MOUNT Gambier City Council plans to expand directional signage throughout the Valley Lakes precinct while maintaining the tourism attraction’s natural appeal.
With Mount Gambier Mountain Bike Club recently installing 20 new directional markers produced by Mount Gambier Prison inmates, council is also exploring how it can help make the area easy to navigate for trail users of all descriptions.
Council infrastructure general manager Nick Serle said updated signs featuring overall trail maps and technology such as QR codes could be added to the crater lake precinct while complementing the area’s natural beauty and not commercialising it.
“It is deliberately kept fairly sign free and its natural beauty is preserved,” Mr Serle said.
“When the older signs were originally made, there was no mountain bike use so any signs installed in the future will be more modern and will show the shared pathways.”
Mr Serle said some current signs showed path difficulty and length which would need to be included on future signage.
“A lot of people these days are able to map where these tracks are on their phone so we are looking at adding QR codes to the signs too,” Mr Serle said.
“It is just to minimise the amount of information included on a sign and people instead can take a photograph and read it on their phone.”
Acknowleding work needed to occur around signage in the area, Mr Serle said no project was scheduled and it was likely to be discussed by council later in the year.
However, the council leader commended the new wooden markers and stated they were a great first step which could be expanded on.
“The track markers very much fit in with overall future plans,” he said.
“The council wants to leverage the great asset of the Valley Lakes which brings fantastic benefits to the region while keeping the balance of its natural state.
“It is a heritage area, so we have to be careful about anything we construct, including signs and making sure they fit in with the natural open space rather than it becoming too over-commercialised.”
Mr Serle said the whole trail system would only continue to work if everybody communicated and shared.
“Council agreed for mountain bikers to use the area, but it was on the basis of working together in shared use and no party having exclusive use,” he said.
“Walkers, runners and bike riders just need to work together and if they do, everybody can enjoy the area.
“We work very closely with the Mount Gambier Mountain Bike Club and Parkrun ambassador and Tower Trail Run director Phil Ackland and we plan to continue to do that.”
Bike club member and Daktari Sport employee Shane de Jong said directional signage would be beneficial.
“From riding more myself and working, I have noticed an increase in bike activity especially in recent months,” Mr de Jong said.
“It has been ridiculously busy in store, not only with mountain bikes, but with bikes and parts in general.
“It is important those that are out using the trails whether they are riding, running or walking know their surroundings and what track they are on.”
Mr de Jong said he understood the area was a shared environment, but urged all users to heed caution.
“Sometimes I might take the dog for a walk, but if I hear a bike I immediately get of the track as soon as possible,” he said.
“A lot of people may not be aware they are on a popular bike track and sometimes when you are riding, you just can’t stop.
“We want to make sure everyone is safe and ensure people are aware.”
