Work is underway on the Andrews Labor Government-funded business case and action plan to help realise Mount Buffalo’s potential to become a year-round destination for visitors.
In Bright to progress the work today, Chair of the Mt Buffalo Taskforce Danielle Green said she was optimistic about the future of tourism in Victoria’s High Country.
In December last year, following community discussion at the Ovens Murray Regional Assembly, the Labor Government announced a $200,000 grant for Alpine Shire Council to assess seven tourism concepts identified in the ‘Vision for Mount Buffalo’ plan.
Prepared by the Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group, the plan identifies a ‘whole of mountain’ approach to reinvigorate the mountain as a year-round tourism destination.
The Taskforce has engaged a consultant to complete the business case assessment of the seven concepts including:
- The Gorge and Chalet Village precinct as the primary visitor area, containing a range of tourism experiences
- Lake Catani as the area for camping
- Dingo Dell as the destination’s new centre for outdoor education
- Cresta Valley as the mountain’s day lodge and activity precinct
- The base of the mountain for a Mountain Gateway visitor centre.
Over the coming months, work will focus on exploring the potential demand, analysing target markets, identifying potential investors and operators, and understanding commercial opportunities.
The funding was provided through the $103 million Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund designed to help grow and realise the potential of regional Victoria’s visitor economy which attracts more than 14 million domestic and international visitors every year.
Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary Danielle Green
“We are not interested in band-aid solutions but a long-term approach to securing the viability of the mountain as a year-round tourist destination of choice.”
“Simply doing more of what has been done in the past is not the solution. Even though over 180,000 people visit Mount Buffalo annually, they generate little return and the potential of this wonderful destination is not being realised.”
“We understand the community’s desire for a full restoration of the chalet, but we need to focus on a whole-of-mountain, long-term strategy to ensure ongoing visitation into the future.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020