Maybe they want experienced hands because they don't really want to deal with it and can defer to someone else while they focus on their primary objectives?

CGT not GST

Let me help you there, Smartie pants: The private equity group sold Myer and ran out of the country without paying some goods and services tax that was due. This tax is commonly abreviated to GST. (They also snaffled some Capital Gains Tax and maybe some GFC too, who knows).

Story about the Alpine shire council wanting to maybe take over the running of M Hotham


Council would consider Hotham


Mayor would give approval if positive outcome for everyone


By SIMON CRASE



ALPINE Shire Council would not be averse to taking control of the running of Mount Hotham if it was in the best interest of the shire, according to the mayor.

Alpine Shire Council mayor Peter Roper said if a positive outcome occurred for all, council would look at it if a proposal was ever put forward.

His comments come in response to Hotham Ski Association president, Peter Sandow's, displeasure with the Mount Hotham Resort Management Board's decision to up service charges by 11 per cent.

"Council would consider taking on responsibility of Mt Hotham as long as it wasn't to the detriment of current ratepayers," Cr Roper said.

"It would have to be of benefit and not just cost neutral."

This comes at a time when New Zealand snowfields are a very attractive option for skiers, thanks to competitive packages for lift prices and accommodation.

Mr Sandow believed one way to allay service costs could be to have the Alpine Shire Council take over the running of Mt Hotham from the State Government.

"At least this way we could go to local councillors who understand the area and could listen to any concerns," Mr Sandow said.

Mr Roper said the resorts are a vital tourist attraction and needed to be maximised.

"Whether it's cross-country or downhill, skiing is invigorating and it is an amazing sport to take part in," Cr Roper said.

"While it will be as cheap to ski this year as it has been in a long time, it is still expensive."

Attracting more people to the Alpine resorts to experience the snow in any capacity and removing the gate price on the mountains should be looked at as an option to bring more visitors to the slopes.

Cr Roper said the overheads of keeping resorts running would be impacting heavily on the management board.

Mr Sandow would also like to see Victorian school children introduced to skiing as a way of starting to tackle the problem of decreased participation, and Cr Roper agreed.

"You've got to get young people up there, perhaps through schools having camps, so they can understand and appreciate the asset in the High Country," Mr Sandow said.




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Which paper is that story printed in?

Disregard, found it

Taxation with representation?

Can't imagine this being an unpopular idea. Worth looking at for sure.

Wow that's cool, good on them for getting it out in the open.

Can't imagine it would be an easy process as the Alpine Resorts are governed by an Act of Parliament. So lobbying the Minister and your local MP is a good start.

Then the Shire would get more ratepayers money to plant flowers in Bright! How nice!

Guru you always are such a positive sole!!!

All jokes aside, ask the friendly residents of Dinner Plain if they are happy with their rates, and the way Alpine Shire make use of the money!!!

Alpine Shire is the highest rated shire in the state (I think I read that somewhere recently), and Alpine Shire (Bright) was recently rated the 3rd worst place in Australia to invest in Real Estate (recent news article),

While this may sound nice, be carefull what you wish for folks!

Cleary those pushing for this at Hotham haven't canvassed anybody outside of Bright on opinion of the Alpine Shire (or maybe they have Bright based businesses). It is often said that the Vic State Gov thinks that Victoria finishes at Coburg...well Alpine Shire Council believes that the Shire finishes at Porepunkah and Freeburgh. I certainly wouldn't want them to take over Falls Creek as unless something was beneficial to Bright businesses it would not happen.

^^^ this

As an example, at least 1 councillor was sympathetic to the opposition to sealing the bogong high plains rd because it could take some tourist dollars away from Bright and into the Kiewa Valley.

BTW I'm not sure if Alpine Shire has the highest rates (they are bloody high). We own property in another rural shire that seems even worse.

Too true Currawong on your first point. And you just have to look at the Dinner Pain committee of management (or whatever they want to be called) and how they think they run/own the town, and strut around accordingly. Mind you there is an agreement in place that all/most of DP rates stays in DP, whether this actually works in reality I am not sure. Why should they be treated differently to other rate payers in the shire - maybe because they are special!!!

The reason I raise this is that a similar solution could be implemented within the resorts, but again you will have a government bureaucracy in place - be it local or state.

Not sure on the highest rated stuff, I did hear that somewhere, although I do know we pay considerably more than friends in Toorak and Brighton.

Alpine Shire personel seem to forget they work for the people.
Our rates are $1700.00 and dont live in town (Bright/Mt Beauty). All they do for us is empty our wheelie bins.
Saw the other day 6 guys working on sucking up leaves to keep the town pretty, but they were planting lovely flowers.

They also have to pay for the maintenance of local roads.

yes I know snorkler and it is a constant for them, bridges being repaired and the GAR to Hotham has been under works for drainage.
Cant imagine what our rates would be if they took over RMB.

We live in 'town', Tawonga South, and I can assure you that all they do for us is empty our wheelie bins. Though, they do seem to manage to undertake distruptive roadworks or the like in the Upper Kiewa Valley during periods of high tourism visitation...probably because the workers/contractors are not allowed to disrupt Bright during these periods.

It also seems to me that most of the major works happen on this side (Hotham) of the valley. Would that be fair to say Hully. Cant work that one out either as the Keiwa is very pretty in its own right.
With visitation down in the hills you would think that somehow they would scrap the entry fees for those travelling up on weekends from the cities. We all need the tourist.

I think the RMBs have to be self-funding, so not much scope to get rid of entry fees - unless they increase service fees for lodges & other businesses, which get passed on to visitors anyway (and in an even less equitable way).

Alpine Shire do provide other services and infrastructure, but as a rule they hate spending anything outside Bright if they can possibly avoid it.

They are a laughing stock in Mt Beauty at the moment. They have put out a proposal for relocating various services in the town. It is totally impractical and all the input they got from stakeholders told them so. And it relies on cooperation by state gov organisations which have said they do not and will not support it

And I think that I saw somewhere (a press release from Bill Sykes?) that the cost of putting it together was $25K!!

OK, from what I am hearing, Alpine Shire looking after the resorts....prolly not such a good option!

Hmmm, maybe the RMB's do a pretty OK job, in a difficult environment, as best they can for all!

just sayin.....

Oh the Alpine Shire, arn't they awesome.

Also recently sacked the Water focus group, this group was looking at preferred location for the offstream storage, therefore guaranteeing Bright water supply in drought/bushfires. Anyway the working group was sacked/disbanded/not required anymore, as they chose a location other than the council's preferred location

Thats right Flatlander- the recommendation was down the valley further near Harrietville which would be gravity fed down to Bright, Initially more expensive but so much cheaper in the long run. Ratepayers from Harrietville, Smoko and Freeburgh would benefit this way.
But the cheaper location chosen was on the Bright side of Freeburgh which requires a pumping station and the above towns missing out on the water supply. Go figure.
Still an ongoing issue with petitions goung on.