FCAA Website V5.1/24. Latest update on 14 April 2025; Newsletter #13, April 2025. Go to the "About" Tab.
Members of the VSA are:
Background
The Victorian Snowsports Association (VSA) has been in existence for over 50 years.
The VSA is a not-for-profit organisation representing stakeholders at Victoria’s four major alpine resorts.
The VSA represents over 200 clubs, apartment owners, individuals and commercial operators and in excess of 24,000 individuals from our member bases with the actual number including family members estimated to be in excess of 72,000 people.
We estimate the value of property held by the stakeholders we represent to be more than $1 billion.
The VSA believes there is a significant opportunity for Government to work much more closely with the resort stakeholders to resolve relevant issues. It aims to achieve positive outcomes to benefit all visitors to Victoria’s alpine regions and to ensure the resorts’ future viability. There is obvious benefit for Government and stakeholders to adopt a mutually cooperative and consultative approach to alpine issues.
VSA Purpose
(a) to promote and represent Victorian snow sports enthusiasts, alpine activities and member interests;
(b) to achieve security of tenure for siteholders of alpine resort;
(c) to engage with the Victorian Government and any relevant authorities and stakeholders to advocate for the most practical and economical administration of alpine resorts;
(d) to represent members;
(e) to promote the participation by members in planning and environmental controls of alpine resorts;
(f) to keep members informed about the development and management of alpine resorts; and
(g) to undertake activities for the benefit of members and alpine resorts generally; and
(h) to achieve elected representation for all siteholders in the management and administration of alpine resorts.
Examples of VSA’s work
An early success of the VSA was to meet with the Victorian Building Commission (VBC) regarding automatic sprinkler systems in shared accommodation. As a result of our work, we were able to convince the VBC that hard wired smoke detectors were a more practical/cost effective fire detection solution not only for our members but for all mountain stakeholders. It had been estimated that retrofitting automatic sprinkler systems to a lodge would cost in excess of $ 100,000; an amount out of the reach of most of our members.
VSA/ARC lease. The VSA worked closely with the Victorian government in the development of this lease which was the forerunner to the current Alpine Lease. Some VSA/ARCC leases are still in operation today.
All VSA members made submissions to the State Services Authority (SSA) Review of Alpine Resort Areas conducted in 2008.
In 2011 the VSA commissioned Ernst & Young to do a report on: The impact of site rentals & service charges on Victoria’s alpine ski clubs and lodges. The cost for this report and much of the information for this report was contributed to by all the members of the ARWG including the FCAA. The final report was presented to the Victorian government and the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council (ARCC).
During the Pandemic of 2020/22, the VSA was instrumental in the development of industry specific guidelines for Pandemic Alpine Accommodation rules. The Victorian Government and the VSA worked together to create suitable workable pandemic accommodation requirements in order to ensure that the not for profit lodges (in particular) were subject to requirements that were specific to their accommodation segment.
Office Bearers
President; Fiona Ashton – Mount Buller
Vice President; David Stogdale – Falls Creek
Secretary; Paul Proctor – Mount Baw Baw
Treasurer; Rob Anderson – Mount Hotham
Should you wish to contact the VSA, it is best to contact your local representative, being David Stogdale of FCAA; email president@fcaa.org.au
