Board update

The Hon Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change has announced the reappointment of Andrew Skewes, Anthea Packer, Helen Moran, Michelle Croughan and Peter Valerio to the Board of Mount Hotham Alpine Resort from 30 June 2021 to 29 June 2023. Maxine Morand and Sue Lebish did not renominate.

Andrew Skewes (pictured above) has been appointed Chairperson of the Board, and Anthea Packer has been appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Board.

Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants

The $280 million Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program will help communities address remaining priorities for recovery and resilience after the 2019-20 bushfires.

Applications will open for submission from 22 July 2021 and close on 2 September 2021, with successful projects announced by the end of 2021. You can apply for a grant of between $20,000 and $10 million for projects that must be completed by 31 March 2024.

The grants are delivered by the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, through the Business Grants Hub. Community organisations, businesses and local councils can apply. Projects must address recovery or resilience needs relating to the social, economic or built environment.

Grants workshops are available in-person and online. A workshop is being held at Pavilion Park, Bright on Monday 26 July from 1:00-3:00pm (COVID restrictions permitting) and online on Tuesday 3 August and Thursday 5 August. Please check the information page for more details and to register.

Visit business.gov.au/bsbr for more information on the grant guidelines, criteria and eligibility.

Tourism North East Business Development 1:1 Sessions

Mt Hotham businesses are invited to arrange an in-person, one on one Business Development session with Tourism North East's Industry and Product Development Manager, Eddie Wilson, on either of the dates below.

• Tuesday 24 August
• Wednesday 29 September

This is a great opportunity to meet Eddie to discuss any facet of your business.

This may include your business strategies, marketing/social strategy, product ideas, issues and, or challenges your business is facing so that Tourism North East can be best placed to advocate on your behalf.

Eddie is happy to meet over coffee or attend your business location. 

To book a meeting with Eddie, please click on this link.

Eddie is also running an end of season general catchup, which is penciled in for Wednesday 29 September 12.30pm - 1.30pm. This will be an informal group chat for anyone who would like to participate. This can be booked via the this link.

Support for regional events and festivals

The Regional Community Events Fund has been established by the Victorian Government to support regional events that attract up to 1,000 people.

Eligible applicants for the new fund will include all local regional and rural councils, public event organisers, and direct venue operators. Eligible events could include community festivals, rodeos, art shows and other smaller scale events that strengthen the community and showcase our vibrant regions.

To be eligible, applicants must host smaller scale events while larger festivals that include a series of smaller events over the course of multiple days may also be eligible.

The new fund is part of the State Government’s targeted support for local councils and event businesses to help regional and rural Victoria to recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Through the fund, the Victorian Government will work with regional councils, event organisers and industry bodies to ensure they have more certainty and confidence to plan and stage events that are important to local communities.

The Regional Community Events Fund complements the $20 million Regional Events Fund, a commitment to bring blockbuster events to Victoria’s regions as part of the $633 million Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan.

Applications will be open later in July and stay open until the funding is fully allocated. For more information visit rdv.vic.gov.au.

Have your say on climate change adaptation

The Victorian Government is inviting all Victorians to have a say on how to make key sectors of the economy and environment more resilient to the impacts of climate.

Consultation is under way on seven draft Climate Change Adaptation Actions Plans, which focus on seven sectors regarded as vulnerable to climate change or having an important role in adapting to further change.

The plans are due to be completed by the end of 2021 and will guide adaptation efforts over the next five years, laying the foundations for dealing with climate change.

You can have your say at https://engage.vic.gov.au/aaps

Snow shedding off roofs

The RMB would like the assistance of Hotham operators to remind guests about the danger of snow shedding off roofs.

We have a large number of new visitors who are not familiar with our alpine environment and may not be aware that heavy snowfalls can result in slabs of snow and ice sliding off buildings. This presents a particular risk to children who might be playing outside buildings, especially when the sun comes out.

It is the responsibility of building owners and managers to rope off areas around their building that may shed snow and be a danger to the public.  If it is not possible to rope off areas, then building owners need to ensure there is no access to dangerous snow-shed areas.

Please ensure you provide information for your guests about this risk.

