11-12 COMMUNITY NEWS JUNE DIAMOND PATTERN CHAINS JUNE 11 JUNE 11 OPEN JUNE. Arco Lodge Arlberg Bar & Bistro

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1 2016 COMMUNITY NEWS Winter Season Opening 11 6PM Opening Weekend Fireworks OPEN Arco Lodge Arlberg Bar & Bistro Chill Bar, Hotham Supie Hot Doggies The General & Supermarket OneTree Sports Swindlers Zirky s Cafe, Bar, Retail DIAMOND PATTERN CHAINS As the winter snow season is fast approaching, we wanted to remind you that, for safety, all visitors to Mt Hotham must carry diamond pattern tyre chains. Ladder chains, spider chains and snow socks are not approved. Vehicles that do not have diamond pattern tyre chains will not be able to enter Mt Hotham Alpine Resort or travel along the Great Alpine Road. Please advise all guest, that in order to enter Mt Hotham resort, they must carry diamond pattern tyre chains. This requirement has been in place since winter 2013, and was brought in to increase safety of travellers on the Great Alpine Road. It is part of the Controlled Management Traffic Plan, developed by Mt Hotham Resort Management Board, VicRoads and the Victoria Police. The requirement to carry diamond pattern tyre chains has been highly successful - in the first year (2013), there was a 60 per cent decrease in severe vehicle incidents. The number of severe vehicle incidents decreased even further in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. We thank you for your cooperation in ensuring travellers safety and wellbeing. Please find enclosed copies of our winter access brochure for your customers. It contains more information on wheel chains and how to purchase resort entry. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us on Looking forward to a great winter season in Kind Regards Jon Hutchins CEO, Mt Hotham Resort Management Board

2 DEAR STAKEHOLDERS The early onset of snowfalls on the Victorian Alps has brought the excitement of a wonderful winter at Mt Hotham. Each winter brings new challenges and we hope that some of our efforts during the non-winter period will provide you with some amazing alpine experiences. In 2015 E. T. Sweeney conducted market research into the Victorian snow market. This research categorised the Victoria snow market into existing visitors, new and lapsed visitors. The characteristics of the market were then divided into nine segments for the Victorian resorts to target. The research also identified barriers to visitation for the alpine resorts. 1. Lack of familiarity In the coming weeks a television campaign will promote the Victorian alpine resorts to prospective visitors in Victoria. The campaign focusses on the emotional attraction of a snow experience to engage all segments of the market in the magic of Mt Hotham. The Resort Management Board in consultation with key stakeholders is also engaging in preliminary identification of the key message points to underpin the Snow Victoria campaign and emphasise the spectacular experiences available in Victoria s highest alpine resort. We will provide progress on this campaign during the winter period. 2. Poor comparatives of quality and value The second barrier emphasises the competitive environment in which alpine resorts access the world are facing. Relative perceptions of a snow holiday are impacted by the complexity of the experiences and the heavy advertising of discounted experiences in New Zealand, Bali, theme parks and other holiday destinations. While there are many opportunities to experience the amazing aspects of the Victorian Alps at a reasonable cost the perception is heavily focussed on the peak period rates and associated costs in acquiring the equipment, clothing and other accessories for the snow. The Snow Victoria campaign emphasises some of the family and social aspects in sharing an amazing experience in the snow which will build familiarity and excitement for visitors to then launch into the many more activities available in the snow resorts. 3. Need to mitigate risk While the experience of blue skis and white mountains is a vital attraction for the resorts the prospects of less favourable conditions both in terms of lack of snow and when there are heavy snow conditions. The investment by Merlin Entertainment in the snowmaking infrastructure in the resort is acknowledged as providing significant benefit to all stakeholders and guests at the resort. The new snow guns and reticulation systems will provide greater surety of adequate snow and with the completion of the Summit snow making infrastructure for the 2017 winter season provides a significant asset in ensuring adequate snow is available for guests. The Resort Management Board, based on discussions in 2015 with stakeholders to develop a destination action plan, is focussing on the off-snow experiences for our guests. These include developments in the Corral Carpark to develop a village atmosphere within the resort. The first stage of this will include a prototype for the 2016 season to demonstrate activities and provide a meeting place for guests and stakeholders to enjoy the aspects and social opportunities for the resort. We would welcome all feedback before proceeding to the next stages of the project including funding in New bus stops, trail heads, rock walling, road verge sealing and a new attraction of indoor snow ramps have all been delivered to build other attractions for guests to enjoy the alpine experience when weather and snow conditions are less than perfect. Thank you to all stakeholders for their input, constructive advice and strong support for these initiatives. I hope this brief overview provides background to the path we are undertaking. There will be many opportunities to comment and make suggestions over the winter but please be reassured we are working towards sharing an amazing alpine experience in as many ways possible which will provide Mt Hotham with a sustainable future.

