Minister launches Victoria's snow season at Mt Buller

Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith has officially opened the 2013 Victorian snow season at Mt Buller.

Encouraging Australians to visit Victoria's alpine resorts this season, Minister Smith stated "the resorts have all been working hard in the 'green season to provide even better experiences for winter visitors, delivering extensive upgrades to visitor facilities and infrastructure.

"Last year's bumper snowfalls brought visitors to the slopes in huge numbers.

"The six resorts - Mount Hotham, Falls Creek, Mount Buller, Mount Stirling, Mount Baw Baw and Lake Mountain - recorded more than 1.5 million visitor days, a 20% increase on 2011 and a 14% increase on the 10 year average.

"According to the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research, Mount Buller chalked up 472,575 visitor days in 2012, the highest visitation of the Victorian resorts.

"Victoria's alpine resorts make a substantial and growing contribution to their local regions and the state's economy. Last winter alone our resorts generated $647 million in Gross State Product and around 6,000 jobs. Much of this benefit flows directly to regional areas.

"We're hopeful of another great season and even more visitors coming to enjoy the slopes in 2013."

In recent months on Mount Buller, work has proceeded on lift upgrades, increased snowmaking and upgraded toboggan slopes, and there have been improvements to roads, trails and other infrastructure at nearby Mount Stirling.

Here the Minister explained "the reinvigorated snow play zone at Mount Buller is ideal for visitors enjoying their first snow experience, with a new snowball and snowman-building area, new picnic area and photo points."

Other ski resorts have also invested in improving their visitor experiences with additional snow making equipment at most resorts and better facilities and activities.

Among this year's offerings are:

• Dog sled tours and reduced mid-week ticket prices at Mount Baw Baw;

• Additional facilities and mobile coffee outlets, along with no trail fees at Lake Mountain;

• Falls Creek has removed cross country trail fees and developed dedicated snow shoe trails; and

• Mount Hotham and Falls Creek have introduced a new Snow Pass system - a fully automated, reloadable access card for lift tickets, lessons and equipment hire.

Minister Smith concluded "each year the resorts work hard to improve the visitor experience, and it keeps getting better and better.

"Whether it's your first time at the snow or you're a seasoned skier or boarder, 2013 is a great time to experience these magnificent places first hand."

For more information go to www.aussiesnow.com.au/victoria.html

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16th June 2012 - MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING UNDER REVIEW AT VICTORIA’S ALPINE RESORTS

10th June 2012 - MINISTER LAUNCHES 2012 SKI SEASON AT MT HOTHAM

31st May 2012 - MT BULLER READY FOR 2012 SKI SEASON

30th May 2012 - EARLY SNOW TO MARK RESURGENCE OF AUSTRALIA’S SKI RESORTS?