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  • Donate to XCSAV

Help us and take action

Keep up with what has been going on and how you can help us stop the Alpine Resorts Commission clearing the Bogong High Plains Road.

Read the missing documentation that was not included in the planning permit application.

Read it now!

object to the anare shed planning permit ASAP

Object to summer and winter use of the ANARE shed planning permit - PA2201858

We strongly encourage you if you have additional objections to the new documentation submitted in the ANARE planning permit to lodge another objection (Note - Your initial objection still holds and will be evaluated as part of the planning approval process). Below are some key points that you can incorporate into your objection letter. 


Object on the grounds of environmental impacts.

  •  In the SEMP (one of the documents submitted by ARV)  it outlines “A small area of impact will occur to Alpine Bog vegetation behind the ANARE shed, which is listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 199 (EPBC Act).”  Alpine Peat Bogs are crucial for providing habitat and for modulating water-flow and maintaining hydrology of surrounding environments. Peat bogs also store organic matter on millennial timescales but can also potentially release large carbon stores to the environment if damaged.    Any impact to the Alpine Peat bogs on Lakeside is not acceptable as they are protected.
  • The proposed plans will not protect the range of threatened fauna including Alpine She-oak Skink, Broad-toothed Rat, Tussock Skink, Mountain Pygmy- possum and Gang Gang Cockatoo observed by Biosis in the area. These species are listed under the EPBC Act and/or FFG Act. Relocating wildlife including staged habitat removal to ‘minimise the risk of wildlife mortality’ is not acceptable for a development that is not required. 


The development is not appropriate for an Alpine Environment

  • Carparks e.g. Wallace's Hut on the other side of the dam in the National Park are not sealed surfaces and are constructed of crushed stone/gravel.  They fit more into the landscape and more appropriate for a natural alpine environment.  Gravel carparks are also permeable which should help protect the listed alpine peat bogs in the surrounding area.  Gravel also holds the snow better than asphalt and will not act as a heat sink when snow thins. 
  • As the Alpine Resorts Commission has confirmed that they are not going to clear the road over winter so there is no requirement for a sealed surface for road clearing purposes and no requirement (as outlined in the planning permit) of using it as Kangaroo Hoppet overflow parking - so the maximum number of carparks they should be providing is 40. This should be catered for with the existing car parking available during summer and without the need for earthworks to create an official a new parking area.  No carpark development would significantly reduce earthworks and the removal of vegetation that is occupied habitat for the Broad-toothed Rat and potentially other threatened species.  Overflow parking would be catered for using the current gravel car trails towards the boat ramp. Rocks or fencing placed at strategic locations would stop the issue of uncontrolled parking on verges and associate damage.  
  • The building while being promoted as eco-friendly will be a cavernous space that will be expensive to heat majority of the year. It has not been designed to manage the high winds and driven snow the south facing alpine environment at Falls Creek experiences.


Object on the grounds that there are better options and they have not been adequately explored.

  • A development like this would be better located at Windy Corner where there is easy access to sewerage and other services, located within easy walk of the village, could potentially serve multiple communities including mountain bikers, downhill skiers, cross country skiers, walkers, researchers because it could be designed with larger multi use facilities. It could be built to be accessible to all users and minimise environmental impact because there is already a carpark on the site.
  • It's not appropriate to store and truck sewerage regularly out from the ANARE development as it increases the numbers heavy vehicles on the Bogong High Plains Road.
  • The Falls Creek Master Plan is not an ‘internal reference document’ as per the response from Falls Creek.  It went through rigorous public consultation, was tabled in Parliament, is signed by the Minister for the Environment and is an incorporated document in the Alpine Resorts Planning Scheme. 


Raise a concern that there is a lack of transparency about ANARE shed usage over winter.

  • There is potential that as soon as this development is completed Alpine Resorts Victoria will put pressure on to clear the road and use it for winter usage because it is not economically viable venue just to run just in summer.
  • There is also no transparency by Alpine Resorts Victoria about use of the building over winter in the planning permit now that Alpine Resorts Victoria has said how they are not going to clear the road “...until the facility has been redeveloped and there is a clear understanding of how the site should be optimally operated and accessed, grooming of the road for cross country skier and trail walker usage will remain.”

  

How to lodge an objection... 


Use the template below and add the relevant points above you object to.  


Submit it ideally before 3rd August but objections will continue to be accepted until the responsible authority makes a decision on the permit.


Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the responsible authority by email to development.approvals@delwp.vic.gov.au or by post to

Attention: Michael Dafnomilis, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne, VIC 3002. 


An objection must: 

  • be made to the Responsible Authority in writing,
  • include the reasons for the objection, and
  • state how the objector would be affected. 


The responsible authority will not decide on the application before: 3rd August. 


