ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2012 Published by the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council, December 2012. Printed on stock that is FSC Mix Certified, which ensures that all virgin An electronic copy of this document is also available at arcc.vic.gov.au. pulp is derived from well-managed forests and controlled sources. It is For further information contact the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council, manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill. Phone: (03) 9637 9642. Acknowledgements: © The State of Victoria, Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council 2012. This Photo Credits: Images supplied courtesy of the Alpine Resort Management publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except Boards and lift companies at each mountain. in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by Victorian Government, Melbourne. Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council do not guarantee that Design by haildesign.com.au the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your Printed by Bambra Press 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. ISBN 978-1-74287-736-5 (print) ISBN 978-1-74287-737-2 (online) ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2012 Minister’s Foreword In accordance with the provisions of the Alpine Resorts (Management) Act 1997, the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council reviewed the previous strategy and prepared a draft Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 2012 (2012 Plan). The review and draft 2012 Plan were released for formal public consultation over the 2012 winter season. This plan has been informed by, and benefits significantly from, the comments and submissions made by stakeholders, both prior to and during the formal consultation process. The vision of this plan is that ‘Victoria’s alpine resorts will be vibrant, growing and environmentally sustainable places, delivering alpine recreational and tourism experiences that are available to all.’ Victoria’s alpine resorts – Falls Creek, Lake Mountain, The government recognises the critical importance of the Mount Baw Baw, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and alpine resorts as ‘economic engines’ within their regions Mount Stirling – are special and unique places in and Victoria, amply demonstrated by the bumper winter our environment. They are a significant recreational season in 2012 with up to 2 metres of snow and 1.5 million and tourism destination, immersed in the nationally visitor days recorded across the alpine resorts, and is significant Australian alps landscape. These alpine committed to implementation of this plan. resorts are visited by more than one million people I commend the 2012 Plan to you and encourage all with annually and in winter generate $570 million in Gross an interest in our alpine resorts to assist in their further State Product and approximately 5,800 jobs. The alpine development and use for the benefit of all Victorians. resorts are a major contributor to the State’s economy and to their surrounding regions, where much of the economic benefit and many of the jobs accrue. The Hon Ryan Smith Minister for Environment and Climate Change i ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2012 ii ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2012 Contents Abbreviations iv 3.4 Strategic Objective 3: Executive summary 1 Building partnerships 26 3.5 Strategic Objective 4: 1. Introduction 5 Respecting the alpine environment 28 1.1 Victoria’s alpine resorts 5 3.6 Strategic Objective 5: 1.2 Legislative foundation 6 Broadening access opportunities 31 1.3 This plan 6 3.6.1 Safety 32 3.7 Strategic Objective 6: 2. Context for the 2012 Plan 7 Regulatory reform 34 2.1 Visitors, visitor days 3.7.1 Enhancing resort strategic planning 34 and visitor satisfaction 7 3.7.2 Leasing issues 37 2.2 Events and off-season occupancy 10 3.7.3 Native vegetation offsets 37 2.3 Elements of infrastructure 10 3.7.4 Fire management 38 2.4 Environmental outcomes 11 2.5 Social outcomes/participation 11 4. Individual resorts 41 2.6 Economic/financial viability 13 4.1 Broad indicators and 2.6.1 State and ARMB outcomes 13 opportunities for development 41 2.6.2 Private sector stakeholders 14 4.2 Mount Baw Baw 43 4.3 Lake Mountain 44 3. Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 2012 15 4.4 Mount Hotham 45 3.1 Vision and strategic objectives 15 4.5 Falls Creek 46 3.2 Strategic Objective 1: 4.6 Mount Buller/Mount Stirling 47 Enhancing the visitor experience and developing resorts 17 4.6.1 Mount Buller 47 3.2.1 General tourism trends – 4.6.2 Mount Stirling 47 Australia and Victoria 17 4.7 Are all resorts equal? 