At last some good news for suffering alpine businesses in Victoria!
Victoria’s Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula confirmed an additional $6 million support will be made available to eligible businesses including hire outlets, retail shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes and adventure companies such as dog sledding operations.
The package provides payments of up to $25,000 to sub-tenant commercial operators across Mount Hotham, Mount Buller, Mount Stirling, Mount Baw Baw, Falls Creek and Lake Mountain. Some commercial operators in Dinner Plain also eligible for the program.
The initiative brings the direct pandemic business support for alpine businesses to more than $10.3 million with $4.3 million previously announced from the Business Resilience Package to cover services fees owed to resort management boards and to accommodation providers who successfully applied for cancelled booking compensation via the Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program.
Victoria’s Alpine resorts usually contribute $1.1 billion to the state’s economy during winter alone, attract more than 1 million visitors annually and employ 10,000 people.
“It is critical that our alpine resorts remain viable as we take steps toward COVID Normal and an anticipated return to the slopes in 2021. This investment ensures the lifts will be turning once again next year” says Pakula.
We have asked the government spokesperson for more details on how you apply – but assuming it is fairly straightforward $25,000 will be welcome relief to help things tick over until next winter. Even without a vaccine, the success in controling COVID should mean a virtually restriction free 2021 snow season.