Recent ARV announcement

In the recent announcement from Alpine Resorts Victoria they stated that "ARV has determined that there is insufficient information available to ascertain if there is an operational requirement for the Bogong High Plains Road to be cleared. This includes information about potential visitor trends associated with winter usage of the site, and ascertaining whether there is commercial interest in operating the site over winter that needs to be supported via cleared road access. Therefore, until the facility has been redeveloped and there is a clear understanding of how the site should be optimally operated and accessed, grooming of the road for cross country skier and trail walker usage will remain."    This means that Alpine Resorts Victoria could do an about-face and put pressure on to clear the road if they have any business case they deem as strong.

See the permit application

sample objection template

Letter of Objection to PA2201858 - [TEMPLATE DOCUMENT] (docx)

Download

Keep up-to-date

XCSAV have been busy fighting the winter clearing of the BHP road.  Find out what we have been up to...

  • ANARE planning permit application update.
  • An update by our president on the consultation on the road clearing by Alpine Resorts Victoria.
  • Media stories that have been published.

Find out more

no road clearing

Understand the issues

ADVOCATE VIA EMAIL

Advocate that the Bogong High Plains Road should not to be cleared during winter.

The information on this website will help you identify your key concerns about the proposal and then emails can be sent to all the stakeholders listed below.

Chairperson of Alpine Resorts Victoria - Ali Wastie

Email to protest about the lack of real consultation and proper process, and the impact on our  XC ski trail network via ali.wastie@alpineresorts.vic.gov.au 

email ali wastie

Amber Gardner, CEO of Alpine Resorts Victoria

Amber Gardner, CEO of Alpine Resorts Victoria  amber.gardner@alpineresorts.vic.gov.au 

Email Amber Gardner

Minister for Environment - Hon. Ingrid Stitt MLC

The Alpine Resorts are in Ingrid Stitt's portfolio.  Email Ingrid Stitt to protest  about our XC ski trail network being destroyed, lack of eco credentials and poor of consultation via    Ingrid.stitt@parliament.vic.gov.au .  Or write:


Tenancy 2, 80 Carmody Drive  Cairnlea VIC 3023 

Email Ingrid Stitt

The Minister for Planning - Hon. Sonya Kilkenny

The ANARE shed application approval is within the remit of the Minister for Planning.  Email Sonya Kilkenny on Reception.kilkenny@transport.vic.gov.au.  Or write to 

Level 16  8 Nicholson Street  East Melbourne Victoria, 3002.

email Hon. Sonya Kilkenny

The member for Ovens Valley - Tim McCurdy MP

 Falls Creek Resort is located in the state seat of Oven Valley.  Email the local member to protest  the lack of real community and stakeholder consultation, transparency, proper process, and the impact on our world class XC ski trail network via tim.mccurdy@parliament.vic.gov.au.

EMail Tim McCurdy MP

The Independent Member for Indi - Helen Haines MP

Falls Creek Resort is located in the federal seat of Indi.  Email the local member to protest  the lack of real community and stakeholder consultation, transparency, proper process, and the impact on our world class XC ski trail network via helen.haines.mp@aph.gov.au.


EMail helen haines MP

The Minister for Tourism, Sport & Major Events - Mr Steve Dimopoulos

Email the Victorian Minister to advocate for the sport of XC skiing and our world class XC ski trail network.  Protest the lack of consultation and marginalisation of XC skiers who are the major user group via  Reception.Dimopoulos@ecodev.vic.gov.au

Email Steve Dimopoulos

Parks Victoria

Email to protest about their support for the winter use of the ANARE shed (the proposed trail head of the Hotham to Falls Creek walking track) and the impact it will have on cross country ski trail network.  Alert National Parks Victoria about the potential risks of inexperienced visitors heading into the Alpine National Park via info@parks.vic.gov.au. 

EMail Parks victoria

Snow Australia

Email the Executive requesting Snow Australia advocate for the sport of XC skiing and our world class XC ski trail network at Falls Creek.  Protest the impact of clearing the Bogong High Plains Road on grass roots, club events, teaching space, citizen races and the FIS homologated course. Protest the poor level of consultation and the marginalisation of XC skiers who are the major user group via info@snow.org.au

Email Snow Australia

Reach out to the media

  • Email This Week in Falls Creek https://thisweekinfallscreek.com.au/contact
  • https://www.abc.net.au/goulburnmurray/contact-us
  • https://aceradio.com.au/contact/
  • North East Media via edit.chronicle@nemedia.com.au (also edit.timesobserver@nemedia.com.au and alpinenews@nemedia.com.au)

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Share a poster or Map

Download the poster and the map below.  Print out, post on a wall and share with others.

Map - lost XC ski terrain (pdf)

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Poster - Save Falls Creek XC (pdf)

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sign the petition

visit change.org

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