COVID-19 Update (11 May)

On Monday the Victorian State Government released details on some relaxation to the Covid 19 restrictions. Unfortunately there was no information related to the up coming ski season except to say that staying at our lodge is still not permitted. We understand that the new restrictions announced today will stay in place for another three weeks.

The Victorian Chief Health Officer later commented on radio that the return of the ski season is being worked through. Unfortunately he went on to say that when ski resorts reopened, any sort of group accommodation would be out of the question. It is not clear if that applied to initial opening or the whole season.

We therefore wait for further news from the State Government and Falls Creek Resort Management as to if and when the season will commence and whether lodges can operate.

Your committee is currently considering various options on how the lodge may operate should we be allowed to open. This includes limits on how many people can stay at the lodge at one time, cleaning procedures, protection of our managers and visitors, and overall compliance with regulations etc. Although we have not been able to have a working bee this year the lodge has plenty of fire wood and we hope to be able to open in some form as soon as we get the green light.

Until then we will have to wait and be patient.

 

Nigel Cowie
President

Last Updated: 13 June 2021 13 June 2021

• covid

Booking System - What's New

We've made a few changes to how bookings work this year, reflecting changes in booking demand and also to improve how the system works

Victorian June/July School Holidays

• There are no longer special conditions for Victioran June/July school holidays. Book for this period as you would for any other winter period

Waitlisting

• The waitlist facility has been very popular with members wishing to make weekend bookings. We want to make this even more effective by eliminating wasted opportunities for short bookings.
• Waitlisting requests for bookings weekends and other non-standard bookings can be submitted after 18 March.
• Occasionally people made waitlist requests but did not require them when the time came to approve the booking. By the time it was clear that the booking was not required, it was sometimes too late for someone else to take up the opportunity.
• Now, if you make a waitlist request, you will be sent an email approx 1 week before the opening date for the booking. You will be asked to confirm within 2 days that you still want it. If you do not respond promptly, the waitlist request will lapse. 
• Once approved, immediate payment for the booking is required or it will lapse. 
• See the full waitlist policy

Payment must be made promptly

• Some members have been quite slow to pay for bookings. In some cases bookings were cancelled very late, having never been paid for. 
• The booking officer will now cancel bookings not paid for in the appropriate time. This is within 7 days for normal bookings and 1 day for approved waitlist requests.

Late season discount

• Stay at the lodge from Fri 25 September to end of season (Victorian September/OctoberSchool Holidays) for a special low rate, approx 17% lower than winter off-peak rates.

Booking into other AAC lodges

• You can now logon on to Anton and Dinner Plain booking systems using your AAC Falls Creek logon credentials. Hopefully Perisher will join in soon.

Tighter enforcement of booking priority

• The long-standing booking rules state that only bookings for members open on 1 February. Bookings for family of members must wait till 8 March and other guests till 15 March. Bookings for members of other AAC lodges open on 1 March. 
• To improve the enforcement of this rule, on any night a member can only be booked into one bed in their own name.
• You can use the comment section of a booking to tell the booking officer if you intend booking for others as well.

Room 7

• At the time of writing, we are hoping to convert Room 7 to a twin, like room 12. The bushfires affected building schedules and it is not yet clear if the conversion can be done this summer. In the meantime, Room 7 is shown as a twin in the booking system to avoid the risk of overbooking.

Documents 

• The booking information sheet has been replaced by web-based information. You can read this online or download it as a PDF, or just download selected sections. The Falls Creek specific information is also provided at aacfallscreek.com/book.html .
• The booking system user guide is being updated to reflect these changes. This may not be complete by opening of bookings

Last Updated: 11 March 2020 11 March 2020

Annual Reports for 2019

As previously advised, the Annual General Meeting has been postponed. The likely date is 25 August, but it is not possible to book a venue while current restrictions are in force.

The club's financial accounts for the year 2019 have been finalised, audited and approved by the committee.

The annual reports from the committee have also been completed.

If you would like to discuss any matters ahead of the AGM, please contact the relevant committee member/s. Other AGM documents will be provided prior to the meeting.

Last Updated: 27 May 2020 27 May 2020

Waitlisted bookings - early approval of some requests

At the 2019 AGM members requested that the committee consider whether waitlist requests could be approved earlier than strict application of the booking rules would require. In particular members hoped that this could be done where there was little or no chance of a 7 day booking being made that would clash with a weekend request.

The committe looked for a way to give as much booking certainty as possible to members, balanced against preserving booking priority for members and for standard 7 and 5 day bookings.

In 2020 we will trial early approval of eligible waitlist bookings. Eligible waitlist requests will be approved from 1 June, where eligible means

• only members, spouse and their children, and
• the preceding midweek is full, and
• the booking is paid for immediately on request from the booking officer. 

If you use the wailtlist system, please let us know at the end of the season whether this has been helpful.

