The sign welcoming Nullarbor-plain crossers to WA or SA in the other direction at Eucla, is corroding and the WA part has fallen off. The ABC reports that no one claims ownership for the estimated $150,000 repair job to be performed. Main roads is considering an electronic sign of some sort. Meanwhile, the Border Roadhouse is still doing a roaring trade, now all 'hard borders' are open following covid.
A disappointing sight at Eucla for travellers photo: (Alasdair Wardle/ABC)
When you put a large metal fabricated sign 700km from the nearest town, in scorching heat and blasted by salty winds from the Great Australian Bight - you have to expect some maintenance issues. But, as the ABC reports, when no one wants to claim ownership os the structure, it just rusts and rusts away. Not a good look.
ABC Perth reported:
At the very place that Western Australia becomes South Australia stands a weathered red sign. The SA panel of the sign is erected high up on metal poles, easily visible to travellers coming and going along the Nullarbor, but the WA panel has broken off and lies on the gravel below, meekly propped up and cordoned off by red tape.
How the sign should look
Traveller Alasdair Wardle was first troubled by the condition of the sign 18 months ago, and when he crossed the border into WA and saw it was still broken last week he contacted ABC Radio to air his concerns. "The WA section of the sign had rusted and fallen and was half collapsed," he told Damian Smith on ABC Radio Perth Mornings.
"Every person that drives from the east coast to Perth sees this dilapidated sign.
"What it says, is no-one cares."
There appears to be a lot of finger-pointing and inaction. The ABC continues:
Shane Power, Goldfields-Esperance regional manager for Main Roads, said the sign was not a Main Roads asset and they had been unable to find an individual owner who was responsible for maintaining the sign. "When the sign was installed, it appears it was installed through a grant though federal tourism," he said.
Mr Power said Main Roads had commissioned a structural engineer to examine the sign and the report found it would cost $150,000 to fix. "It's in a highly corrosive area," (no kidding! - ed) Mr Power said, adding: "It's full steel … it would need sandblasting and rustproofing to repair it, and that could be done, but there are other options. Is that structure a structure for the modern age?"
Well Mr Power, I would suggest contacting one of WA's signage companies such as Kingman and they'd come up with a fix in no time. Modern age? Who would really give a rat's out there in the middle of the Nulla?
The solution - ask a signee!
The obvious fix is to team up with the nearby Border Village Roadhouse, who actually features the sign atop its logo. Do a deal with them for periodic maintenance.
Next, contact Bunnings, owned by Wesfarmers, a WA company. I reckon they'd jump at the prospect of advertising 'Only 700km to Bunnings Norseman (or Esperance). They might even supply the rustproofing and paint!
Heck, go all out and get McDonald's to advertise "Only 900km to McDonald's Kalgoorlie!" Mind you I am not sure if Nullarbor-crossers with kids would appreciate 9 hours of 'Is it far to McDonald's now Dad/Mum?'
Whatever, the fix is easy, it's now and it's fundable. Just ask a Signee or contact the Australian Sign & Graphics Association:
