THE six Victorian alpine resorts are currently managed by four Resort Management Boards – Mt Buller and Mt Stirling, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, and Southern Resorts (Mt Baw Baw and Lake Mountain).
These boards are responsible for resort vision and strategy, stakeholder engagement, governance, compliance, master planning, marketing, assets, and the delivery of effective and efficient services including public facilities, roads, carparks, potable water, sewage, waste, recycling, ski patrol and medical services.
Earlier this year, the Victorian Government passed legislation that will merge these four boards into a new entity called Alpine Resorts Victoria which is expected to commence on October 1, 2022.
The recent 2022–23 state budget included $5 million to assist Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV) in its first year of operation.
This will be used to support transition to the new structure including combining functions, systems, technologies, contracts and processes across all alpine resorts.
The government sees this change as the starting point for securing Victoria's alpine future.
"The leadership of Alpine Resorts Victoria will be well placed to advocate for the sector and determine priorities for future investment, including capital projects that will help to attract visitors and safeguard the financial viability of the resorts in the face of climate change," a government representative said.
"Over time, Alpine Resorts Victoria is expected to achieve savings through improved coordination, efficiencies of scale and reduced duplication.
"A single entity will also allow a strategic, coordinated approach to resort management focused on the longer–term interests of the sector as a whole, while maintaining, leveraging and enhancing the unique characteristics of each resort for the benefit of their visitors and stakeholders."
Jacqui Jennings is chair of the Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Resort Management Board and a member of the ARV Project Control Group.
She explained that she's keenly aware the change could result in the new organisation being focused on the transition processes for the initial period rather than on the specific forward strategies of each resort.
"That's why the Resort Management Board produced 5–year Strategic Management Plans for Mt Buller and for Mt Stirling in the past 12 months, and is pushing ahead with key projects that are important to the future of both resorts," Ms Jennings said.
"We want to help maintain the momentum in improving the resorts through the change to Alpine Resorts Victoria."
Socrates Pilipasidis, president of the Mt Buller Chamber of Commerce, said that the chamber supports the change to ARV s as long as it comes with a sustainable funding model.
"For years the Resort Management Boards have struggled to achieve their legislated requirements of adapting to climate change, becoming viable year–round resorts, and preserving and enhancing their assets. It all comes down to money," he said.
"The change to ARV needs to address the question of funding if any progress is to be made in those three important areas."
Joel Dixon, president of the Mt Buller Ratepayers Association, agrees.
"I'm one of many people involved in the ARV Stakeholder Reference Group, and provide input on behalf of the association," Mr Dixon said.
"While we support the change to bring consistency in areas like leasing, financial management, IT systems and policies, a new funding model is key.
"We also hope this change increases the chances of the government investing in critical infrastructure to help the resorts become year–round destinations and employ significantly more people in regional Victoria."
A call for expressions of interest to become a director of the new ARV board closed in May and the government is expected to announce the successful candidates by early August.
Applications for the role of ARV chief executive officer closed on June 29 and a shortlist of candidates is expected to be available for the new ARV board to consider during August so that the role can be filled by October 1.