ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2020 – 2025 Responding to a changing climate Authorised and published by the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council 8 Nicholson Street East Melbourne, Victoria 3002 Copyright © The State of Victoria, Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council 2019. This works is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding, including the Victorian Government logo and the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en ISBN 978-1-76105-020-6 (Print) ISBN 978-1-76105-021-3 (pdf/online/MS word) A PDF copy of this document is available at www.arcc.vic.gov.au For further information on this publication contact the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council, phone (03) 9637 9642. Acknowledgements: Images courtesy of Falls Creek, Lake Mountain, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Mt Stirling and Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Boards. Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council and their employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2020-2025 1 Aboriginal Acknowledgement The Gunaikurnai, Taungurung We recognise the strength of We acknowledge that the land is and Wurundjeri are the First Aboriginal people despite the of spiritual, cultural and economic People of much of Victoria’s negative inter-generational importance to Aboriginal people. alpine resorts country. For impacts of past practices and We also recognise the intrinsic generations they have owned policies, some of which continue connection of Traditional Owners and managed the land. to be experienced today. to Country and acknowledge The Victorian Government their contribution in the We recognise and value acknowledges all the Traditional management of land, water, the the ongoing contribution Owners of Victoria’s alpine natural landscape and the built of Aboriginal people and resorts and pays its respects to environments. communities to Victorian life, their Elders past, present and and how this enriches us all. We We embrace the spirit of emerging. recognise that Aboriginal cultures reconciliation, working towards and communities are diverse, and the equality of outcomes and the value we gain in celebrating ensuring an equal voice. We have these cultures and communities. distinct legislative obligations to Traditional Land Owner groups that are paramount in our responsibilities in managing Victoria’s resources. The artist, Tom Day worked closely with the DELWP Aboriginal Staff network to create DELWP’s Aboriginal Cultural Identity Mirring – Country. Mirring represents the diverse Countries and landscapes across Victoria and the “scars that have been left within the landscape by our people” while at the same time reminding us of “our inherent responsibility to protect Country.” 2 ALPINE RESORTS CO-ORDINATING COUNCIL Minister’s Foreword The alpine resorts are a significant The current and future impacts part of our visitor economy, of climate change on our alpine drawing people from our cities resorts are well described in and towns, interstate and “The Potential Impacts of Climate overseas into the Victorian High Change on Victorian Alpine Country. In 2018-19 Victoria’s Resorts” study prepared for the alpine resorts generated over Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating 1.7 million visitor days, resulting Council in 2016. This study in over $1 billion in economic identifies that the short to output for the state. This activity medium-term future for Victoria’s created over 10,000 full time alpine resorts should still be job equivalents, making the based around snow visitation, alpine resorts major contributors with snow making supplementing Victoria’s alpine resorts are to regional investment and decreasing natural snowfall. nestled within the Alpine, employment. Yarra Ranges and Baw Baw In the medium to long-term, National Parks, providing As the population of greater Victoria’s alpine resorts must visitors with a unique and Melbourne continues to grow have a compelling and financially memorable experience unlike towards eight million, the demand viable visitor offering that is not any other in the state. The natural for safe, well-managed access entirely dependant on snow- environment continues to be to our natural environment will based visitation. The Victorian identified by visitors as the most grow with it. Victoria’s alpine Government recognises this is a important value associated resorts, with their high-quality significant challenge, a challenge with our alpine resorts and infrastructure, are uniquely that requires investigation and is fundamental to the alpine placed to help meet this demand. collaboration across government, experience. The challenge is to Those resorts located closest to business, Traditional Owners ensure that the unique alpine Melbourne have already seen and the community to ensure environmental values are significant increases in day the resorts continue to provide conserved for current and future visitation, which brings specific significant economic and generations, while allowing for challenges, as well as future social benefits to the state and the use and enjoyment of the opportunities. Managing the surrounding communities. impacts of increased visitation resorts by all Victorians. The vision presented in this requires long-term planning strategic plan, The Victorian As well as places of natural across government to ensure that alpine resorts achieve their beauty, the Victorian Alps are as community needs change, potential as thriving and places of cultural significance government response continues sustainable destinations for to Aboriginal people. This plan to be appropriately targeted. outlines our commitment to mountain activities and partner with the Traditional The United Nations Sustainable nature-based tourism, reflects Owners of Victoria’s alpine resorts Development Goals (SDGs) is an an ongoing need to support the land and to work collaboratively important framework for change, alpine resorts to deliver a high in a way that is consistent with identifying opportunities and quality, snow-based snow season the principle of self-determination guiding growth. Through this plan experience while continuing to and the terms of current the alpine resorts are contributing transition to being year-round and future Recognition and to achieving the SDGs by destinations that are resilient and Settlement Agreements. addressing the challenges of adaptive to a changing climate. inequality, climate change, environmental degradation and economic prosperity. Lily D’Ambrosio MP Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2020-2025 3 Contents Aboriginal Acknowledgments 1 Minister’s Foreword 2 Executive Summary 4 Vision Statement: 6 Strategic Objectives 6 Background 7 About the Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 7 Implementation of the Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 10 Victoria’s alpine resorts 10 Context for this plan 14 Economic significance of Victoria’s alpine resorts 16 How this plan was prepared 18 Climate Change Risk Disclosure and Scenario Analysis 19 Our commitments and obligations to our Traditional Owner partners 23 Strategic Objective 1 – Enable investment that drives sustainable businesses within a prosperous regional economy 26 Strategic Objective 2 – Protect and enhance the mountain environment 28 Strategic Objective 3 – Enhance the visitor experience 30 Strategic Objective 4 – Implement practical policy and regulatory reform 32 Developing and strengthening partnerships through collaboration and communication 36 Monitoring, reporting and review 38 Abbreviations 39 Recommended reading 40 4 ALPINE RESORTS CO-ORDINATING COUNCIL Executive Summary Our alpine resorts hold a special snowfall. Snow making and other and resort transport are the place in the hearts of Victorians. snow management techniques most constrained, with further During the 2018/19 year over provide a buffer against these investment required if the resorts 1.4 million people visited at impacts but cannot completely are to effectively meet this least one of the six resorts, with address all the risks associated increased demand. around 75% of those being with a changing climate. Managing the impact of visitation Victorian residents. Interstate The Alpine Resort Management on the natural environment is also and international visitors are also Boards (ARMBs), that manage the a priority. About one third of the enjoying our resorts in increasing resorts on behalf of the Victorian state’s total rare and threatened numbers, bringing significant Government, have an obligation species are found in the Victorian economic benefits to regional to disclose these risks and what Alps, including the Mountain economies. This level of visitation is being done to manage them, to Pygmy Possum and Baw Baw is comparable with many of investors and other stakeholders. Frog. Biodiversity 2037 is the Victoria’s world-famous visitor This will be a priority action over Victorian Government’s policy to attractions, with the dual benefits the 5-year term of this