3 SKI PATROL SAFETY MESSAGE Firstly we would like to thank you for helping to keep our mountain safe. By far, the majority of Hotham regulars are moderating their speed in the more congested parts of the hill, and this is definitely reducing serious accidents, and is setting a great example for new comers. Please continue to protect the kids by skiing and snowboarding slowly and with care in all of our slow zones. Below are a few others ways you can help us out. Install the Hotham App. Please install the app or save the ski patrol number on your phone. The Ski Patrol direct line is and can be found behind the red cross on the top right corner of the contacts page of the App. Never Evers Over the past few years there has been a significant increase of visitors to the resort who have never skied or snowboarded before, yet are willing to attack the slopes without any instruction. If you identify someone (or a group) who you think may fit this description please encourage them to book in for a lesson before they go hurtling off down the runs. If you come across someone on the slopes who is obviously out of their depth please contact ski patrol and we will gladly respond and give them a free ride to safety. The Alpine Responsibilty Code The code is there to protect us all so please display one in an obvious position in your establishment. Missing Persons If someone is missing from your lodge or group please inform the ski patrol as soon possible. Especially if it is late in the day as the last hours of daylight are often crucial to a timely recovery. Safe Snow Play Snow play and tobogganing in the wrong areas can be dangerous and sometimes fatal. Please ensure all of your guests are aware of the dangers of changing snow conditions and steep slopes, and always be on the lookout for kids playing in snow shedding zones. The safety of our mountain is the responsibility of all of us, so please help out by sharing your experience and knowledge with those who are new to the alpine environment. Have a great safe winter. Think Snow. ALPINE RESPONSIBILITY CODE 1. Know your ability and always stay in control and be able to stop and avoid other people or objects. It is your responsibility to stay in control on the ground and in the air. 2. Take lessons from professional instructors to learn and progress. 3. Use appropriate protective equipment to minimise the risk of injury. 4. Before using any lift you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely and always use the restraining devices. 5. Observe and obey all signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails or runs. 6. Give way to people below and beside you on the hill. It is your responsibility to avoid them. 7. Do not stop where you are not clearly visible from above. Look uphill and give way to others when entering/exiting a trail or starting downhill. 8. Always ensure your equipment is in good condition and use suitable restraining devices to avoid runaway skiing/boarding equipment. 9. Do not ski, board, ride a lift or undertake any other alpine activity if your ability is impaired by drugs or alcohol. 10. If you are involved in, or witness an accident or collision, alert Ski Patrol, remain at the scene and identify yourself to the Ski Patrol.

4 SNOW GUNS FIRING IN HEAVENLY VALLEY Over the past weekend, Mt Hotham Skiing Company started making snow in Heavenly Valley using newly-installed, fully-automated TechnoAlpin snowguns, part of a $4.4 million expansion of the snowmaking infrastructure at Mt Hotham. Belinda Trembath, General Manager of the Mt Hotham Skiing Company, said This is a great day for Hotham skiers and snowboarders. For many people, Heavenly Valley is the heart of Mt Hotham. This whole area is now going to be snow sure from much earlier in the season. We ll be able to build a base here for all the natural and mountain-made snow to come this season, which should ensure the great terrain in this area skis beautifully right through to the end of the season in late September. Perhaps even beyond. The guys here have already started referring to this area as the Hotham Glacier. Our Mountain Operations team has done a huge amount of work over summer to get us to this point. We ve carefully installed more than a kilometre of water mains, six new snowmaking outlets, a new pump in our main pumping house, and we are rolling out 18 massive new snow cannons across the system. The expanded snowmaking in Heavenly Valley is part of the final stage of a snowmaking master plan we began in Now we only have The Summit area to go, where we ll be putting in twelve additional snow cannons ahead of next season. Ms Trembath says visitors to Hotham this season are going to see a real difference in the amount of terrain open. People up here in June and September this year, taking advantage of the great shoulder season deals, are going to be the immediate beneficiaries of this investment and all this work. In the right conditions, we can make 600 cubic metres more snow than we could before. On a good cold snowmaking night, that s literally hundreds, possibly thousands more truckloads of snow on areas that haven t been covered by snowmaking before. Hotham skiers and snowboarders will be reaping the rewards of this project for decades to come, says Belinda Trembath. VicRoads and the Mount Hotham Resort Management Board are committed to ensuring the safest delivery of snow clearing and ice treatment activities on the Great Alpine Road. In August last year, one of our snow clearing trucks travelling downhill came into contact with a third party vehicle which was stationary in the up-hill lane fitting wheel chains. Following the incident a review of the current practice around the fitting of wheel chains to vehicles engaged in snow clearing, ice treatment and maintenance activities was conducted. As a result, this snow season all of our vehicles engaged in snow clearing activities will be fitted with a combination of studded and non-studded winter tyres, and the ROTOGRIP automatic chain system. Studded winter tyres provide superior grip to that of the winter tyre with no studs in the icy conditions. ROTOGRIP is an automatic snow chain system specifically designed for vehicles that must be able to travel during hazardous winter weather. The chains can be engaged and disengaged from the driver s seat while the vehicle is under way. In agreement with the MHRMB, our vehicles fitted with these innovative safety improvements will be exempt from the requirement to fit wheel chains. We will carry diamond pattern wheel chains at all times and fit these to our vehicles when conditions deteriorate to a level such that the combination of studded tyres and ROTOGRIP automatic chains failed to provide the necessary traction. The ROTOGRIP chains may not always be visible to other motorists. Signs indicating the use of these new safety systems will be displayed on vehicles engaged in snow clearing activities and will advise why diamond pattern wheel chains may not be fitted when motorists have been instructed that all vehicles must fit chains. VicRoads would like to advise all motorists travelling to and around the Alpine areas of the importance of taking extra care of the road this snow season and and reminds all visitors to the area to obey any reduced speed limits, instructions to fit chains and to take note of any changes to road conditions for their own safety and the safety of other road users. Bryan Sherritt Regional Director VicRoads, North Eastern Region VICROADS SNOW CLEARING UPDATE

