In Victoria, the State Government’s decision to instate multicultural signs has drastically improved the safety on the Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road is a heritage listed stretch of road; famous for scenic tourist sites such as the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park. Despite being known for its beauty, the Great Ocean Road is also known as a dangerous place for drivers.
This is particularly true for the over 7 million tourists who use the roads with the largest proportion coming from China, due to the lack of signage in languages other than English.
This changed after the Victorian State Government invested $53 million on top of the $50 million State and Federal program of capital works and maintenance into improving the Great Ocean Road. New multilingual signs display 25 different messages and will be used during peak road work periods. These signs are a welcome addition as Minister for Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott said,
““These signs are another way we are welcoming and encouraging international visitors to our State.”
This is alongside other improvements such as roadside remediation works such as rock netting and retaining walls in order to make the roads safer for everyone. As the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan states,
““The Great Ocean Road is a Victorian icon that attracts millions of visitors each year. We want people to have a safe and memorable experience when they visit the shipwreck coast.”
This will no doubt have a positive effect for tourism in the region as well as catering to the diverse array of tourists who visit to see and experience Australia’s beautiful natural sites. As the Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney states,
“Tourism is a vital part of our local economy and these new signs are just one way that we are making sure the Great Ocean Road continues to welcome visitors from around the world.”