The proposal to clear the road during winter from Windy Corner to the ANARE shed at Rocky Valley will destroy cross country skiing access and amenity. The existing snow-covered road provides access to cross country skiers and snow shoe users free of wheeled vehicles.
This access route provides a quiet, scenic and sheltered route for cross country skiers and snow shoe users to access and use the XC trail network including the Nordic Bowl. The route is wide enough to accommodate many skiers.
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| The road that Falls Creek resort wants to keep cleared all Winter. |
Current users of this area are cross country skiers of all ages and abilities, snow shoe users and XC racers who train there regularly and compete in events such as the Kangaroo Hoppet.
Clearing the road to create additional carparks will prevent current users from skiing on it and put spoil down the slopes above and below it. Road traffic would destroy the serenity of the current XC ski area including the Nordic bowl. This will ruin the cross country ski experience and amenity at Falls Creek, which is the main reason our family visits the resort.
On our last visit our daughter skied on the lifts for 4 days, I skied on the lifts for one day and cross country for 4 days. We used the Windy Corner shelter and cafe every day.
The proposal to provide new XC facilities close to or next to Rocky Valley dam is ill-considered. This area gets significantly more adverse weather than the sheltered Nordic Bowl, XC trails and currently uncleared road. Frequent adverse weather at or close to the dam includes very strong winds, a much higher chill factor and poor visibility.
If this proposal proceeds we will be unlikely to visit Falls Creek again in winter. Windy Corner and the existing XC trails are the main reason our family visits Falls Creek.
I recommend improving bus services to Falls Creek as an alternative to providing more parking for private cars. This would provide increased access for more visitors without further damaging the alpine environment and experience that people come to Falls Creek for.
You can provide your feedback on this proposal (closing Sunday 18 Sep 2022) here.
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| The section of road they want to keep cleared in Winter |
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| Sking down to Nordic Bowl |
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| Nordic Bowl |
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| ANARE shed |
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| Windy Corner car park, the road stops here in Winter |
Additional information
- Save Falls Creek xc
- Save Falls Creek XC, Facebook
- Plans revealed for Falls Creek Lakeside Development project, Mountain Journal
- Development Proposal for the Lakeside Precinct at Falls Creek – Implications for Cross Country Skiing, Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club Inc.
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