ben lomond committee inc....

Ben Lomond Committee Inc.

Newsletter – Issue 1 (May) 2014

Executive Contacts President:

Tony Gray: M - 0419 728 517

E – [email protected]

Vice President:

Douglas James: M 0427 432 863


Secretary:

Adrian Beswick: M 0438 253 111


Treasurer:

Chris Sundstrup: M 0417 059 066

E - [email protected]

In this Newsletter:

BLC Executive Contacts

Presidents Update

Grant Application Success

Insurance for Lodges

Road Sign Lobby

2014 Calendar

mailto:[email protected]




Newsletter – Issue # 1 – May 2014

1 | P a g e

Presidents Update

Dear BLC Member,

We hope you will circulate this BLC Bulletin to

your individual members, as one of our goals

this year is to improve communication across

the mountain.

The BLC represents lodges, stakeholders and

businesses on Ben Lomond and also seeks to

maintain and develop the mountain

community. This includes representations to

government, Parks & Wildlife and other

departments in the interests of firstly BLC

members and secondly the broader public.

Whilst promoting Ben Lomond as a

destination to visit and seeking to improve

services, infrastructure and facilities, the BLC

is not an entity intended or designed to

undertake business activities.

I acknowledge Douglas James’ role as

President in 2013 and his continued

involvement as Vice-President for 2014.

Adrian Beswick continues as BLC Secretary

and his focus will be on our communication

approach to members and the public. Chris

Sundstrup continues as Treasurer and in 2013

we generated a surplus on modest revenue.

We welcome as a new (returning) BLC

member in 2014 The Summit Lodge (aka ‘The

Kremlin’), with Kathy & Irina Petrovsky getting

involved. If you are reading this and your

lodge is not a member, then consider the

prospect of joining the BLC.

BLC achievements for 2013 include:

Conducting an on-line survey of

visitors to the mountain during the

2013 season;

Running junior ski races;

Successfully applying for a matching

Sport & Recreation grant for new ski

racing equipment;

Organising a schedule of lodge happy

hours*;

Holding productive meetings with the

Parks & Wildlife Minister and staff.

Amongst other matters this included:

o Supporting increased funding

for the Ski Patrol; and

o Noting our concern about the

steep sewerage levy increases

(we note the reduction in this

levy for 2012-13 - invoiced in

April 2014).

Funding a valuation opinion used by

at least 6 lodges to object to land

and/or capital valuation increases.

Feedback from lodges has been that

reductions in either capital or land

values were achieved – reducing lease

fees and/or council rates.

Primary BLC goals for 2014 include:

1. Developing and implementing a

strategic plan;

2. Improving whole of mountain

communication; and

3. Encouraging more social events and

ski/board racing.

*The term ‘happy hour’ has been used for many years to describe open

lodges – not the sale of half price drinks or the like.


2 | P a g e

Tow Operations

We have maintained communication with

Kate Williams at Alpine Enterprises and Parks

about the potential sale of the tow

operations.

At this time the position is that Alpine

Enterprises is for sale, with the Currawong

Lodge offered separately. Tows have been

signed off for the 2014 snow season and

maintenance is ongoing. Alpine Enterprises

will be advertising for staff in the Examiner (if

necessary) in early June. Enquiries may be

directed to Alpine Enterprises, PO Box 34, St

Leonards.

If no sale occurs before the 2014 snow

season, then Alpine Enterprises have agreed

in principle to the BLC proposal that a tow be

re-opened at 4.30 pm for the purposes of ski

race training (dates to be advised).

Parks & Wildlife

PWS advise that the contract for Roadworks

this year has been finalised and works will

commence in the first week of May. During

this period the road will not be closed but

there may be some short delays due to trucks

and machinery use.

If you intend operating an oversnow vehicle

during the season, then you will need a permit

from PWS – the relevant contact is

[email protected]. Regular

permit holders have already been contacted

by PWS.

Here’s to a snowy 2014.

Best wishes,

Tony Gray

Grant Application Success – Ski Racing Equipment

Leading into 2014 the BLC committee through

Ski Association Representative, David Atkins

has been successful in its application through

Tasmanian Sports and Recreation to receive a

50/50 split funded new race timing system.

This system is more compact, easy to set up

and will allow for a less labour intensive

setup. To get cracking with the 2014 snow

season, there will be a number of extra race

days weather permitting and the committee

are excited in its direction. More information

to follow in due course.



3 | P a g e

Insurance for Lodges

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pty Ltd are assisting the BLC to investigate the benefits of a group insurance bid, coordinated through the BLC.

A questionnaire will be circulated to lodges soon which will provide the information from individual lodges to commence the project.

The BLC acknowledges that fixed costs, or even the ability to comprehensively insure your lodge is becoming increasingly challenging and this is one way we can coordinate and attempt to achieve a reduction in these fixed costs.

Road Sign Lobby

BLC committee member David Atkins has

been researching into the capacity to add a

skier to signs which lead to Ben Lomond

National Park on the main signs which direct

people to Ben Lomond. There are about 7

road signs that have Ben Lomond as a

destination.

The BLC have written to DIER and the new

minister, Rene Hidding in an attempt to get a

positive outcome and increase the awareness

to those people not familiar with what Ben

Lomond has to offer.

Preliminary BLC Calendar 2014

Lodges are encouraged to email the BLC Secretary: Adrian Beswick at [email protected] with dates they are happy to host a lodge Happy Hour.

These are great way for BLC members to connect. Note the term Happy Hour relates to an open lodge and not the sale of cut-price drinks. These are intended to be for members and guests of the lodges and businesses and not the general public.

June

22 Happy Hour date available


July (5-20, School Holidays)


12 Kids Fun Day – Help requested

19 NTAC Happy Hour

26 Rovers – Ben Lomond Bender

August



10 Training Day for junior races

Happy Hour date available

16 Bellendena Bash

Old Buffers & Mothers Race


24 Tasmanian Cup Open - Slalom

30 Cross Country Race (Giblin and back)

Happy Hour date available

31 Ben Lomond Descent (obstacle race)

September




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