JULY ISSUE, 2013 ople
HITTING THE FIRST RUN OF SEASON
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SNOWBOARDER Damon Thomas, 15, headed to Falls Creek on June 16 for the opening of the beginners run ‘Mouse Trap’, and he was one of many skiers and boarders hitting their first turn of winter on the day. PHOTO: Chris Hocking
2 VALIANT SERVICE Opening weekend was a tfitting time to pay tribute to Falls Creek’s SES volunteers.
4 FAST FEMALES Falls Creek will have an event this month for female cross country skiers with a need for speed.
Mountain of public input to guide Falls By SIMON CRASE scrase@nenews.com.au
7 SNOW DOCTOR Dr Mark Zagorski gets some well deserved recognition for 30 years serving the alpine region.
index Big opening weekend 2, 5, 6 Alpine real estate Calendar of events
10 9, 11
A PIVOTAL document outlining a strategic vision for the Falls Creek resort has been crafted on the back of a mountain of public consultation. ‘Pathway to the Future’ has been finalised and released to the public this month after a lengthy and extensive process, which Falls Creek Resort Management Board (RMB) chief executive officer (CEO) David Herman has hailed as being a resounding success to this point. He is confident the strategic vision will be the most inclusive document RMB has produced and will be a guide for the resort for the next five to 10 years.
“Falls Creek RMB was really committed to giving it a significant level of community consultation,” he said. In mid-May, RMB contacted about 250 stakeholders taking in Falls Creek and neighboring areas to garner thoughts, suggestions and ideas to make the ‘Pathway to the Future’ as comprehensive as possible. Mr Herman said the decision was taken to extend the consultation process over the opening weekend (June 8-10) because there were a lot of people coming to the resort with a strong connection to the place and it was important as many people could have a say if they desired to have input. At Falls Creek, the unique points of
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
difference provided a foundation for the strategic direction, including the village being the only ski-in-ski-out village, the country’s largest cross-country ski trail network and Rocky Valley Lake. When completed, the consultation phase attracted 35 formal submissions to be worked into the draft ‘Pathway to the Future’ plan and the feedback and comments were very encouraging. “We feel that’s a pretty good number and are pleased with receiving the feedback with a commitment to taking it on board,” Mr Herman said. He said the RMB, stakeholders and Falls Creek had made “huge strides in the last 12 months” and come together knowing the key to success in the fu-
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ture was a collaborative approach. “It was essential for us everyone was on the same page and heading in the one direction,” Mr Herman said. ‘Pathway to the Future’ comes at a time when resorts need to ensure their planning can maximise the potential and the resorts can meet greater State Government scrutiny and the key parameters imposed to engender efficiencies within the industry. With Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith, announcing the need for each resort to create a masterplan, Mr Herman said the ‘Pathway to the Future’ would complement the yet-to-be devised Falls Creek masterplan due in the next 12 to 18 months.