The report was released by the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council.

Chairman Andrew Fairley, said with nearly 100 actions defined in the strategy it was pleasing to report that virtually all actions had been completed or were well under way.

“The Alpine Resort Management Boards and Government Agencies with responsibilities under the strategy are
to be commended on the great progress being made,” he said.

The Alpine Resorts 2020 Strategy defines a vision of “four season, vibrant, sustainable resorts” and sets out a series of actions covering climate change, resort use and development, environmental management and good stewardship.

The report is available at the council’s website at www.arcc.vic.gova.au.

This pass allows hassle free entry to Falls Creek, Lake Mountain, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller amd Mt Stirling, and Mt Hotham at a substantial discount.

The “All Resorts Season Entry Pass” was introduced on a trial basis for the 2008 winter season.

Based on sales from the trial, there was a strong take up of the All Resorts Pass and it was well accepted by visitors.

The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, the Hon Gavin Jennings MLC, has approved the sale of the All Resorts Pass for the 2009 winter season.

The Chairperson of the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council, Andrew Fairley, welcomed the continuation of the pass saying: “The All Resorts Season Entry Pass will make it much easier for snow sports competitors, cross-country skiers and other snow sports enthusiasts to visit more than one Alpine resort during the winter season.”

“The All Resorts Season Entry Pass responds to continuing calls from users for such a pass and has been developed by the Council in consultation with the individual Alpine Resort Management Boards,” Mr Fairley said.

The new pass needs to be purchased with a resort-specific season entry pass.

They can be purchased from each Victorian Alpine Resort Management Board at a combined price of $455.

The All Resorts Season Entry Pass continues to replace all previous discounted second (and subsequent) resort season entry offers.

“The indicators will assist our Resorts to measure their success in making Victoria’s snow fields accessible to all,” said chairperson of the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council, Andrew Fairley.

The social themes covered by the indicators include valuing culture and heritage, building community strength, workplace quality and visitor fulfilment.

Together with a suite of economic and environmental indicators that are already in place, the social indicators will enable measurement of the progress of the Alpine Resorts towards sustainability.

The economic indicators were adopted in 2004 and the environmental indicators in 2008. The social indicators complete the set.

Copies of the social indicators report can be downloaded from www.arcc.vic.gov.au.

“Victoria’s Alpine Resorts take their responsibility to sustainability seriously,” Mr Fairley said.

“It is important that we are welcoming of persons from varied cultural and economic groups.

“The social indicators are a tool that will facilitate this.”

Andrew Fairley, the chairperson of the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council, said “when the snow came in early July, it came in abundance, resulting in deep snow cover at all Victorian Alpine Resorts”.

“The cold temperatures in July and August ensured excellent snow conditions for much of the season,” Mr Fairley said.

“In addition, visitation was 12 percent above the 10 year average.

“The report also shows that visitation has been growing over the past decade.”

The “Winter 2008 End of Season Report” was prepared by the Council from information collected by Victorian Alpine Resort Management Boards on a weekly basis, as well as the results of a survey of Season Permit Holder vehicles.

The report was released at this week’s Alpine Resorts Sustainability Forum in Thredbo.

The report provides a commentary on the 2008 winter season and extensive historical information on visitation and snow depth. It is available on the Council’s website www.arcc.vic.gov.au.

The report also includes an estimate of the economic contribution of the Victorian Alpine Resorts, prepared by consultants, the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR). Victorian direct expenditure was $436 million and employment (in annual equivalent terms) was approximately 5000 jobs.

Importantly much of the benefit arising from the operation of the Alpine Resorts occurs in regional Victoria.

All Alpine Resorts are now in full swing preparing for the coming winter.

“Hopefully the recent good snowfalls are a positive sign for a successful 2009 snow season,” Mr Fairley said.