Growth is the key to recovery for Mt Hotham

2020 has been an incredibly challenging year for Mt Hotham and our stakeholders. MHARMB’s focus now is on ways to accelerate the resort’s economic recovery through securing investment in significant infrastructure.

State and Federal governments are currently encouraging and supporting investment in major projects that will deliver economic stimulus, particularly through the creation of jobs. MHARMB is working to leverage this government support by packaging a range of projects that have the potential to both generate economic uplift and deliver ongoing strategic benefit to the resort.

In particular, MHARMB is reviewing how to realise the vision of the Mt Hotham Masterplan and the five precincts encompassed in that strategic body of work, which was developed with significant stakeholder consultation. This includes looking at how investment can be secured to enhance the resort’s visitor offering and visual appeal, which requires reinvigoration.

Two key infrastructure projects
MHARMB is now delivering two key infrastructure projects leveraging $5 million of State Government investment – the Alpine Gateway at Loch Car Park and the Multipurpose Recreation Facility at Whiskey Flat. Both projects are aligned with the Mt Hotham Masterplan and have already commenced, with construction scheduled over the next two summers for completion by winter 2022.

MHARMB is also working to get the snow play and activity hub envisioned for Wire Plain to a shovel-ready stage, which has the potential to activate new markets, increase length of stay, and stimulate private sector investment. This is one of many projects that MHARMB is fast-tracking for funding consideration, along with artistic installations, resort beautification works, new visitor and business facilities, resort-wide bus stop and transit upgrades, and essential infrastructure expansion.

These works are consistent with MHARMB’s strategic vision of establishing Mt Hotham as a leading High Country tourism destination with a thriving year-round economy.

Alpine Gateway
The Alpine Gateway project will see the development of a new year-round visitor facility and multi-level car park at the current Loch Car Park site. In winter, this will offer a seamless visitor experience, including significantly improved parking and direct ski field access for skiers and boarders of all abilities.

In summer, it will be a launchpad for a range of green-season activities and the trailhead for key resort walks. Year-round, visitors will be able to take advantage of lockers, toilets and public areas located in the new facility.

The project is also of significant strategic importance as it is an enabler for future resort development, shifting cars out of Corral Car Park to facilitate development of that site.

Consistent with the Masterplan, the aim is to create a new tourism hub in and around the Corral Car Park that will feature a diverse commercial and public offering.

The design of the Alpine Gateway draws inspiration from the colours and shapes of the High Country, including native flora and the shape of traditional mountain huts, and sits in harmony with the surrounding environment. Subject to weather delays, the car park component of the Alpine Gateway will be constructed by winter 2021 and completed with the visitor facility by winter 2022.

Multipurpose Recreation Facility at Whiskey Flat
Matched funding from the Victorian Government will be used to build a new accessible, multipurpose public facility incorporating community space, unisex change facilities, and family-friendly features such as change tables. The facility will be environmentally sensitive, using insulation, water saving and re-use measures, solar panels and efficient lighting control to minimise energy and water use.

Whisky Flat already hosts Australia’s only international-standard Biathlon shooting range, which is used during winter by the Australian Biathlon Association (ABA) for events and training. The investment will support the ABA’s ability to host international competitions and will position Hotham as the lead biathlon training site in the southern hemisphere. The development will also open opportunities to position Hotham as an ideal off-season biathlon training location for northern hemisphere Olympic teams.

In addition, the project unlocks new uses for the Whisky Flat precinct, which sits at the centre of 35 kilometres of year-round tracks and trails in sub-alpine snowgum woodlands, a favourite area for cross-country skiers in winter and hikers and cyclists in summer.

The multipurpose facility is supported by the ABA and other local groups including Disabled Wintersport Australia and Dinner Plain Riders Bike Club.

The Alpine Gateway and Whisky Flat Multipurpose Recreation Facility are supported by the Victorian Government. 

Hotham Marketing Committee reinstated to represent on-mountain operators

The Hotham Marketing Committee has been reinstated by Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board (MHARMB) to provide on-mountain operators with a representational committee of volunteers tasked with supporting and engaging all on-mountain operators (OMO) for the promotion and marketing of Mt Hotham Alpine Resort.  

