The alpine resorts are significant contributors to the Victorian economy, collectively generating $2.14 billion in economic output annually.
They attract an average of 1.4 million visitors per year, which is equivalent to the combined visitation of other tourism icons such as Sovereign Hill, Puffing Billy and Philip Island Nature Park, and support more than 12,000 regional jobs.
As such, the ongoing success and sustainability of the resorts is of vital importance to both the State and the regions in which they are located.
In 2024, Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV) commissioned the delivery of the Alpine Resorts Economic Significance study to quantify the economic and social significance of the resorts.
This piece of work validated what we inherently knew – that the resorts form the economic backbone of regional communities, deliver tangible benefits to all Victorians, and are major tourism drawcards for the State.
Minister for Environment and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, launched this valuable piece of work in-resort at the opening of the 2024 snow season, which coincided with a major milestone at ARV’s most popular resort – 100 years of skiing at Mt Buller.
This significant event is reflective of the pioneering spirit that first established our resorts, and the legacy of entrepreneurialism and passion that continues to fuel them today.
At the season opening, the Minister also officially opened Alpine Gateway at Mt Hotham, a significant and much needed visitor facility that features a new multi-level car park.
This infrastructure enhances the visitor experience and year-round access to key activities in the resort, and also effectively enables other development opportunities that will facilitate resort growth. Developments like this are critical in ensuring that our resorts continue to evolve to match the needs of current and emerging markets.
Organisationally, a major focus for ARV in 2024 has been the commencement of a broad body of strategic work that will assist us in making informed decisions about the future of the resorts, and underpin the development of our long-term financial plan.
This includes an ARV Asset Management Strategy and consistent and contemporary asset category plans, a review of the 32 unique services delivered across the resorts, and the launch of an expression of interest associated with the management of Lake Mountain and Mt Baw Baw.
These initiatives intersect with a suite of other ARV strategic activities initiated in 2024, such as a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, capacity analysis framework, integrated water management plans, Traditional Owner Engagement and Self Determination Strategy, a review of the Alpine Leasing Policy and the establishment of a singular Enterprise Agreement.
This is an immense scope of work delivered by a relatively small team in a limited period of time, however it is critical to enable ARV to make evidence based decisions regarding the future viability of the resorts.
This includes delivering a report on ARV’s pathway to sustainability to the Minister by October 2025, as directed by the 2022 Letter of Expectations.
The financial sustainability of ARV as an organisation is a priority as we are being financially supported by the Victorian State Government.
This funding, provided via a Letter of Comfort, recognises the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on our cash reserves, the increased cost of resort operations, the ongoing need to subsidise operations at Lake Mountain and Mt Baw Baw, and the revenue loss associated with a limited winter 2024 season.
In this, our second year of operation, our leadership team and the Board continued to focus on building and embedding the foundations of the new entity.
This included standardising systems, processes and practices across the organisation, moving the resorts onto common platforms and reducing duplication wherever possible. Across the reporting year, ARV has implemented a range of new systems across finance and human resource functions, and adopted new models and frameworks for risk, emergency management, OH&S, business continuity and procurement.
This work is important in ensuring the compliance of ARV as a Statutory Authority and is also anticipated to deliver medium-term organisational efficiencies.
As always, our vast achievements rely on the hard work, dedication and commitment of every person on our team. We are proud to be supported by a dedicated year-round team, adventurous seasonal staff, partner organisations, contractors, and community and industry groups who all play a role in the success of ARV and the alpine industry. We thank them for their passion and output.
We particularly appreciate the efforts of the members of our Stakeholder Consultative Committees (SCCs) in each resort. Our SCCs provide advice relating to strategic and operational matters affecting the alpine resorts and are an important conduit to our alpine communities.
We have tackled many challenges and changes this year in conjunction with our SCCs, and would like to acknowledge their commitment to the success of their resorts and the alpine sector more broadly.
We would also like to thank our dedicated and committed Board members who diligently guided and counselled our organisation throughout the year.
We were delighted that the four members whose terms had come to an end were reappointed and can continue to contribute to the future of ARV and the alpine sector.
In accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994 (FMA), we are pleased to present ARV’s Annual Report for the year ending 31 December 2024.
Ali Wastie Chair, Alpine Resorts Victoria Board
Amber Gardner CEO, Alpine Resorts Victoria
Page last updated: 21/04/26