Changes around the village

Tobogganing comes to the bowl

Some restaurants/cafes have new names and styles. In an earlier post we saw that the old Cafe Max has new owners and a new style. They will be open for brekky, lunch and dinner as well as selling bread, milk and specialty groceries. Winterhaven is now The Chophouse and Oishi Go has become Some Place Else. At night Husky has a Thai menu, although the daytime menu is similar to last year.

There will be a new street-trading cafe in the bowl, Easy Eats.

At Slalom St Plaza the street-trading outlets will be Snonuts, Monster Chicken and Alpine Ice Cream. Snonuts will also have an outlet at ATS.

Transport Changes

First the good news: ATS (aka oversnow) price will be reduced by 20%.

Now the other bits.

1. From 23 June to 12 September, the village will be closed to guest vehicles whether or not there is snow on the road. No driving to the lodge during this period - it's ATS or walk.
2. Pedestrian access near ATS has been redesigned to give better separation between people and reversing oversnow vehicles. The boom gate across Falls Creek Rd will block access to pedestrians as well as cars. New steps on the opposite side to ATS will get pedestrians safely onto Falls Creek Rd. The will be a loading area near the steps for those that don't want to use ATS.
3. The loading area at the bottom of Slalom St will be expanded further up Slalom St. There will also be barriers to divert people skiing down from the lodges in that area.

Community Pizza Oven

The tennis/social club at Falls Creek has just installed a wood-fired pizza oven in the barbecue area near the playground.  The intention is make it available to the wider community, especially ski clubs. 

Details are still being worked out, but it is expected that for a modest fee (mainly to cover the cost of appropriate wood) and a bit of notice, the pizza oven will be available to club members who wish to use it.

Mountain Biking at Falls Creek

Stage 3 of the mountain bike trails opened in November. This brings the total to 20km of  cross country mountain bike trails (mostly single-track). Even more are planned for next summer. The Bogong High Plains offer longer rides too.

For those who enjoy down more than up, there are a many opportunities.

• The Blue Dirt company are running shuttles roughly every second weekend over summer. For $50 per day ($90 per weekend) they will transport you and your bike from Slalom car park to the top of the trails. We've timed one of the no-minimum-fee lodge weekends to coincide with this.
• The summit chair also operates on some peak summer season days and can take bikes. Keep an eye on the fallscreek.com.au website for specific dates

Trail descriptions
Download a mountain bike trail map

Village Roads and Access

FCRM have advised that the roads will be cleared in the next few days and the roads will open to normal vehicles, probably on Tue 2nd or Wed 3rd Sept.

This means that you enter the village for 30 minutes to drop off or pick up.
When you park, the carpark shuttle will return you to ATS (oversnow). The village shuttle will detour via ATS to pick people up, but only between 8am-5:30pm, or maybe longer depending on demand. You could also use Gully chair to get back to the bowl.

The advice also says

"ATS operating hours remain unaffected: Sat-Thurs 8am to 10pm and Fri 8am to 12 midnight (or as demand requires). Outside of these hours there will be no village access for guest vehicles."

In other words, no guarantee of timely service to take you to the lodge after 5:30pm and you may not be able to drive into the village at all after midnight Friday, or 10pm other nights.

Have your say to shape our future

Falls Creek, like all the Victorian snow resorts, is required by government to produce a MasterPlan for the resort. (This is a Falls Creek Resort Management plan, not a lift company plan.)

They are now in a consultative phase, guided by a discussion paper and with a website for you to provide feedback. In particular they want to know what people see as the big issues facing Falls Creek and what "big idea" might bring a big increase in visitation to the resort.

It is important that the Master Plan reflects the needs of clubs and ordinary snowsports lovers, not just businesses and bureaucrats. You've got till September 7 to have your say. Log on to the website at masterplan.fallscreek.com.au; have a look at the discussion paper and tell them what is important to you and your family and guests.

Changed parking and Oversnow arrangements

This season FCRM has engaged a private contractor (4Site) to operate car parking, accommodation transfer, freight, shuttles, snow-clearing, cleaning of public buildings and enforcement (eg parking infringements). This has brought some changes to car parking and ATS (oversnow).

If you are intending to arrive late it would be prudent to check with ATS on 5758 120.

Car Parking

Attended car parking closes at 6pm Mon-Thur. There are a number of late-arrival spots below the ATS terminal where you can park on your first night until 10:30am the next morning. If you have not purchased your entry permit on-line you will need to purchase the next day.

