Tourism Talk AugustPlease select a story from the list below or scroll down to view all.
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> News from Tourism
Helmet Cam’s to Borrow
Want to capture your special experience in the Great Alpine Valleys, show your friends what you can do in thre region, show your guest what there missing out on…….borrow a helmet cam! The Visitor Information Centre Myrtleford and the Council offices in Bright have helmet cams to borrow and will load your videos on YouTube for friends, family, guests and potential customers to see. Skiing, riding, hiking, picnicing, gliding, touring, snowplay – what a great way to share your experiences.
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Visitor Surveys
In the pursuit of collaborating valid and reliable information for operators, aiding measured business decisions, we have put together a survey in a postcard format. Survey questions are based on those used by Tourism Victoria, providing the Great Alpine Valleys with comparable data which is destination specific. We want to help operators by reporting information collected on a regular basis.
A prize draw was conducted at the beginning of Autumn, with the prize representative of products from the Great Alpine Valleys (see picture). The winners of the Autumn prize have been notified, and the hamper is on the way to them.
If you would like to be involved in the data collection please contact the Tourism Department on 5755 0550 or email kateh@alpineshire.vic.gov.au.
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Bright resident, Jennie Gilliver has been a strong advocate for increasing the number of bulbs planted across the Alpine Shire. Jennie’s vision for the Shire to develop “stand out spring displays” provides a great opportunity to expand the Bright Spring Festival and develop another reason for people to visit the region.
As a result of Jennie’s passion this year’s Bright Spring Festival will incorporate the new addition of the Blooming Bulbs of Bright. Combined with the Shire wide open space plantings there will be displays of colour, workshops and stalls housed in the Alpine Shire’s new marquee, in the centre of Bright.
Over the last two years 13,000 bulbs were planted Shire wide, with an additional 50,000 to be planted in 2011-12. The Alpine Shire’s outdoor crew headed by Stuart Hall, Coordinator of Open Spaces, will begin planting immediately and continue throughout the year to complete the plantings at the appropriate time for each variety. Eight of the 11 varieties that will be planted will see fresh blooms this spring with types including Ipheion Star, Freesia’s, Tulips and Daffodils.
Further to the plantings, local participation in increasing our spring bloom will be encouraged. Alpine Shire residents will have access to 20,000 bulbs at cost price through the Alpine Shire Council.
For more information or to learn how you can get involved please email kateh@alpineshire.vic.gov.au
Stitch and Quilt in Bright
Enjoy two weekends of quilting workshops, wine and laughter. As part of the Spring Festival, 14-16 October and 22-23 October, click here for full details and enrolment form.
Bright Spring Festival – email address change
Due to server problems, the Spring Festival Committee did not receive emails from 8th July until 19th July. We now have a new email address brightspringfestival@gmail.com . Please resend any emails sent during the above period. We apologise for any inconvenience.
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Free On-Site Environmental Opportunity Assessments
Did you know that your business can easily save 10% of daily operating costs by implementing a few simple practices to save water and energy?
At a time of increasing utility costs, on-site environmental opportunity assessments are an excellent first step towards cutting costs and improving your environmental performance.
Tourism Victoria is partnering with VECCI Sustainability Services to help regional tourism businesses save on water, waste and energy costs through a trial environmental opportunity assessment program. Tourism businesses in the Bright and Harrietville areas are invited to register their interest in having a FREE on-site environmental opportunity assessment completed on their operations by an experienced VECCI Sustainability Consultant.
During the two hour site visit the consultant will help identify resource and money saving opportunities by conducting an inspection of the business with a business representative. This will help identify immediate, low or no cost opportunities, as well as medium to long term, or higher investment opportunities.
Following the visit, a tailored sustainability report will be provided to each business outlining findings and short, medium and long term recommendations. In addition, to help implement the recommendations, participants will receive a 12 month membership of VECCI’s Grow Me the Money 12 Step on-line program designed to help small-to-medium sized businesses become more sustainable and save money.
The total package of on-site assessment and Grow Me the Money membership is normally valued at more than $600, this trial program is offering these services for no charge at all.