Wheel chain requirement

We’re still seeing guests entering the resort without wheel chains, which has caused accidents in recent weeks. We’d appreciate you reinforcing to your guests the legal requirement to carry and, if directed, fit diamond-pattern wheel chains in the Mt Hotham resort during winter.

Some vehicles cannot be fitted with chains so we would appreciate your help communicating to guests that they need to check this before travelling, so that they can arrange alternate resort access if required. 

To reiterate the rules:

• All vehicles must carry diamond-pattern chains when entering the resort.
• All vehicles must fit diamond-pattern chains as directed by ‘fit chains’ signage.
• Exemptions for fitting chains (ie. 4WD exemption) are determined by road conditions on an ongoing basis.
• Fitting winter/snow tyres does not negate the requirement to carry or fit chains as directed.

The Hotham website includes a list of operators who hire wheel chains on both sides of the mountain. Hoys provides an on-road chainfitting service to help people who need assistance in fitting their chains.

For more information please check the Hotham website.

The Big Gig

Each year the Mount Hotham Volunteer Ski Patrol runs The Big Gig, a fundraising event that includes an auction of donated goods. The funds raised are used to offer volunteer members the best training and medical equipment available so they can continue to deliver high quality care in the alpine environment.

This year The Big Gig is planned for Saturday 7 August at The General between 8:00 and 9:00 pm.

Volunteer Patrollers donate their time to help keep Mt Hotham Resort safe. They come from near and far to complete their 15 day commitment to patrol, they are out on the slopes in all conditions from first chair to last.  Your support ensures they can continue helping Hotham riders when they need it most.

The funds raised from previous Big Gig events helped purchase the Ski Patrol Ambulance now seen picking up patients around the resort.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation over $2, please click here. 

Traverse Hotham special offer for locals!

Thanks to funding from Into Our Hands Community Foundation, Traverse Hotham is continuing to offer free cross country lessons for Hotham and Dinner Plain locals* to enjoy this winter. The main aim is to get more of us out gliding on cross country (XC) skis, enjoying the exercise, mobility and mental health benefits it brings.

Each lesson/tour includes basic afternoon tea/refreshments immediately afterwards or out on the trail. There will be an opportunity for Q&A and participants are encouraged (but not obliged) to bring something along to share!

Hoys Skis are generously supporting this program by offering a special XC gear hire rate of $34 for relevant lesson/tour afternoons. Once you've booked your place, please check availability with Hoys in advance and show your Eventbrite ticket confirmation.

* Includes anyone residing (permanent/seasoners) and/or working at Hotham or Dinner Plain - proof may be requested.

Plastic-free July

Plastic-free July is a global initiative to reduce plastic waste. You can do your bit by choosing to refuse plastic and reduce your waste footprint.

Here at Hotham, we are committed to moving towards a circular economy, aiming to re-use and recycle as much as possible. We have already begun pulverizing glass waste generated on the mountain and reusing it to seal our roads and tracks. Since 2010 we have diverted food waste from landfill through the Living Bin Program. However, we need your help to continue to reduce our waste footprint.

It’s easy to make small changes to reduce your use of single-use plastic and choose plastic-free alternatives. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired:

• Remember to bring your reusable water bottle instead of buying a plastic one. There is a refilling station within the transit lounge.
• Remember to bring your reusable coffee cup and reusable shopping bags with you on your trip to Hotham.
• Find plastic free alternatives when buying groceries such as refusing pre-packaged fruit and vegetables or buying bulk foods. Choose loose leaf tea over tea bags, as unfortunately many tea bags contain plastic. Instead of using liquid soap in a plastic bottle choose bar soap.
• Got leftovers? Use alternatives to cling wrap such as reusable containers or beeswax wraps. Swap cling wrap with a plate when microwaving.

For more information and ideas about how you can help, visit plasticfreejuly.org.

Alpine Community Recovery Newsletter

The Alpine Community Recovery Committee (CRC) represents bushfire-affected communities across Alpine Shire, ensuring that local know-how and expertise are front and centre in longer term recovery planning.

Coordinated by Alpine Shire Council and Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV), the Alpine CRC is an essential link between communities, Council and other support organisations to assist with recovery and planning into the future.

The latest issue of the Alpine Community Recovery Newsletter is now available. 

For more information about the Alpine Community Recovery Committee, please visit https://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/alpine-community-recovery-committee