Ski lifts on Mount Buller and Mount Stirling have been shut, marking an abrupt end to Victoria's ski season and the latest blow to the state's beleaguered tourism industry.
The closing of ski lifts on Mount Buller and Mount Stirling comes as tourism operators report a 95 to 98 per cent loss in revenue due to the pandemic, with some writing off all of 2020, Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said.
The reopening of the Mount Buller resort in June.Credit:Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
"It's hard to even begin to understand where to start because the impacts have been so overwhelming — that's really the only word to use," Ms Mariani said.
While the decision seemed sudden, many wondered how Mt Buller had stayed open until now, amid a flurry of rumours that well-heeled Melburnians continued to flock to the mountain in defiance of travel bans and the city's lockdown.
Credit:Matt Golding
Businesses and residents on Mount Buller were advised on Thursday afternoon that increased coronavirus restrictions meant visitors would not be permitted on the mountain and all lifts would immediately be shut, despite bumper snow falls in recent days.
The Resort Management Board warned of significant fines for those who failed to comply.
Mount Buller and Mount Stirling had been the last to keep lifts operating, with Buller Ski Lifts general manager Laurie Blampied saying the decision to continue was "reached with the wellbeing and livelihoods of our employees, the community and our guests in mind".
Vail Resorts, the US company that owns lifts at Falls Creek and Mount Hotham, closed them on July 9. Its chief operating officer in Australia, Peter Brulisauer, said the decision was based on Victoria's stay-at-home directions.
"We are focused first and foremost on health and safety, following local health guidelines and doing our part to support efforts across Victoria to address the recent rise in coronavirus cases," Mr Brulisauer said.
Buller Ski Lifts is owned by the Grollo Group, which also controls the Mt Buller Chalet, the Abom hotel, the local ski school and a string of hospitality and retail outlets on the mountain.
In recent weeks, the Mount Buller community has been abuzz with stories of Melburnians sneaking into the village late at night, some even chartering a helicopter to a base near the resort, in defiance of travel bans and the lockdown.
A Mt Buller ski services staff member displays the social-distancing measures the resort was using on its ski lifts.
A Toorak hairdresser set up a pop-up store to cater to the A-list crowd, while apres-ski events were regularly hosted in private apartments, apparently oblivious to the pandemic.
One woman, who had contracted COVID-19 during a ski holiday to Aspen in March and refused to isolate on her return to Melbourne, was recently confronted on Mount Buller about her behaviour.
The rumours caused tensions with long-term residents and business owners, but most were reluctant to notify authorities and potentially jeopardise their lifestyles and livelihoods.
On July 28, Mount Buller Racing Club urged its members to contact police.
Day visitors build snowmen at the Mount Buller reopening in June.Credit:Getty Images
"The rules are clear – if you live in a locked-down area, there are only four reasons to leave, and unfortunately coming up to the resort to join your family and have a ski is not one them.
"We have sought guidance from the authorities and we encourage anyone with information about people breaking the rules to lodge a report… this will enable Victoria Police to investigate. MBRC will co-operate fully with any investigations," club president Simon Kelly said in an email.
Mark Bennetts, chief executive of the Mt Buller & Mt Stirling Resort Management Board, did not respond to questions about Melburnians flouting stage three and stage four restrictions to enter the resort.
Mr Bennetts did confirm that one staff member had tested positive to COVID-19 on July 23.
"There are no, and have not been any, known positive cases within the resorts other than one staff member who tested as positive on 23 July — which we understand they contracted off-mountain," Mr Bennetts said.
He confirmed that visitors were not permitted to enter the Mount Buller or Mount Stirling resorts from 5pm on Thursday for the duration of stage three restrictions that applied to regional Victoria.
The government has allowed a supermarket and takeaway venues to remain open, while people living within the resorts can continue to exercise outdoors, including cross-country skiing.
Projections in April anticipated the tourism industry, with a $32.5 billion worth to the Victorian economy, would lose $23.3 billion in visitor spend, Ms Mariani said.
The tourism chief said that figure would now be higher.
"The knock-on effect is businesses will not survive," Ms Mariani said.
She said the industry would benefit from sector-specific plans to start mapping out what a reopening would look like.
"This isn't about give us a timeline or tell us what date," she said.
"We're going to be living in this kind world for a couple of years, the industry is well aware of this and engaging them in a pathway out would give them something to work towards."
Sign up to our Coronavirus Update newsletter
Get our Coronavirus Update newsletter for the day’s crucial developments at a glance, the numbers you need to know and what our readers are saying. Sign up to The Sydney Morning Herald’s newsletter here and The Age’s here.
Source: Read Full Article
