Victorian alpine resorts welcome investment in collaborative tourism strategies

Falls Creek and Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Boards have welcomed the commitment by the Victorian Government of $2 million for the next phase of the Falls Creek to Mt Hotham Alpine Crossing as an important investment in the future of the region.

The final master plan for the proposed development of the area has been released after a two-year, three stage stakeholder consultation process, and the $2 million funding will be used for preparation of a business case for the initiative.

Falls Creek Alpine Resort Management (FCRM) Chief Executive, Stuart Smythe advised “the Bogong High Plains are a spectacular asset for the State, this investment will add to Falls Creek’s all year-round experiences, especially for those people who want to choose their own adventures.”

Falls Creek is committed to the continued investment in being the gateway for nature-based activities aligned to the cycle and trail hiking experiences which are associated with the High Country and central to FCRM’s ‘tracks and trails’ reputation.

The investment by Parks Victoria into the crossing and joint development by FCRM into beautification of the Lakeside precinct, will act as both a destination node within the resort and a trailhead for the project.

Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board (MHARMB) Chief Executive Jon Hutchins added “this investment is a significant next step in establishing Mt Hotham as a premier, year-round destination accessible to everyone.”

MHARMB’s vision of a new type of alpine experience has been the driver for substantial work in recent years on the Growing Mt Hotham Project, a package of works designed to guarantee the ongoing sustainability of Mt Hotham. Works include the joint project with Vic Roads to upgrade the entrance to the Loch Car Park, which is a designated trail head for the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing, and improved road design measures to improve safety.

The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning also recently announced the completion of a joint $230,000 investment in Hotham’s alpine ecology with MHARMB and Zoos Victoria, constructing a second ‘tunnel of love’ under the Great Alpine Road at Mt Hotham to enable the endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum to safely breed.

The investment by MHARMB has been reflected in renewed development interest in the resort, including the $26 million Davenport Central development, which will feature restaurants, bars and retail outlets and a range of accommodation options, including four fully accessible apartments for visitors with a disability.

Further development is expected to occur in the centre of Mt Hotham, with the appointment of a preferred developer for a mixed-use development in the resort’s central Corral area.

The Falls Creek and Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Boards anticipate that the 57 kilometre Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing will create an experience that complements and enhances visitors’ experience of the alpine region, particularly for people who are not already familiar with the area.

Information about the history and ecology of the area will be accessed through high quality hiking infrastructure and interpretation, showcasing the park’s natural and cultural values.

The track alignment will immerse visitors in diverse landscapes and ecosystems, connecting them to significant landforms and passing many of the high country’s iconic heritage huts. Four overnight nodes on the trail will offer accommodation options to suit a diverse range of preferences, including environmentally sound platform tent-based camping, to complement the existing dispersed camp areas.

Click here to view the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing final master plan.

Images: The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing (top), altitude training at Falls Creek (middle) and the endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum (below).

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22nd August 2017 - HIDDEN CAMERAS REVEAL NATIVE SPECIES OF THE GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL PARK

5th August 2017 - CLIMATE TO INCREASINGLY IMPACT AUSTRALIA’S SKI INDUSTRY 

23rd July 2017 - FALLS CREEK NAMED VICTORIA’S LEADING SKI RESORT

18th July 2017 - 2017 SEES FALLS CREEK MARK 70 YEARS OF OPERATIONS

11th July 2017 - RESEARCH SHOWS INCREASED VISITOR NUMBERS ACROSS VICTORIA’S ALPINE RESORTS ​ 

24th June 2017 - FIRST TIMERS INTRODUCED TO SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING AT MT HOTHAM 

12th June 2017 - RECORD BREAKING OPENING WEEKEND AT MOUNT HOTHAM 

26th December 2016 - PARKS VICTORIA PLAN PROPOSES LUXURY ACCOMMODATION ON FALLS CREEK TO HOTHAM ALPINE CROSSING TRAIL 

9th November 2016 - BUSHWALKING AND SHOPPING RANK AS MOST POPULAR AUSTRALIAN HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

20th October 2016 - AUSTRALIA’S FIRST EVER ACCESSIBLE ALPINE ACCOMMODATION UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT FALLS CREEK

26th September 2016 - MT BULLER GUARANTEES SNOW FOR OPENING WEEKEND OF THE 2017 SKI SEASON 

30th June 2016 - RECOVERY OF VICTORIA’S BRUSH-TAILED ROCK WALLABIES ON TRACK 

24th February 2016 - NEW BOARD WORKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ALPINE RESORTS

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