Last Updated: 18 March 2020 18 March 2020

Summer Cleaning

Unfortunately sometimes our summer visitors do not pay sufficient attention to cleaning.

While Andrew & Myra clean meticulously in ski season, managers are not required to clean in summer. We rely on members and guests to leave the lodge in a clean and tidy condition.

The committee has decided to emphasise the need to clean thorougthly and to introduce a fee if this has been negleected.

So to clear what is expected in "green season":

• You must clean your room and ensuite before departure.
• You must also cooperate with other guests to clean the kitchen and all common areas used.
• Cleaning must be to at least the standard that you would hope for when coming into accommodation.
• Cleaning kits with cloths and chemicals should be collected from the laundry and returned there later.
• Failure to adequately clean may result in a cleaning fee of up to $200 per room.

 (This does not apply to Peaks Challenge weekend, when cleaning services are provided by the manager)

Last Updated: 11 March 2020 11 March 2020

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for 7pm Tuesday 26 May at Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

The committee will monitor the advice of health authorities and other government bodies on holding such meetings. Don't be surprised if arrangements change.

Last Updated: 18 March 2020 18 March 2020

High Country is coming to Melbourne

2 February free showcase by Victoria's high country businesses at The Timberyard in Port Melbourne.

Come along to discover High Country's unique food, drinks, produce and experiences. Everyone who attends this special event will be supporting the businesses and families that have been impacted by the loss of their peak summer tourism period.

More info

Last Updated: 31 January 2020 31 January 2020

Enjoy Falls Creek this Summer

Now is the perfect time to visit Falls Creek this summer so what are you and your friends waiting for?
January and February feature some of the best Summer events at Falls Creek and what’s more, you can also take the opportunity to show the local communities your support after some challenging times recently. So, whether it’s to participate or just relax, now is the time to get up to the AAC Falls Creek lodge and enjoy our beautiful resort this Summer.
Know some friends who aren’t members but might be interested? No problem! The Club offers Summer Associate membership which allows non AAC members to enjoy the benefits of the lodge in Summer for a small membership fee of just $20 for one summer season. Once accepted, Summer associates can make bookings for themselves and a group or friends, a club or family. Click Here for a Summer Associate application form.
Here’s what’s on for the rest of January and February:

Trails, Tails And Tucker – selected dates in Feb, Mar, Apr 2020
	The journey takes in historical alpine huts and delves into the journeys of the Indigenous, the Bogong Moth, the graziers, tribulations of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme and the formation of Falls Creek Alpine Village. The walk concludes with a delectable lunch of tastes of the North East Victoria with stunning views across the High Plains. Enjoy! Click Here
Victorian Enduro Tour - Round Three – 1 February 2020
	Falls Creek MTB Park in conjunction with Resort Management is thrilled to host the Third round of the Victorian Enduro Tour. This is going to be a fantastic weekend of challenging racing in a true mountain environment. What a great opportunity to get up to Falls Creek and sample our world class riding. Click Here
Falls Creek XCO – Victorian State Championships – 16 February 2020
	XCO or Cross country Olympic Format is one of the most well know and exciting disciplines of mountain biking. With head to head racing, technical tracks and world class athletes it’s a action packed event! Click Here
MTB De Femme – 21 to 23 February 2020
	MTB De Femme is the perfect girl’s day out in the mountains with a great range of activities to suit all levels of riders. Meet new friends with lunch specials at various locations around the village – you can choose from fast lunch options or a sit down and refuel lunch before hitting the tracks again. With top quality riding, like minded riders and seamless organisation, get the girls together and save the date! Click Here
Falls Creek MTB Interschools 2020 – 28 February 2020
	Falls Creek Mountain Bike Park in collaboration with Mount Beauty Secondary College, are hosting a one day mountain bike event for Secondary and Primary School aged children. This XCO – cross country olympic event format race is suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike. Classes are : Grade 3 /4, Grade 5/6, Year 7/8, Year 9/10 or Year 11/12 Click Here

 

Need to book your stay? Please refer to the AAC Falls Creek website by Clicking Here

Enjoy your Summer stay and be sure to upload your photos to the AAC Falls Creek Facebook Page, so everyone can see what they’re missing out on!

Last Updated: 11 March 2020 11 March 2020

Work Party

Normally we would be inviting members to join in the work party to help with numerous tasks to get the lodge in top shape for the ski season.

Given the uncertainty with Covid-19, we are not seeking any more helpers at this stage. Depending on the circumstances, official and personal, closer to the time, the work party may be reduced in scope or cancelled.

Last Updated: 18 March 2020 18 March 2020

Early Bird Resort Entry Season Passes still available

With bushfires effecting both staff and mountain lovers, the closing date for early bird passes has been extended.

Make an initial payment of $99 by 12 February and the balance of $276 on 18 March for a total of $375.

See details

Last Updated: 31 January 2020 31 January 2020