You are Here Signage

A three component project

A series of You are here signs have been added to the Mount Field East circuit walk. Each junction has had one of these added, except for one still to do.

Direction signs funded by Melaleuca Walkers have been made and installed on the Pack Track as part of the Field East circuit walk..

Interpretation signs on Wombat Moor and You are here signs funded by Wildcare. A project report will be required so that Wildcare can publish it in Wildtimes magazine.

The details of the Wombat Moor signage is at this link

Additional sign for the junction of the track at Lake Fenton passing Belcher's hut

Project Description

Flora Signs

In 2014 a boardwalk, built with a Wildcare grant, was placed on the first section of Wombat Moor that allows visitors to walk to the Woodland Mosaic without having to negotiate mud and water. This area has a range of alpine plants and the visitor experience would be enhanced with interpretive signs indicating the flora that is passed on the track.

The idea is in general that plants close to the track have signs, although some very distinct and easily recognized larger plants that aren’t so close to also be included in the project. The signs are to be designed and built so that they can be moved if the need arises, such as if a plant dies or moved to a better specimen if appropriate.

Each laminated metal sign would include acknowledgment of the funding source and the Wildcare logo. Each sign would have a general photo of the plant and the name plus sometimes a flower photo included.

More information at this link https://sites.google.com/view/wombatmoor

Track signs

The Friends of Mount Field have a long association with the Mount Field East track network, including opening of some old historic sections. At various junctions, it is proposed to add a diagrammatic map with a “you are here” indicator for each. Text would be included indicating Wildcare as the funding source.

Examples at this link https://sites.google.com/site/mountfieldeast/track-signs

Visual Improvement

Included in this application is 4 litres of timber stain. Brendan Moodie, the Ranger in Charge at Mount Field was keen to apply some stain to timber planking the group has placed down with a grant from the Foundation for Parks & Wildlife, but this was not anticipated at the time so funds were not able to be requested in the application. The stain is to make the boards blend better with the environment where they are located on the Field East track.

Assisting Park Management

The flora signs will assist the park management objective of providing interpretation. The Mount Field National Park Management Plan stresses the importance of interpretation as an objective and identifies that there is more demand for it.

The plan says “the park has been identified as an ideal site for interpreting the vegetation” page 2, and mentions “The park and reserves are a valuable educational resource and their role as such should be expanded and encouraged in the future” p32.

Placing the proposed track signs would also greatly enhance visitor experience and overcome known shortcomings. “What did discriminate between Tasmanians and non-Tasmanians was whether they had visited Mt Field previously. Most of the Tasmanians (most of whom were from the Hobart area) had visited before, but most non-Tasmanians were visiting the park for the first time. This has important implications for the provision of interpretation and directional signs at the park” p30. “As for the non-locals, opportunities for short walks and the provision of on track interpretation were seen to be lacking” p30.

It is believed that staining the timber boardwalk will improve visitor experience which is an objective of the park p30.

The project is supported by PWS, but the work will mostly be done by volunteers and this gives them a sense of achievement and encouragement.