SEPTEMBER ISSUE, 2013 ople
Back to back for hard working Russian
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Russian Alexander Legkov made it back-to-back Kangaroo Hoppet wins, the World Cup distance champion taking the 2013 victory ahead of fellow countrymen Ilya Chernousov and Alexey Chernousov last Saturday at Falls Creek. Legkov had a solid battle in a group of four, including Australia’s Callum Watson, but he pulled away from the pack to cross the finish line in first place. PHOTO: Matt Hull
2 YOUNG RACERS Falls Creek Primary School rejoices its Interschool success.
6 SNOW DOGS Celebrating 20 years of racing in the snow.
Hotham’s future to be secured by plan By SIMON CRASE scrase@nenews.com.au
8 SOCHI OLYMPICS Mogulist Britteny Cox and alpine racer Greta Small press their case for selection.
index Endangered species
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Calendar of events
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Alpine real estate
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A NEW five-year plan will be one of four key documents pivotal to the direction of Hotham resort into the future, as resort management look to build on major plans and existing infrastructure achievements. The draft Strategic Management Plan 2013-18 was created in the wake of Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith calling on all alpine resorts in Victoria to have an increased industrywide approach as part of overall reform. Resort leaseholders within Hotham Resort, as well as stakeholders, were also consulted for their view on the plan’s formulation, and two public presentations were delivered in July. The six objectives contained in the Al-
pine Resorts Strategic Plan 2012 also feed into the strategic management plan. Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board (RMB) broke the plan into three designated themes: Hotham Is, Hotham Wants To Be, and Hotham Will, as a way of outlining the ‘High On Hotham’ strengths, vision, key targets and how these will be achieved. These include enhancing visitor experience, creating partnerships, broadening access opportunities and delivering resort services and infrastructure with efficiency and accountability. Implementation and assessment of the plan over the five-year period will occur on a yearly basis and will be recorded in the annual report. Looking to the future, RMB views the separation of pedestrians and skiers from
PINE G AL IA N I L D LEA TRA S A I N AU S I X O TICE SSC T R E P R AC W LA
motorists as a high strategic priority for the effective and safe operation of the resort. According to the draft plan, the relocation of the Great Alpine Road is considered to be a fundamental requirement if the resort is to create a viable village heart, including residential and commercial development, on land once used as the GAR route. RMB states its vision and mission is to deliver the premier alpine resort and maintaining it as the mountain of choice for serious skiers and riders. It is looking to expand the number of accommodation beds to 7000 and provide for all visitor budgets. Attracting visitors in ‘non-winter’ will be a focus and continued promotion of the area as a destination for walking trails, festivals, four-wheel driving and cycling,
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and encouraging businesses to operate in these times. Other aims include designing a multipurpose leisure centre and completing the plans for the visitor information/civic centre A carpark redevelopment at Wire Plain to create more capacity is hoped to occur in two years, and within the term of the plan, RMB will pursue funding opportunities for wind farming. In terms of tourism, research will be undertaken to achieve clarity on the needs and desires of visitors, as well as reviewing industry research to ensure it is current and indicative of the industry’s needs. The Hotham Strategic Management Plan will be finalised once all public submissions about the draft have been considered.