The leasing of Crown land is governed by the Alpine Resorts Leasing Policy 2002, which sets out overarching principles for:
  • public benefit
  • ecological sustainability
  • consistency
  • transparency.

We work together with lessees to help secure the longest lease term possible in accordance with the Policy.

Approval process

Negotiating a lease can take some time as the approval process involves 9 steps:

  1. Early discussions between ARV and potential or current tenants: These conversations are 'without prejudice,' meaning they’re not legally binding and can’t be used against either party later. The purpose is to talk through initial leasing questions, understand the tenant’s proposal, and explain the application process and the standard Alpine Lease conditions.
  2. Submit your application: Complete the application form and provide all the required documents to ARV.
  3. ARV reviews your application: We assess your application against the criteria in the Alpine Leasing Policy and decide on an appropriate lease term.
  4. We discuss the proposed lease term with you: We’ll talk with you about the lease term we’ve proposed. We will let you know if there are ways to strengthen your application, such as providing extra information.
  5. ARV Board review: The ARV Board considers the proposed lease term and conditions. If satisfied, the Board provides in‑principle approval to proceed.
  6. Ministerial approval in principle: ARV then seeks in‑principle approval from the Minister to grant the proposed lease.
  7. Draft lease prepared and sent to applicant to sign: Once approvals are in place, we prepare a draft lease and send it to you to sign.
  8. Minister signs the lease: ARV submits the lease for the Minister’s signature.
  9. Lease finalised and registered: ARV signs the lease and arranges registration with the Titles Office. You will receive a copy of the signed and registered lease for your records.

We encourage new and existing lessees to contact the Property Planning team by email at property@alpineresorts.vic.gov.au at any time to discuss the leasing process, timelines and requirements.

Lease renewal

Current lessees are encouraged to initiate the lease renewal process as early as possible, and ideally up to 5 years before the lease expiry date.

Lessees may also choose to surrender their existing lease and enter into negotiations with the board for a new lease at any time.

Once we have the new policy

The Alpine Resorts Leasing Policy is supported by procedures that ensure the effective, consistent and transparent implementation of the policy, and that document the processes used by ARV to allocate leases to existing and new Crown land tenants within alpine resorts.

The procedures provide certainty to new or existing tenants as to how their application for a new lease will be managed. These procedures cover standard alpine leases only and exclude special leases such as for telecommunications facilities or ski lifts.

Unless otherwise stated, the procedures apply to the allocation and management of head-leases only.

New tenants

In response to an enquiry from a prospective tenant for a new lease, ARV must determine whether the proposal warrants further consideration. In doing so, ARV must consider whether:

  • the site is available, or will be available in the reasonable future, noting that existing tenants have the first right of negotiation on all existing leases
  • a decision has already been made to use a competitive process to lease the site.

The assessment of a lease application must commence with ARV determining whether it is acceptable to negotiate directly with the prospective tenant or whether a competitive process should be used. A competitive process is generally to be used for the release of a greenfield site.

Direct negotiation is to be used where it can be demonstrated that the public benefit of direct allocation outweighs the benefits that may be achieved through a competitive process. Any proposal to proceed via direct negotiation remains subject to ministerial approval.

For further detail on the lease application process for new tenants, general lease administration and the use of a competitive process in issuing a lease, refer to the Alpine Resorts Leasing Procedure for new tenants.

The procedure is to be followed in response to an enquiry or an application from a prospective tenant seeking a standard alpine lease.

Existing tenants

An existing tenant may make application to ARV for a new lease at any time where:

  • the tenant proposes to redevelop the site
  • the tenant proposes to carry out significant refurbishment of the existing premises
  • the tenant wishes to surrender their lease in preference for a revised lease
  • the existing lease is approaching the end of its term.

Unless the Retail Leases Act 2003 applies, the tenant will be responsible for the costs associated with the issuing and ongoing administration of an alpine lease.

For further information relating to leasing in alpine resorts, visit fees and charges. The property and planning team work closely with new and existing tenants throughout the lease application process and for ongoing lease administration.

For support, please contact property@alpineresorts.vic.gov.au.

Page last updated: 21/04/26