The long running saga around plans to redevelop the ANARES building near Rocky Valley dam and close to Falls Creek ski resort enters a new phase, with a hearing in Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) starting on October 9.

The case is being brought by Cross Country Skiing Association Victoria (XCSAV), Victoria’s peak community group of cross country skiers, because they feel the proposal will ‘gut  Falls Creek’s ski trail network and will jeopardise Australia’s biggest ski race, the Kangaroo Hoppet’.

Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV) is seeking a planning permit to:

  • redevelop the ANARE Shed site at the Lakeside Precinct at Falls Creek; and
  • build a 74-space sealed carpark, in the middle of a key ski trail.

The shed is intended to contain a café or restaurant, but ARV has not secured an operator. ARV has said it intends to clear Bogong High Plains Road, the main artery of the Falls Creek trail network, to allow people to park cars out at the site in winter, an exposed area subject to severe weather. This is what has really driven community opposition as the Bogong High Plains road is closed in winter at the top of the Falls Creek village and forms the basis of the cross country trail network and provides skiers access to the High Plains.

 

In a media release, XCSAV say they oppose the application for two main reasons:

First, the proposal is inconsistent with the objectives of the alpine resorts planning scheme, which seek to protect ski facilities in Victoria’s Alpine Resorts. This proposal will likely lead to the cancellation of the Kangaroo Hoppet International Ski Marathon and will mean that Falls Creek, home of the Australian National Team, loses its internationally-certified race courses;

Second, the proposal, particularly the removal of vegetation to build a carpark, will have unacceptable impacts on threatened and endangered species such as the broad-toothed rat, endangered alpine skinks and the iconic mountain pygmy possum, all of which have been recorded at the subject site.

 

Sandra Paul, President of XCSAV says

“Alpine Resort Victoria are trying to destroy our winter wonderland of ski trails by clearing the Bogong High Plains Road to allow access to the ANARE shed development. Why pave paradise to put up a parking lot!”

 

The hearing is scheduled at Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, 55 King Street Melbourne from 10am to 4pm 9 to 17 October, and 30 October to 1 November. XCSAV will begin presenting its case on 9 October and will likely finish on 11 October. The hearing is open to members of the public.

 

XCSAV has fundraised in excess of $40,000 from members of the XC ski community to run this appeal. It is represented by barristers Will Houghton KC and Andrew Walker, and solicitors Marcus Lane Group.

There is a background post on this issue available here.

The website for this campaign can be found here.