Businesses wishing to register their interest or obtain further information should contact VECCI Sustainability Services on 8662 5196. As spaces are limited and offered on a first come, first serve basis, businesses are strongly encouraged to register their interest early to avoid disappointment. The successful businesses will be contacted by VECCI to arrange an appointment. Please note that the assessments will take place in the area from 23 to 25 August 2011. At this stage, this offer is only available to tourism businesses in the Bright and Harrietville areas. However, depending on the success of the trial, the program may be expanded to include tourism businesses in other areas of the State.
The program is an initiative of Tourism Victoria in partnership with VECCI and supported by the Alpine Shire Council, has been designed to encourage the uptake of environmental sustainability practices by Victorian tourism businesses.
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Parks Victoria update
Mount Buffalo National Park
Cross Country
Currently the best cross country at Mount Buffalo is on the 1km, 4km, 6km and Horn Road trails. These are all currently marked and ungroomed. Adventure Guides Australia is based at Dingo Dell and is offering cross country lessons and snow show tours for a fee. Check out their website for more information – www.adventureguidesaustralia.com.au
Great Family Time
Winter is a great time to spend some fun time with the family – why not come and visit the waterfalls and walking tracks below the snow line or have some real family friendly fun, tobogganing above the snow line at Mount Buffalo. And for when you need a break and need to warm up, you can visit the cafe at Dingo Dell, which is open every day from 10am – 3pm. You can also hire your toboggans at the cafe.
Alpine National Park
Kangaroo Hoppet
The Kangaroo Hoppet is fast approaching – mark it in your diary now! Saturday August 27th, 2011 will be the 21st Kangaroo Hoppet, which is the first event in the World Loppet series. Many are out training already and Parks Victoria staff are checking the cross country trails weekly ensuring hazards are clearly marked and refining the trails as necessary. Planning is going well and it should be a great day and event which showcases the Bogong High Plains and Falls Creek to the world – participants hail from over 20 different countries!
There are three events held as part of the Kangaroo Hoppet, being the 42km Kangaroo Hoppet, the 21km Australian Birkebeiner and the 7km Joey Hoppet. All ages and abilities are encouraged to participate.
Exploring the Alpine Beauty
Now is the perfect time to get out and about and explore parts of the Alpine National Park you may normally save for visiting in the warmer months. Why not slip on some cross country skis or some snowshoes and go exploring. It’s an awesome opportunity to visit the higher peaks and see them cloaked in a veil of snow. Or perhaps you could do some ski touring out to the recently rebuilt Weston’s Hut.
If cross country skiing or snowshoeing are not your forte, perhaps you could head out on a walk up Mount Feathertop from Harrietville or up Mount Bogong and make it to the snowline. Another great and different experience if you usually only visit these places in the warmer months.
Obviously, if you are going exploring in the alpine environments, you should be prepared for changing alpine weather and conditions by carrying appropriate gear and notifying a trusted friend or family member of your intentions before you go.
Fox Baiting
The fox baiting program for winter 2011 has commenced, with all bait stations having been established at Mount Hotham and partial establishment at Falls Creek/Bogong High Plains (due to poor weather). Parks Victoria and contract staff will be making weekly expeditions to check and replenish the bait stations until the first week of September - weather permitting of course!
For those who have dogs in the alpine resort areas, you should refer to the local resort management board regarding permit conditions, however pets should be kept under a close watch during the baiting season as baits are located within resort areas. Dogs and cats are not permitted in the Alpine National Park.
Walking Opportunities below the Snow Line
If you’re starting to itch from mid season blues and would like to get out for a walk, but your favourites are under snow, why not visit Mountain Creek or Fainter Falls. Fainter Falls are currently only open to the first lookout due to flood damage; however the walks at Mountain Creek are another lovely option at this time of year. Especially after rain, watching the mighty Mountain Creek pound past you could be a very soothing mid-winter pick me up
>TOURISM VICTORIA NEWS
Click here to go to the Tourism Victoria Corporate site
New Chief Executive for Tourism Victoria Announced
Leigh Harry, Chief Executive of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has been appointed the new Chief Executive of Tourism Victoria and Deputy Secretary of Tourism and Aviation, Department of Business and Innovation.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher expressed confidence that Mr Harry would build on the success of Tourism Victoria and said his experience in driving the international success of the MCEC would be valuable in taking Tourism Victoria to the next stage.
In addition to his role at MCEC, Mr Harry is known internationally for his work as International President of both the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) and as President of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) from 2006 to 2010.
