Mountain pygmy possum populations separated by the Great Alpine Road in Victoria will soon have a new, specially-designed tunnel to help them meet a mate. There is already one tunnel on the slopes of Little Higginbotham. The new one will be at Cherokee Corner. The project needs $300,000 of funding to make the tunnel a reality.
The following article is from Nicole Asher of the ABC.
Continue reading “Second tunnel at Mt Hotham to link Mountain pygmy possums”
Both the Lake Mountain and Baw Baw alpine resorts have been going through an extensive planning process and are in the final stages of seeking community input to the various options that have been identified for each resort.
Consultation has led to the creation of Future Direction Papers, which will inform the recommendations that are presented to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change.
Continue reading “Last week to have your say on the Mt Baw Baw and Lake Mountain 2030 project”
The Victorian government has announced a renewable energy project at Mt Stirling, which will allow the resort to switch its system from its current reliance on diesel. Additional commitments include toilets and ‘community shelters’ at Howqua Gap and the Machinery Shed, and an ‘all- weather access track’ from King Saddle to Machinery Shed.
Continue reading “Clean energy to power Mt Stirling facilities”
The Nordic Bowl, on the edge of the Falls Creek resort, has long been a play area for XC skiers and others to enjoy the snow.
The Falls Creek Resort Management (FCRM) proposes constructing a sporting oval and mixed use facility at the Nordic Bowl. An application for a planning permit has been submitted to the Minister for Planning Department of Environment Land and Water.
The following information comes from materials posted on the Backcountry Forum.
Continue reading “Proposed Falls Creek Altitude Training Centre at Nordic Bowl”
Lake Mountain Ski Patrol (LMSP) is gearing up for the 2016 winter season and has launched a recruitment drive for more volunteers to join its weekend team.
Volunteer patrollers need to be 18 years and older, and be fit, competent cross country skiers with a minimum Level 2 First Aid qualification.
Continue reading “Recruitment drive for Lake Mountain ski patrol”
Since 2008, the Mount Buller Mount Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board (MBMS ARMB) has been trying to build a Link Road between Mount Buller and Mount Stirling via Corn Hill. Mountain Journal has reported on this proposal.
In November 2015, the Planning Minister rejected the Link Road. And the Environment Minister stated “I don’t anticipate any further proposals of this nature.”
Now, Friends of Mt Stirling report:
Guess what ? We now have a new road across Corn Hill.
Mountain Journal has previously profiled Elizabeth MacPhee, who has been working to restore damaged sections of the NSW Alps since 1990.
She has worked to restore ski runs, walking tracks, grazing damage, post fire repair and damage from hydro electric schemes.
If you’re interested in the future of the alpine resorts in the NSW mountains and how they interact with the surrounding environment, you currently have an opportunity to comment on the management plan.
The Parks Service says:
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is looking at better ways to measure and regulate the environmental carrying capacity of alpine resorts in Kosciuszko National Park. Currently, carrying capacity is addressed using ‘bed limits’.
Continue reading “Managing development in the Kosciuszko alpine resorts”
As climate change bears down on us, winters become ever more erratic. This impacts on the economic viability of ski resorts and the jobs of people who rely on them. In their quest to remain commercially viable, most ski resorts are adopting the double edged strategy of claiming a space in the ‘green season’ tourism market while also investing in snow making technology. A small number are also showing leadership in terms of grappling with the actual problem of climate change. Sadly, no Australian resorts are in this category.
Here in Australia our resorts tend to be corporate owned. For instance Mt Hotham is owned by Merlin Entertainments Group, and Thredbo is owned by Kosciuszko Thredbo, which holds the lease for the areas of Thredbo Village and Thredbo Resort and runs a number of hotel and cinema operations around the world. US-based Vail Resorts has recently bought Perisher ski resort (this includes Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega). Some are run by boards (for instance Mt Buller).
The Thredbo example is indicative of a global trend, where smaller, sometimes community- or locally-owned resorts are either going under or being bought up by larger corporations.
As snow falls in Japan and the western half of North America, other regions haven’t been so lucky. Substantial snow is yet to arrive across much of Europe, and the situation isn’t much better in the north east of the USA.
As this story by Camila Domonoske from NPR shows, the lack of snow has an economic impact, as well as causing misery for skiers and riders.
The Jumbo Valley, located deep in the wilds of British Columbia’s Purcell Mountains, has long been revered for its spiritual significance and beauty. To the Ktunaxa Nation, it is known as Qat’muk, home of the grizzly bear spirit.
For decades, First Nations, conservationists, backcountry skiers and snowboarders have fought a proposed large-scale ski resort deep in the Jumbo valley. After 24 years of opposition, what more will it take to keep Jumbo wild for good?
Jumbo Wild is a beautiful film about the plan for – and the campaign against – this major development.
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