General News
18 April, 2024
Frustration over lack of signage
After five years of frustration, Bigibila Winery has started a petition to raise awareness for their fight for tourist signage similar to other wineries in Moonambel. The winery, owned by Peter Bicknell and Jillian Henderson, opened its cellar door...
After five years of frustration, Bigibila Winery has started a petition to raise awareness for their fight for tourist signage similar to other wineries in Moonambel.
The winery, owned by Peter Bicknell and Jillian Henderson, opened its cellar door in 2019 and according to Mr Bicknell, has struggled with the Pyrenees Shire Council and VicRoads ever since.
“Over the last five years we have applied twice for some signage to the cellar — the first time the shire said it was a VicRoads problem but VicRoads said we needed planning permits from the shire and it was going nowhere,” he said.
“Last year I asked one of the representatives on council to help us get some signage and he got on board and had us fill out all these forms about what we wanted.
“We were on the presumption that we would get the same signage as other cellars on the [Stawell-Avoca] Road, but we got this silly little sign stuck on the street pole and that was the end of it.”
In response to what he sees as a lack of action, Mr Bicknell started a petition on change.org last month with the request already receiving nearly 700 signatures.
While thanking the community for their support, Mr Bicknell said it is common sense for all wineries to get the same amount of sign exposure.
“I would say at least half of our customers come up to us and say that we need better signage — we always hear how customers couldn’t find us or drove straight past the turn-off or didn’t spot the sign,” he said.
“Everyone else has these tourist signs and we have nothing against the other wineries, they have got what they got and that’s fair enough, but there should be a level playing field.
“Ten years ago when these other signs were put up, it seemed like council cared about the industry, now they just don’t.”
According to the Pyrenees Shire Economic Development Strategy, the wine industry contributes $56 million to the shire’s total output, a share Bigibila Winery is currently missing out on according to Mr Bicknell.
“All Moonambel has got is the wineries, and I would estimate at least 50 percent of tourists if not more go straight past not knowing that we are here,” he said.
“Everyone expects to see a big tourist sign at a winery, if you are a serious winery you should have that sign and we are a serious winery.”
In response to the petition, Pyrenees Shire Council CEO Jim Nolan said he understands the frustration from Bigibila Winery and is hopeful to address the issue shortly.
“Council arranged for the installation of a sign at the corner of Hope Street and Stawell–Avoca Road for Bigibila Winery some time ago,” he said.
“We later understood that the winery wanted a sign that is larger than the one that was installed, and we understand that the time it’s taking to get the larger sign is longer than the winery would like.
However staff are in contact with suppliers, and we expect to see the sign installed in the near future.”
