Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group up and running |
The Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group is comprised of representatives from the Alpine Shire Council; Tourism North East; Community Action for the Chalet, a community group established to help preserve the Chalet; a local heritage architect and tourism operator; and senior representatives from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Parks Victoria.
The group is working collaboratively with Parks Victoria to provide strategic advice about the future of Mount Buffalo National Park, including the Chalet, to Parks Victoria’s Chief Executive, Bradley Fauteux and ensure the best possible visitor experience on the mountain for years to come.
Mr Fauteux said the future of the park requires thoughtful consultation and planning with the local community. Parks Victoria is looking holistically at the visitor experience at the park through a number of initiatives, what drives people here, and how we can increase visitation.
“The Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group play an important role in assisting Parks Victoria to develop Mount Buffalo as a complete and unique tourism destination, of which the Chalet is naturally a part,” Mr Fauteux said.
Opportunities for the community to work with the Advisory Group and Parks Victoria to determine the longer-term destination priorities for Mount Buffalo National Park are being planned. Up-to-date information on the visitor improvement projects underway at Mount Buffalo National Park will be available shortly on www.parks.vic.gov.au/mountbuffaloprojects
The Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group members are:
• Mayor Ron Janas, Alpine Shire Council
• David Jacobson, Chair, Community Action for the Chalet (CAC)
• Amber Gardner, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism North East
• Janelle Boynton, Local heritage building specialist
• Clare Kiely, Regional Director, DELWP
• Ty Caling, Acting Regional Director, Parks Victoria.
Amber Gardner, spokesperson for the Advisory Group, said that while a number of committees have considered the future of the Chalet, it has largely occurred independently from the broader destination offering.
"The new Advisory Group is looking to address this issue by reviewing the future of Mount Buffalo as a complete and unique tourism destination, of which the Chalet is naturally a part. It is envisaged this holistic approach will deliver more sustainable tourism outcomes for Mount Buffalo," Ms Gardner said.
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