Falls Creek signs agreement for $40 million Village Plaza Development

Author: Michael Bradley

Release Date: 11/8/2005

August 10, 2005 – Falls Creek Alpine Resort Board today announced the signing of a Heads of Agreement to develop the Falls Creek Village Plaza site as the pre-eminent arrival precinct for the resort.

The Falls Creek Board has selected developer Zacamoco as the preferred tenderer for the $40 million project, with the Melbourne-based consortium and the Board working through detailed planning with a view to starting construction this summer.

Announcing the agreement, Board Chair, Judy Ward, said the development represents a significant investment in Alpine Victoria and a further strong vote of confidence by investors in the future of Falls Creek as a winter village and all-year destination.

“This iconic development will greatly enhance the arrival experience for winter and non-winter visitors while preserving the open ski gathering and community space of the Plaza,” she said.

“It will create a vibrant day and night precinct at the northern edge of the village, designed to take advantage of good solar siting and providing open vistas through the buildings across to Spion Kopje and beyond to the Kiewa Valley.”

Ms Ward said the signing of the arrangements with Zacamoco represents another milestone in the creation of the new Falls Creek resort.

Falls Creek has this year already seen the opening of the Huski apartments and Endota day spa complex, Crows Nest apartments, and the first stage of Ropers Apartments at Pretty Valley, which have each added significantly to the top end of the market.

The major redevelopment of several older properties have accompanied this expansion, improving value and access options for all budgets and resulting in significant growth in Falls Creek’s winter and non-winter visitor numbers.

The all-season Village Plaza development will bolster Falls Creek’s all-season facilities and deliver on one of the Victorian Government’s major Alpine Resorts 2020 Strategy objectives.

To be located adjoining the base of Bilia Bullet Chairlift at the day visitor gateway to Falls Creek, the new precinct will be made up of two buildings linked by a wide, open entry staircase. Open terraces will allow views from the Bogong High Plains Road through to the Plaza and from the Plaza and surrounds to the north, down the valley and to the surrounding mountain ranges.

The buildings are to house a visitor information centre, ticketing and ski and sports equipment hire outlets, a regional and heritage showcase, conference lounge, crèche, gymnasium, and an array of restaurants, cafes, and accommodation which are to be open all year.

The principals behind Zacamoco are Zahava Elenberg and Callum Fraser, of Elenberg-Fraser, and Morry Schwartz of Pan Urban. Recent Zacamoco projects include the historic Normanby Chambers in Melbourne and Falls Creek’s first all-year spa retreat, the five-star Huski.

Ms Ward said Falls Creek is very impressed with the work of Elenberg-Fraser.

“Zahava and Callum have a clear vision, which we share, for the all-season potential of Falls Creek,” she said. “They have a good understanding of the quality, product, and activities sought by the contemporary alpine village guest and the escape experience which guests seek in a holiday. Importantly, they are attracting further guests and investors who share this vision.”

Falls Creek this year became the world’s first alpine resort to be benchmarked by Green Globe 21 - the international accreditation scheme for ecologically and socially sustainable tourism - and the proposed buildings are consistent with both the resort’s specific design guidelines and Falls Creek’s planning scheme.

Construction of the Village Plaza is planned over the summer seasons and will be staged to provide access to the Plaza during the intervening winter seasons. It is estimated the project will create 295 construction-phase jobs, while the facility’s projected impact upon year-round visitation is expected to create 89 sustainable jobs throughout the region.