When there is no snow in the village there will not be guaranteed transfer from ATS to lodges after you have been parked. You will be parked and then returned to the ATS terminal.There may be limited ATS services for dropping guests at lodges (and vice versa) via shuttle buses. There will be no fees for these services, however they will be scheduled based on demand levels. Of course you have the option of riding up Gully chair if it is within lift hours.

There are also changes (reductions?) in the day parking spaces.

ATS

Mon-Thur ATS closes at 8pm. If you arrive after this you will be walking up.

Hours of operation are 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to midnight Friday, 8am to 10pm on Saturday and 7.30am to 10pm on Sunday.

Hours of operation are 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to midnight Friday, 8am to 10pm on Saturday and 7.30am to 10pm on Sunday. - See more at: http://www.fallscreek.com.au/ResortParking#sthash.QVmRkVtA.dpuf

Improved Mobile Service

Telstra celebrated the start of  the snow season by turning on the new 4G service the day before Queens Birthday Weekend.

Hopefully this will mean much better mobile service, especially for those people using Telstra's mobile broadband

Shopping at Falls Creek

The Hub supermarket is no more, but Foodworks is still operating in the QT building (formerly Quay West and St Falls) near Falls Creek Express chairlift.

Foodworks is offering some new ways to shop too that might suit some members. The Mt Beauty has better range and prices than the Falls Creek store.

1. Do your shopping in person at the Falls Creek Foodworks before 3pm and they will deliver to the lodge between 4pm and 6pm for $5, or free if the order is over $100.
2. Do your shopping online from the Mt Beauty Foodworks store at Mt Beauty prices and get it delivered to the Falls Creek  store or to the lodge. There are fees for Pick'n'Pack ($10 for the first $200 worth of groceries, then $2.50 per $100), delivery to Falls ($9 per carton) and delivery to the lodge ($5 per carton). On average a carton can hold ~$60 worth of groceries, but obviously this is pretty variable. Details and on-line shop are at foodworkshighcountry.com.au/fallscreekorders

Accommodation Transfer Service (aka Oversnow)

FCRM will be running this service again this year and have announced proposed pricing

They are promising improvements in

• An improved communications system to the ATS Terminal; 
• Improvements to the luggage baskets; and 
• Access to supplementary vehicles (I presume this means extra vehicles at busy time)

They also emphasise that Sunday mornings are a very busy time for departing guests. If you want to get oversnow transport on a Sunday morning it is important to book early in the week. Personally I find it easiest to book the return journey when I buy my tickets on arrival.

Type	2012 ($)	Proposed 2013 ($)
Adult one-way	19.0	20
Child one-way	12.5	13
Child one-way U5	NA	NA
Adult return	33	35
Child return	21.5	23
Child return U5	NA	NA
Adult season	155	162
Child season	100	105
Taxi (Husky flat rate)	65	68
Taxi (Argo, per person)	10	10
Excess baggage (per item)	3	3

New Bus Service

Pyles buses, now known as Falls Creek Coach Service have run services to falls Creek since Noah was a lad. North East Coach Lines company, under the name HothamBus, are offering a competing service year, to Falls as well as Hotham. I know nothing about them, but you can find out more at their website .On their facebook page they have a special offer on unlimited travel for the season. I think you have to be logged on to facebook to access it. Check the fine print.

Unlimited travel pass from Melbourne in 2013 with HothamBus or Falls Bus for $399pp.

Expires 31 March 2013 · Available online
Resort entry fee's of $16 per person for Hotham Alpine Resort & $13 for Falls Creek are payable on departure in Melbourne each trip. Only 8 seats per departure are available at this fare type. Upgrades available if sold out. Payment due by credit card after 1st April and before the 30th April 2013, with online voucher needed to be claimed by 31st March 2013. Pass is non refundable after first use.

big yellow taxi...

not a Joni Mitchell song but a new service at Falls creek. Sounds like a great alternative if you don't want to stagger back up the hill after a big night out

The Snowcab can seat up to three passengers at a time and charges a flat rate of $10 per person to anywhere within Falls Creek village.
 
The snowcab service can be hailed or booked through the Accommodation Transfer Service on 5758 1203.

There is also an option for bigger groups to hire a Husky for village transport. Single trips in a heated Husky vehicle can be pre-booked for a flat rate of $65 per trip (conditions apply).

child care

The Falls Creek Child Care centre is now accredited as an Approved Care Provider.

The centre is open every day of the season and caters for children from 12 weeks to 5 years old. There is more information, and a downloadable brochure,  in the Falls Creek Info tab of this site

accomodation transfer service

Resort Management have announced 2012 prices for the accommodation transfer service (oversnow). The return price has gone up more than the single price, but increases are pretty modest.