48 3.2.2 Winter visitation 18 5. Financial model 3.2.3 Green season visitation 19 and investment opportunities 49 3.2.4 Marketing 19 5.1 Flaws in the current financial framework 49 3.3 Strategic Objective 2: 5.2 Victorian Alpine Resorts Delivering resort services Development Program 49 and infrastructure efficiently 5.3 New financial framework 51 and accountably 23 3.3.1 Infrastructure 23 6. Key governance issues 53 3.3.2 Community service obligations 24 6.1 A framework 53 3.3.3 Efficient operation 24 6.2 Strategic level challenges 54 6.3 Tactical level challenges 55 6.4 Operational level challenges 58 iii ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2012 Abbreviations AAV Aboriginal A airs Victoria CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific FSC Fire Services SSA State Services Authority ARC Alpine Resorts and Industrial Research Commissioner SV Sustainability Victoria Commission Organisation GRP Gross Regional Product TV Tourism Victoria ARCC Alpine Resorts CSO Community service GSP Gross State Product VARDP Victoria Alipne Resorts Co-ordinating Council obligation HV Heritage Victoria Development Program ARMB Alpine Resort DHS Department of Human KPI Key Performance VATORG Victorian Alps Traditional Management Board Services Indicator Owner Reference Group ASAA Australian Ski Areas DoH Department of Health KWC Keep Winter Cool VBRC Victorian Bushfires Royal Association DPCD Department of Planning LG Local Government Commission BART Board for Alpine Resorts and Community NAMA National Alpine Museum VCEC Victorian Competition Tourism Development of Australia and Eciency BMO Bushfire Management DSE Department of NIEIR National Institute of Commission Overlay Sustainability and Economic and Industry VP Victoria Police BMS Biodiversity Management Environment Research VPP Victorian Planning Strategy DTF Department of Treasury PV Parks Victoria Provisions CFA Country Fire Authority and Finance RDV Regional Development VSA Victorian Snowsports CG Commonwealth DWA Disabled Wintersport Victoria Association, formerly the Government Australia RTBs Regional Tourism Boards Victorian Ski Association CMA Catchment Management EPA Environment Protection RWMG Regional Waste WMO Wildfire Management Authority Authority Management Group Overlay CPI Consumer Price Index EVC Ecological Vegetation Class iv ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2012 Executive summary Introduction The Alpine Resorts (Management) Act 1997 (‘the Act’) requires the preparation of an Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan and its review by the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council (ARCC) every five years. This new Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 2012 (‘2012 Plan’) has been endorsed by the Victorian Government, following consideration of the outcomes of an extensive consultation process run by the ARCC. Context for the 2012 Plan A review of the previous plan (Alpine Resorts 2020 Strategy) has shown: • winter visitor days spent in alpine resorts are growing slowly but more quickly than Victorian domestic and regional tourism overall • green season visitor numbers are small but growing Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 2012 • alpine resorts continue to make significant economic and associated financial contributions to Victoria and The vision of the 2012 Plan is: to the regions in which they are located • current roles and responsibilities of Alpine Resort Victoria’s alpine resorts will be Management Boards (ARMBs) are not well aligned vibrant, growing and sustainable with their financial capabilities places, delivering alpine recreational • ARMB costs have been seen by users as having increased too quickly in recent years and tourism experiences that are • there is no industry level plan for public investment available to all. opportunities, with supporting business cases, to help promote further development and visitor growth • cost pressures are a major problem for many Six strategic objectives support pursuit of this vision, on-mountain businesses and site holders together with a financial and governance implementation • current key performance indicator processes for framework and a series of actions (see figure 1). environmental and social indicators are not achieving their purpose and need to be reviewed • the roles of key government agencies need to be clarified and better integrated, and accountabilities improved, to deliver the best outcomes for Victoria. 1 ALPINE RESORTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2012 Figure 1: Framework for Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 2012 1. ENHANCING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING RESORTS Winter is the ‘economic engine’ Green season – focus on strengths Integrated marketing framework Maximising value & yield 2. DELIVERING RESORT SERVICES 6. REGULATORY REFORM AND INFRASTRUCTURE EFFICIENTLY AND ACCOUNTABLY Strategic planning framework ECONOMIC Resort-specific master planning AND FINANCIAL Service delivery frameworks Native vegetation & BMO VIABILITY Long-term asset management