16 November, 2007
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Mother Nature's air conditioner is just one of the reasons visitors from the big smoke head to the hills in the warmer summer months.
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Mother Nature's air conditioner is just one of the reasons visitors from the big smoke head to the hills in the warmer summer months.
The high country is one of the cooler, more agreeable places to be in Victoria during the height of summer. It is about 12 degrees cooler (local folklore is one degree per 100 metres between Mt Beauty at 400 metres and Rocky Valley Lake at Falls Creek at 1600 metres) during the daytime in the alpine resorts such as Falls Creek.
The cool climes of the mountains offer numerous opportunities to see first-hand the marvellous handiwork of Mother Nature. The alpine meadows are a mass of wild, colourful flowers, which can only be found on the Bogong High Plains.
There are several, not-to-be -missed, places visitors to the Alps should see and experience. Halfway up the road to Falls Creek is Bogong Village, set on the banks of Lake Guy.
It was originally established as the camp site for workers on the hydro-electric scheme in 1938. Following completion of the hydro scheme the entire village was sold to the public.
Quaint cabins are nestled amongst terraced gardens and an array of native and introduced flora. The gardens take on a cool and leafy green appearance in summer and then transform into a spectacular blaze of colour in autumn.
Anglers can try their luck fly-fishing in Lake Guy or the numerous crystal-clear waterways that run into Rocky Valley Lake just beyond Falls Creek, or in nearby Pretty Valley Lake.
Mountain bikers can explore the alpine environment on roadways and tracks that feed extend from the alpine resort and on to the high plains.
Bushwalkers can choose from a myriad of trails, many of which end up at historic mountain cattlemen's huts such as the most accessible (and oldest) Wallace's Hut, 400m off the Bogong High Plains Rd 8km from Falls Creek.
There is also a little known walk to some spectacular water falls about 200m before reaching the Falls Creek rock wall entry sign on the Bogong High Plains Rd. Rejuvenated after the 2003 bushfires, the Falls Creek falls are just a 300m round trip or about 10 minutes on foot.
If you don't want to get out of the car, you can drive to the top of Mt McKay, Australia's highest driveable spot at more than 1800m above sea level.
Restaurants and coffee shops are open in the village offering everything from a gourmet meal to a takeaway pie.
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13 October, 2007
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Falls Creek Supports Australia’s Ultimate Single Day Cycling Event to Raise Money for Redkite
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 Some of Australia’s toughest riders will set out to tackle the country’s ultimate single day cycling event, the Sea to Summit Challenge 2007 in aid of Redkite, a leading Australian childhood cancer support charity, on 17 November, 2007. The event covers some 240km and climbs 5,500 metres from sea level at Merimbula to the highest point in Australia, Mt Kosciuszko, in just a single day.
Put into perspective, this cycling event is tougher than many mountain stages of the Tour de France. Now in its second year, the event raised more than $40,000 in 2006 with nine riders, this year doubling to include 18 riders from all walks of life and from around Australia including Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Mt Beauty, Albury, Ballarat and Hobart.
This year however, the team also includes Australian Solo 24 hour Mountain Bike Champion, Kim McCormack and U19 Cross Country Mountain Bike Oceania Champion, Paul van der Ploeg who are sure to encourage and provide inspiration to other members of the team.
This is a not-for-profit event that gives ordinary people the opportunity to make extraordinary achievements while raising much needed funds and awareness for childhood cancer. The event has received invaluable support from corporate and personal sponsors, without whom, the event would not be possible – Carrington, Netti, Falls Creek, Kennards Hire, Mt Beauty Foodworks, Mt Beauty Medical Centre, McMillan Shakespeare, Subway Merimbula, Cycling Australia and National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW (Kosciuszko).
All funds raised will assist Redkite to continue supporting children, young people and their families through the difficult journey of childhood cancer by providing essential emotional support, financial relief and educational services.
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Enquiries:
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Damian Heman, Sea to Summit Challenge 2007 Organiser:
M 0400 446 635
E info@s2schallenge.com.au
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13 October, 2007
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FALLS CREEK BOARD WILL WORK WITH STATE SERVICES AUTHORITY TO ACHIEVE BEST OUTCOME FOR RESORT
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The Acting Chairperson of the Falls Creek Alpine Resort Management Board, David Shaw, today issued the following statement in response to the announcement by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Jennings, that the State Services Authority would review institutional, governance and accountability arrangements for the Alpine Resort Management Boards and the Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council.
“Falls Creek Alpine Resort Management Board will work with the State Services Authority to achieve the best outcomes for Falls Creek stakeholders and the wider community. The Board will ensure that the Authority has the benefit of the Board’s knowledge of the way the current Board structure has operated in Falls Creek. The Board will encourage Falls Creek stakeholders to be a part of this process. The Board nevertheless accepts that any proposals for new governance structures are matters for the Government.
The Board agrees with the Minister’s observation that each resort should have “a tailored structure to reflect its individual needs”. Under the existing arrangements, the Board has facilitated the continuing rejuvenation of Falls Creek, and the development amongst all stakeholders of a common direction and distinct brand. The Board has also continued to protect the unique alpine environment of Falls Creek in the best interests of all Victorians.”
Enquiries:
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David Shaw
Falls Creek Resort Management
03 5758 3224
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12 October, 2007
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KPMG Report result welcomed by Falls Creek Board
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The Falls Creek Alpine Resort Management Board today welcomed the result of the KPMG internal audit of expense reimbursement policies and procedures of Falls Creek Resort Management.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Board, Mr Ross Passalaqua, said the Board had already implemented all the recommendations – except one – of the KPMG report.
“We are pleased to have confirmed by KPMG that the internal audit has found no wrongful claims, no deliberate breaches of policy or procedures, and no evidence of inappropriate payments or misappropriation,” he said. “This was after the auditors examined every expense reimbursement claim of senior staff and board members over a two-year period.
Mr Passalaqua said Falls Creek is committed to good governance and continuous improvement to systems and procedures to achieve this.
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Enquiries:
Ross Passalaqua
Falls Creek Resort Management
03 5758 3224
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