Ski lift (left) and summer activities (top) at Mt Buller (top) and a skier at Mt Hotham (above).
The Lift the Alps Need With a single board now in place to assist in managing all six of Victoria’s alpine resorts, Gwen Luscombe speaks with Ali Wastie, the newly appointed Chair of Alpine Resorts Victoria, for insight into the board’s direction, agenda and aspirations rom 1st October this year, the four management boards Frepresenting Victoria’s six alpine resorts (Falls Creek, Mount Baw Baw, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham, Mount Stirling and Lake Mountain), along with the former Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council (ARCC) were replaced by a single, government-appointed agency, Alpine Resorts Victoria. The move was two-fold; designed to provide an improved strategic leadership to grow the billion-dollar Victorian alpine sector and support its response to the impacts of climate change. While the decision was announced back in April, the original boards continued to operate until October this year to minimise any disruption to the 2022 snow season. Following its inaugural meeting, Board Chair Ali Wastie the Chief Executive of Bass Coast Shire Council and a board member at South Gippsland Hospital, Destination Phillip Island, Destination Gippsland and Bass Coast Country University – introduced the board, its direction and key areas of focus. 54 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 153
Accepting that Alpine Resorts Victoria has an ambitious list of tasks, Wastie explains that she and the board collectively are optimistic, declaring “a single unified board will be able to identify synergies across the six alpine resorts and better prioritise and coordinate advocacy and funding initiatives.” She notes that the board “will allow for maximisation of planning and coordination efforts while maintaining and celebrating the unique aspects that each resort has. “Establishing the Stakeholder Reference Committees for each of the six alpine resorts at Falls Creek, Mount Baw Baw, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham, Mount Stirling and Lake Mountain is an important task (with) expressions of interest for these committees already out. “A subcommittee of the Board has been established and this will ensure stakeholder interests, concerns and ideas are tabled at each Board Meeting.” Also on the agenda, Wastie explains, is “building relationships and connections with traditional owners, commercial and public sector entities at all levels of Government and individuals who have interests and passion for our alpine resorts. “Since being appointed I have reached out to many people in the industry and have had several one-on-one meetings and meetings with our new Chief Executive, Amber Gardner.