Ticket Prices	2012 price
Village Transfer - One Way Adult	$19.00
Village Transfer - One Way Child	$12.50
Village Transfer - One Way Under 5	FREE
Village Transfer - Return Adult	$33.00
Village Transfer - Return Child	$21.50
Village Transfer - Return Under 5	FREE
Village Transfer - Excess Baggage (per item)	$3.00
ATS -Taxi	$65.00
ECO Bag	$2.00
Seasons Ticket Adult	$155.00

A new service, operated by resort management, was introduced last season using brand new vehicles. Overall it was pretty good. If you are planning to use the service, remember that peak times (especially Sunday afternoons) can be very busy. If you are using the return service, you must book your return trip at least24 hours ahead.

valley news

Yackandandah Creek bridge reopened
If you travel to Falls Creek via Albury/Wodonga you will be very pleased to hear that the new bridge has been completed and the Kiewa Valley Highway reopened shortly before Christmas. No more long detour north of Kiewa!

The bridge was seriously damaged by flash flooding about 12 months ago and had to be replaced. The highway has been closed since.

Be aware that there are still some speed restrictions in place.

new brewery premises in Mt Beauty
You may have already enjoyed a drop of the local Sweetwater beer at Falls or in Mt Beauty. Previously located at Annapurna winery, Sweetwater has now relocated to new premises on the Kiewa Valley Hwy in Tawonga South, directly opposite the Mt Beauty Holiday Centre (that's the caravan park).

The owner and brewer is a keen skier, you've probably seen him zipping around the resort on his tele skis. He's also a very keen fisherman. At this stage he's open Fri, Sat & Sun evenings for beer & snacks if you are looking for a refreshing ale when you are in the valley.

big changes to village transport this season

Falls Creek Resort Management will now be running the service previously provided by "Oversnow".

They have purchased a fleet of 6 Prinoth Husky vehicles, 5 of which carry passengers and one for luggage and freight only. These tracked vehicles will be used to provide transfer of guests and their luggage to/from lodges as well as provide the village shuttle service. As well as improved comfort, these vehicles will inflict less wear and tear on the snow on the village roads. 2 of the vehicles will also be able to groom village roads. Other vehicles may be used at peak demand times too.

The new vehicles will go into service in the next week or so. In the meantime, village roads are being kept clear where possible. An interim over snow service will be provided if required.

Other changes

• Price has decreased
• You can buy your accommodation transfer tickets when you buy your resort entry, at the gate or in sub-alpine outlets.
• You can "split the ride" and send one person with all the luggage.
• Luggage rate is $2.50 per item. (Normal fare includes 2 pieces of luggage, one pair skis/board with boots and one hand luggage)
• You can purchase large Transit Bags ($2 each) to put smaller bags into so that luggage charge is minimised.

Full details at http://www.fallscreek.com.au/AccommodationTransfer

There is also a survey on village transport. Tell FCRM what you think.

Bogong High Plains Rd to Falls Creek is now open all hours

FCRM advise that Vicroads and Police have okayed the road to be open night and day.

There are still 2 sets of traffic lights where the road is reduced to one way (near Clover Dam and just below Turnback) and you should be cautious throughout the drive.

Village in Oversnow mode

Once more there is enough snow in the village for ski-in/ski-out and oversnow operation.

Village roads have been cleared

On Saturday, FCRM decided that there was not enough snow on the village roads to make them practical for ski-in/ski-out. Accordingly, they have cleared the village roads.

The same arrangements will be place for drop off and pick up as those that applied earlier in the season. You can get a 30 min pass to drive the lodge and load/unload. Depending on conditions, you may be required to fit chains. Roads may be icy, so be careful driving and walking around the village.

Village Shuttles

FCRM are reminding us that the shuttle service can not be relied on to get everyone around the village.

The intra-village shuttle service is primarily provided for the elderly, immobile, young children and novice skiers and boarders. As we have limited capacity to provide the intra-village shuttle service we strongly encourage ... guests ...to ski to and from their accommodation.

When night skiing is on, there is an extended intra-village shuttle service until ~20 minutes after the lift closes. Once again FCRM are advising that it can't be relied on for general getting around the village:

There are, of course, a limited number of shuttles we can provide during the evening service and this has meant that during the busiest periods the demand is greater than the supply. While we are more than happy to continue to provide the service to whomever is seeking the transport, in future when there is a build up of guests waiting for transport at shuttle stops we will request that priority be given to:

- Skiers and boarders returning from night skiing,

- The elderly and immobile, and

- Very young children.