infrastructure.

“We should aim for seamless navigation for locals and visitors to explore and interact sensitively with our natural resources,” he said.

Jade Ballantine, Special Projects Officer, RDAWEP believes our wayfinding language could be more inviting.

“We should share where you can do things as much as we say where you can’t. Our history and culture could be more visible and our advanced warnings of upcoming attractions and enticements to turn off the highway or travel down and into the peninsula need significant improvement. Our unforgettable experiences require visitors to travel on powdery or lumpy unsealed roads. That’s our signature. We love the sense of adventure that it adds to the Eyre experience and many visitors do to but it needs recognition in our wayfinding information and perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to single out some tracks for sealing in the long term,” she said.

One Queensland visitor that RDAWEP talked to was on the Westall Way Coastal Loop in the District Council of Streaky Bay, their quote stuck with us “The Great Ocean Road in Victoria is really the training ground for the Great Australian Bight journey. What we have just seen beginning in the Port Lincoln National Park, through Coffin Bay, Elliston and now Streaky Bay has simply taken us by complete surprise and we have not even reached the Nullarbor Bight region yet. This is a geographic wonder of a journey that I would recommend to every Australian and overseas traveller.”

You can share your views online by visiting rdawep.org.au and completing the survey or visit one of our visitor information centres or outlets to obtain a hardcopy which you can post to:

Eyes on Eyre Project
Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula
89 Liverpool Street, Port Lincoln SA 5606

This is a collaborative project between Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association, Regions SA, Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula and Natural Resources Alinytjara Wilurara.

Please share your thoughts by January 31 2018.

 

 

4 thoughts on “Eyes on Eyre Project Update

  1. We found the signs for the beaches & lookouts along WESTALL WAY LOOP COASTAL SCENIC DRIVE, Streaky Bay, very hard to see & read. Be good if they were updated.

    1. Hi Kerrie. Thank you for your response, we appreciate the feedback and this will be included with all other responses gathered. Regards, RDAWEP.

  2. I am staggered to see the negative sign of “NO CAMPING” right in the centre of one of the sign collages. At a time when RV tourism is so important for the communities of Eyre Peninsula this would have a negative effect. Maybe the sign can indicate that camping is not permitted here but I think the sign should indicate locations where nearby camping is permitted with perhaps a map or suitable directions to assist the visitor in finding a place to stay.
    RV tourism is a serious growth industry with more than 620,000 registered caravans and motorhomes in Australia. With some 20,000 new units added to the fleet each year we must be prepared to capture some of the 100,000 travellers that are on the road at any given time.
    A positive approach for these mobile tourists is the way to go.

    1. Hi Kevin. Thank you for your response, we appreciate the feedback and this will be included with all other responses gathered. Regards, RDAWEP.

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