Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing, VIC

It is not too late to save our Alpine Wilderness

The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing is located in the heart of Victoria’s Alpine National Park (ANP). With its powerful, spectacular, and distinctive landscape, this region has a special association with the Australian community because of the unique landscapes, naturalness, experience of remoteness and as one of the few opportunities for broad-scale outdoor recreation in Australia. The ANP is widely recognised by Australian’s as the ‘high country’ and many community groups have a special association with the ANP for recreation, mental health, social and cultural reasons.

The current state

The current Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing, is a 37-kilometre, three-day hike through some of Australia’s most pristine mountain scenery, crossing the Bogong High Plains in the Victorian Alps and connects the alpine resorts of Falls Creek and Hotham.

It is a stunningly isolated wilderness experience that thousands of recreational hikers enjoy every year. But it may not be any more.

What’s the concern?

I am an advocate of commercial operators who help people explore areas they may not have the confidence to. What I am not a fan of is governments, land managers and tourism organisations who develop ill-conceived plans, ignoring public opinion, to capitalise on the lucrative inbound tourism sector and drive us recreational hikers out.

The Victorian government recently announced a $15M preliminary investment in ‘upgrading’ the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing (FHAC) in the Victorian Alps. The media release was somewhat ambiguous as it did not spell out the master plan which is to spend $34M of our money on luxury, serviced accommodation, run by licensed tour operators to rival other states and regions and attract cashed-up international tourists.

The government, as custodians of our wilderness, has been appointed to protect this powerful, spectacular, and distinctive landscape. It is vital we raise our collective voices to halt the FHAC development before it is too late. We do not want or need commercial developments or an increase of cashed-up tourists in our remote wild.

What I have done

I have recently written a letter to all relevant Ministers and Parks Victoria asking that this project be halted. My reasons are both personal and for the long-term environmental protection of the areas we all enjoy. I want my kids to experience it the way I do now. I have also shared this post via as many channels as I can.

STAGE 1 SUBMISSION: Download my initial letter of objection (09 December 2020)

STAGE 2 SUBMISSION: Download my submission to Parks Victoria (18 September 2022)

Further information

To help you form your own opinion.

Please view the FHAC Master Plan documents for more information, before forming your own opinion.

Falls to Hotham – floorplans and hut sketches (PDF | 5.65 MB)
Accessible PDF of floorplans and sketches of communal shelters, hiker huts and tent platforms

Falls to Hotham- draft site plans (PDF | 3.18 MB)
Draft site plans for overnight locations.

Visit Engage Victoria for more documentation. https://engage.vic.gov.au/falls-to-hotham

Public consultation for the “Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing” is CURRENTLY closed but you can still send an email VIA THE BUTTON BELOW, voicing your concerns. Make sure you adapt or edit the email to reflect your concerns and voice, and add additional remarks to the email template.

News and updates

Time to rescue the Alpine National Park – again!
Victoria National parks Association
Published: 18 November 2022
https://vnpa.org.au/time-to-rescue-the-alpine-national-park-again/

Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing
Consultation Engage Victoria
Closed: 25 September 2022
https://engage.vic.gov.au/falls-to-hotham

Reconsider the Falls to Hotham Crossing development in Victoria
Trail Hiking Australia
Published: 10 December 2021
https://www.trailhiking.com.au/blog/stop-the-falls-to-hotham-crossing-development-in-victoria/

Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Project Update – October 2021 Project Update
Bushwalking Victoria
Published: 27 October 2021
https://bushwalkingvictoria.org.au/falls-to-hotham-alpine-crossing-project-update-october-2021-project-update/

What’s happening with the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing?
Mountain Journal
Published: 28 September 2021
https://themountainjournal.com/2021/09/28/whats-happen-with-the-falls-to-hotham-alpine-crossing/

Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Masterplan approved
Green Magazine
Published: 4 June 2018
https://greenmagazine.com.au/falls-to-hotham-alpine-crossing-masterplan-approved/

Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing development fails the pub test
Victoria National Parks Association
Published: 19 January 2017
https://vnpa.org.au/falls-to-hotham-alpine-crossing-development-fails-the-pub-test/

Victorian bushwalkers reject Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing development plan
ABC News
Published: 27 December 2016
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-27/parks-victoria-propose-development-falls-to-hotham-alpine-trail/8149072

Falls Creek-to-Mount Hotham alpine trail plan aimed at luxury-seeking bushwalkers
The Age
Published: 26 December 2016
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/falls-creektomount-hotham-alpine-trail-plan-aimed-at-luxuryseeking-bushwalkers-20161222-gtgbyb.html