The Alpine Resorts Leasing Policy 2026 is a Ministerial policy that guides how alpine leasing is administered across Victoria’s six alpine resorts: Falls Creek, Lake Mountain, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Mt Stirling. It replaces the previous policy that was over 20 years old.

The Policy recognises the unique challenges of development in alpine environments while protecting the environmental, social and economic values that make Victoria’s alpine resorts distinctive while providing a contemporary, consistent and transparent framework for leasing in alpine resorts, supporting clear decision-making for lessees, investors, resort businesses and communities.

5 core principles underpin the policy:

  1. delivering public benefit
  2. ensuring transparency
  3. offering existing tenants a first right to negotiate
  4. promoting environmentally sustainable operations
  5. setting appropriate lease terms and conditions.

In July 2026, the Alpine Resort Leasing Policy 2026 was endorsed by the State Government. The endorsed policy gives Alpine Resorts Victoria and its partners a clear foundation to support responsible investment, protect the alpine environment and secure the long-term future of Victoria’s alpine resorts.

Policy review and engagement

ARV led the review process in partnership with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and with significant stakeholder input.

Formal stakeholder engagement was undertaken through a dedicated Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG), comprising representatives from Stakeholder Consultative Committees (SCCs) and the industry, finance and real estate sectors.

Targeted consultation was also undertaken with alpine industry stakeholders, including tourism, legal and ski lift industry representatives. The experience and insights of alpine sector stakeholders have helped to shape and refine the principles within the Policy.

To learn more about the engagement process visit Alpine Resorts Leasing Policy page on the Engage Vic website.

An overview of changes in the Policy:

  • Embedding the values of consistency, certainty and transparency across the Policy and related procedures.
  • Simplify requirements for different lease terms and lease periods, making expectations easier to understand and apply.
  • The updated framework responds to the medium-to-long-term impacts of climate change and supports leasing decisions that consider the future resilience of alpine resorts.
  • It provides a more contemporary framework for managing leasing on Crown land in alpine resorts while recognising the operating realities of the sector.

Policy documents:

Please contact the ARV Property & Planning Department via property@alpineresorts.vic.gov.au for any questions regarding the Alpine Resort Leasing Policy 2026.

Page last updated: 13/07/26