Mr Harry has also held or is currently holding positions including Deputy Chairman of the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB), Chairman of the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA), President of the Meetings and Events Association of Australia (MEAA) and as a member of the Tourism Australia Business Events Industry Advisory Panel.
It is anticipated Mr Harry will take up his appointment in early October.
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Grant funding to boost regional tourism
Campsites, cultural venues, cellar doors, heritages sites and other tourism attractions and destinations will be given a boost with the Australian Government announcing $8.5 million in TQUAL tourism grants to 117 projects across Australia.
Victoria had 22 successful applicants for the 2011 round of TQUAL Grants, receiving more than $1.6 million between them. Eighteen of the state’s successful applicants are from regional Victoria.
Judges indicated that this year’s application process was highly competitive, and that they were pleased to see very innovative, quality proposals not only from Victoria but Australia-wide.
As part of the National Long Term Tourism Strategy, the TQUAL Grants: Tourism Quality Projects are intended to help lift the quality and variety of Australia’s tourism experiences while addressing the lack of tourism investment – particularly in regional Australia. The grants will help better position businesses and organisations looking to expand, modify or diversify their product or service, in order to increase their appeal to domestic and international visitors.
Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson said, "By providing matching funding to investors, the Australian Government is not only seeking to address the market failure but support the almost one million Australians directly and indirectly employed in the $34 billion tourism industry."
Details of grant recipients and the competitive selection process is at ret.gov.au/tqual
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High Country hops into action
Falls Creek is set to host the 21st Kangaroo Hoppet, Australia’s premier long distance cross country ski race, which has received $15,000 from the Victorian Government through Tourism Victoria’s Events Program.
The 42 kilometer race, set in the picturesque Bogong High Plains of Victoria’s Alpine National Park, is part of the Worldhoppet series of international long distance cross country ski races. The funding provided will be used to help market the 2011 event.
An April 2011 Victorian Alpine Resorts report estimates the economic contribution of Victorian alpine resorts at $548 million for the 2010 winter season, with a gross state product contribution of $478 million.
The 2011 Kangaroo Hoppet will be held in Falls Creek on 27 August 2011. The shorter 21 kilometre Australian Birkebeiner and 7 kilometre Joey Hoppet races commence shortly after the main event.
For more information visit visitvictoria.com or hoppet.com.au
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> News from Economic Development
UPCOMING WORKSHOP: MARKETING FOR GROWTH
Thursday 1 September, 6.00pm to 9.30pm
If you’re a business owner and have a basic understanding of marketing but want to know more, this workshop is for you. You’ll learn how to launch new products successfully, how to conduct market research that reveals niches previously unknown, why knowing your customers better can aid your marketing efforts, and much more. This workshop will be a valuable follow up for those who attended the Marketing Basics seminar earlier this year. Places are limited so be quick!
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
$30.00 per person (light supper provided). This seminar is subsidised by the Alpine Shire and DBI. All seminar material will be provided.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
Simply log onto the Business Victoria website to register and make payment.
Alternatively you can register and pay at the Alpine Shire office, 2 Churchill Avenue (just off Great Alpine Road), Bright.
LOCATION: Myrtleford Council Chamber, Corner Standish Street & O'Donnell Avenue, Myrtleford
CONTACT: Sara Bailey PHONE: 03 5755 0522 EMAIL: sarab@alpineshire.vic.gov.au
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NEW BUSINESS TRAINING TOPICS AVAILABLE
Business Victoria have announced the addition of four new topics to their Workshops & Seminars list. The topics are 'Interested in Buying a Franchise? seminar', 'Better Business Practices seminar', 'Winning Government Business workshop' and 'Commercialising Your New Idea workshop'. Time, cost and a short description for each topic can be downloaded here. The new topics will be available to add to the Alpine Shire's Business Training Events schedule from September 2011 if there is adequate interest.
If you think one or more of these new topics may be of benefit to you and your business, please contact Sara Bailey on 03 5755 0522 or email sarab@alpineshire.vic.gov.au. For information about the current Business Training Events schedule, the full list can be viewed on the Alpine Shire website.
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ALPINE SHIRE COMMUNITY DIRECTORY – 2012 EDITION
If you have any queries about the Alpine Shire Community Directory or would like to apply for a free lisitng, please contact Sara Bailey on 03 5755 0522 or sarab@alpineshire.vic.gov.au
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