5 SNOW VICTORIA NOTHING FEELS LIKE SNOW TV COMMERCIAL The latest collaboration by the Victorian alpine industry has delivered a new and unique approach to this year s Snow Victoria, the state-wide co-operative marketing campaign. Research insights highlighted that our connections with people and places play a pivotal role in our travel choices. This research also verified that many people like to explore ways to create and share memories with their families and friends. So when we say Nothing feels like snow we portray a range of beautiful and evocative alpine experiences, highlighting the diversity of the Victorian alpine region. This year s campaign includes television and digital advertising and is supported via social media channels and a dedicated campaign website. To view the ad go to youtube.com/watch?v=ceyr0s0woym and for more information go to snowvictoria.com #snowvic

6 VILLAGE SQUARE OPPORTUNITIES Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board in conjunction with Tourism North East held two workshops in 2015 to develop a Destination Action Plan for Mt Hotham. We would like to thank all stakeholders who took the time to attend these events and/ or provide direction for the future product development of Mt Hotham. What was missing at Mt Hotham? As determined by all of you, was the need to engage with our guests in welcome events targeting family groups with suitable activities. We are now putting together the Mt Hotham Village Square on a smaller scale and are looking for your input, ideas and to be part of the creative process to add more off-snow variety for families and to provide An Amazing Alpine Experience for our guests this winter. This Village Square is based on the Hotham Central Public Safety and Urban Amenity Upgrade which all have been notified about. This temporary space, opening in July, is aimed at afternoon Après entertainment from 2:00pm 5:00pm on fine weather days a few times a week. Sculptures and display boards of Artist s impressions to simulate the potential atmosphere at Hotham Central and the desired future of the space will be exhibited to generate feedback from the community. Kids could toast marshmallows over the warm fire pit creating a fun family friendly atmosphere and comfortable seating will be scattered in clusters to encourage guests to chill out with friends and family in the afternoon spring sun and enjoy heart of the our unique village. The display will help people understand the vision and feeling for the site, not only the practical side but the heart it will bring to our village on the ridge and the atmosphere that can be created there. aspect that is often raised is the loss of car parking facilities in the Corral car park for day visitation however only 18 of the 150 spaces will be used to display this exciting development for Mt Hotham. We have produced more car parking space at Whiskey Flat for the peak visitation period and will work towards improving the Loch Car Park. How can you help us? We are looking to tie this in to the Destination Action Plan as mentioned above. Creating an inviting, welcoming place where our stakeholders can hold welcome events for guests in peak periods and weekends. We would like local Hotham businesses and suppliers to help make the Village Square a vibrant space with their products and services on offer to our mountain guests that compliment and add value to the resort. This could include: Entertainers/buskers Talk to the guests about what your business has going on Ski/product Demo Days Lodge membership drives Event podium presentations Food and Beverage sampling Children s activities eg. Face painting, marshmallow nights, kids snow play History Talks A meeting place for activities and events Please respond to this request with any ideas you may have for the Village Square and we can discuss these with you and the possibility and facilitation of the projects. Please brennasharp@mthotham.com.au