The committee is tasked with guiding the marketing effort and ensuring all promotional activities and communications are guest-centric, that content is informative and showcases all that Mt Hotham has to offer, drives interest and visitation to the resort and promotes the Mt Hotham brand.  

Full details about the committee and the committee's terms of reference are available on the Develop Mt Hotham website here.

On-mountain operators are encouraged to work with their category representative if they require assistance and support with any issue or matter to be presented to the committee.

MHARMB looks forward to a long and productive relationship with members of the committee to support, develop and enhance Mt Hotham's year-round marketing and promotion efforts. 

1080 baiting in Alpine National Park October 2020 - May 2021

Parks Victoria (PV) in partnership with the Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board and the Falls Creek Resort Management Board will be undertaking a 1080 pest animal poisoning program using buried baits on public land to control Red Fox.

Poisoning will occur from 26/10/2020 to 31/05/2021 after which time Parks Victoria will collect and dispose of untaken and unused baits in accordance with the Directions for the Use of 1080 Pest Animal Bait Products in Victoria.

This ongoing fox control program is being conducted in the Alpine National Park and the Mount Hotham and Falls Creek Resorts to protect the endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum.

Full details have been sent to Mt Hotham dog permit holders and head lessees. If you have not received this information, please email info@mthotham.com.au 

Summer photography opportunity

Jean-Francois Rupp from Alpine Nature Experience has arranged for experienced professional photographer Gabrielle Connole to visit Mt Hotham in mid-December for a photo shoot. Gabrielle has an impressive portfolio and has worked with brands such us Emirates, Bumble, Mars, G.H.Mumm, V (energy drink), and Champagne Perrier-Jouet. Her portfolio is here: https://www.gabconnole.com/portraiture

While she is here, Jean-Francois  has offered to coordinate a photography sessions of between 2 hours and half a day for stakeholders on the mountain who wish to engage Gabrielle to refresh your stock of images of your business, visitor experience, products, accommodation, etc.  Stakeholders will only have to pay for their shoot at a very competitive rate as travel expenses have already been covered.  Places are limited so get in quick!

A local videographer will also be available around the same time via Jean-Francois. Hand Cut Productions are based in Bright and very well acquainted with the strengths and selling points of our local area. Their extensive portfolio incorporating many local tourism highlights can be viewed here: http://handcutproductions.com.au/

To enable Jean-Francois to schedule a slot for your needs and brief the photographer and videographer, please email him at alpinenatureexperience@gmail.com by Wednesday 4 November with the following information:

• Business name:
• Subject (e.g. food, venue, external accommodation, internal accomm, lifestyle, etc)
• Interested in photos and/or video?

Advice on Essential Fire Preparedness works on properties at Mount Hotham

On Sunday 18 October, the Premier of Victoria announced new public health restrictions across Victoria. These included advice regarding essential fire and flood preparedness works on properties in regional Victoria.

The new guidelines do not include non-emergency maintenance works, though we are hopeful that as restrictions ease, property owners from metropolitan Melbourne will be permitted to attend their properties at Hotham to perform summer readiness maintenance. 

Our current assessment in consultation with the CFA is that there is no urgent requirement for property owners to perform fire preparedness works at Mt Hotham.  However, property owners from metropolitan Melbourne can travel to their Mt Hotham property if they have been issued with a Letter of Support from MHARMB for travel for fire or emergency preparedness activities on that property. 

If you travel into Regional Victoria for fire preparedness works, you have 72 hours inclusive of travel to complete the works. Metropolitan Melbourne property owners should note that the public health measures that apply in metropolitan Melbourne travel with you. 

Hard waste collection date change 
The hard waste collection scheduled for 4 November has been postponed until Monday 30 November 2020. There will be another hard waste collection on Tuesday 6 April 2021 (after Easter). Full information about the collection is here.

For full information about fire preparedness work at Mt Hotham and how to apply for a Letter of Support, please click on the button below.

Dog permit applications now open

MHARMB has updated the Dog Policy for Mt Hotham and applications for 2021 permits are now open. 

