Plans for the Mount Buffalo Chalet suggest re-purposing 95 per cent of the building, but a government-appointed project manager is needed to make it happen.
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The Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group previewed their 40-page proposal at a meeting on Sunday.
Developing a conference or day spa building behind the chalet, the return of accommodation to the building, ‘glamping’ at Lake Catani and an education centre at Dingo Dell are among ideas presented by the group.
A possible 89 old and new rooms could be made available to schools, tourists and shareholders, the latter who could buy into the chalet in return for nights away.
MBDAG spokeswoman Janelle Boynton said this shareholder idea joined government and commercial sources in funding options.
“There is clear examples now within government about alpine leasing and how the major alpine resorts have a lease that allows them to own the building,” she said.
“I would say we’ve had a really good response to this solution within government.”
But a descendant of the Mansfield family linked to the chalet, Ian Browne, said he doubted the government’s willingness to commit to such a partnership.
“Government is not in the risk-tasking business … I don’t see government interested in a commercial operation,” he said.
Ms Boynton said the plans aligned with 14 separate strategies and a demand for more school camp sites.
“(Mount) Bogong has the ability to do 35 school camps per year; last year they were asked to do 80,” she said.
“There’s documents on the department of education’s desk at the moment about activating more school camps within alpine regions.”
The documents didn’t appear to outline timeframes or costings, but Ms Boynton said reactivating the front of the chalet for dining should be a primary step.
“There’s 181,000 people visiting Buffalo and getting near to no economic benefit from that visit,” she said.
“It made sense to us a cafe could be reactivated … so the 181,000 people on the site already can get a sandwich.”
Ms Boynton said the plans would be released on Thursday, as Parks Victoria is asked for support in pitching the case to government.
“This needs a project manager to take this vision to all of those business partners,” she said.