Please review the Dog Policy on the Develop Mt Hotham website before applying. Apply via the button below.

New requirements for commercial drone operators

CASA drone registration and operator accreditation are now open for drones or remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) flown for business or as part of your job – no matter how much it weighs.

Registration is free and valid for 12 months. Some drones don’t need to be registered. This applies if:

• you don’t intend to fly your drone
• you’re only flying for sport or recreation, including model aircraft flown at CASA-approved model airfields.

Operator accreditation is free and valid for three years. You do not need an operator accreditation if:

• you have a remote pilot licence (RePL)
• you’re only flying for sport or recreation, including model aircraft association members flying at CASA-approved model airfields.

For more information, go to:

• Drone registration
• Operator accreditation

Regional Arts Fund grants

The Regional Arts Fund (RAF) is an Australian Government Program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia. 

The Regional Arts Fund is designed to benefit regional and remote arts practitioners, arts workers, audiences and communities. The program is managed nationally by Regional Arts Australia and is delivered in Victoria by Regional Arts Victoria.

The RAF Quick Response Grants provide up to $2000 for individuals and $4000 for organisations. Rounds open 1 October 2020, 18 January 2021, and 1 April 2021.

RAF Project Grants provide up to $30,000 and the next funding round opens 18 January 2021.

Grant support and information

The Federal Member for Indi’s website includes information on grants including short videos outlining how to apply for grants, a grant finder link, and a regular newsletter detailing available grants. Access the grant finder by clicking the button below.

Click for Vic phase 2

The second phase of Visit Victoria’s successful Click for Vic campaign kicked off Friday 23 October with integrated Spring and Summer paid advertising, social media marketing and mainstream PR efforts focusing on encouraging consumers to spend with hard-hit Victorian businesses.

Key themes of the campaign, which will continue until 31 January, aim to give businesses an additional boost throughout the festive period and to leverage key retail/eCommerce moments including Black Friday, ‘Thank you Day’ Grand Final eve public holiday, the Spring Racing Carnival, festive gift buying season, celebrating summer and the outdoors with a focus on picnics, barbecues, reuniting with family and friends, Spring Racing at home, Christmas gifts and hampers.

High Country businesses with a current ATDW listing (N.B. if you haven’t already signed on, ATDW listings are FREE to tourism industry businesses until 31 October) and set up for online sales are encouraged to join the Click for Vic campaign by using #clickforvic and #visitvictoria as well as their own handle and hashtags on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and by also encouraging customers to do the same. Interested businesses can download the full Click for Vic industry toolkit HERE. Similarly, to leverage Tourism Australia’s domestic campaign, download the relevant toolkit CLICK HERE.

TNE can assist tourism businesses with listings, as well as one-on-one or group training in using and leveraging the range of digital platforms to full effect. Contact the TNE office at info@tourismnortheast.com.au or phone 03 5728 2773.

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund

The $251 million Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund program supports eligible liquor licensees with hospitality venues impacted by the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Eligible liquor licensees include those in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria operating a restaurant, hotel, cafe, pub, bar, club or reception centre that serves food and alcohol.

Grants of up to $30,000 are available to eligible liquor licensees, based on venue location and patron capacity. For more information click on the button below.

Community Recovery Sessions held at Hotham

Community-led recovery is about listening, working together and ensuring that rebuilding and recovery is both locally driven and locally delivered. 

To this end, Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board, the Alpine Community Recovery Committee, Bushfire Recovery Victoria, Alpine Shire, Anglicare and Albury Wodonga Health recently collaborated to provide community wellbeing courses to support people in their recovery from the summer's bushfires and coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts.

Two interactive workshops were held at Mt Hotham in September: Psychological First Aid Training, and Support the Supporter. Both had strong attendance and provided attendees with tools and information about resources available in the local area, as well as an opportunity to connect with each other.  

The Bushfire Recovery Victoria hub is now open in Bright and available to support the Mt Hotham community, run by Hub Services Coordinator Shelley Herman. The address is 8/3 Riverside Avenue Bright, phone 0429 529 700, email alpinehub@brv.vic.gov.au.