DWA/Mt. Hotham Alpine Gateway facility
Left to right: Amber Gardner - CEO Alpine Resorts Victoria, Steve Dimopoulos - Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Helen Moran - Deputy chair ARV Board, Phil Knight - DWA Mt. Hotham Resort Services Manager.
This season, DWA Mt Hotham is thrilled to announce the official opening of the new Alpine Gateway Building, a year-round public facility that provides undercover disabled parking and safe access to dedicated storage and change rooms, plus direct access to the snow.
These facilities were designed cooperatively by DWA and Alpine Resorts Victoria - Mt Hotham courtesy of $4.2 million in funding from the Allan Labor Government through Regional Development Victoria.
This accessibility augmentation project was funded with a grant of $245,000 by the Australian Government.
The impressive day shelter within provides Disabled Wintersport Australia with a 20-square-meter storage and workshop area, along with a 25 square meter “Transfer Room” that will enable intermediate-to-advanced sit skiers to transfer themselves directly to the snow fields. The transfer room will also be used to support training programs for both members and volunteer guides.
“This new development will be an absolute game changer for our intermediate to advanced sit skiers as it will allow them direct access to the ski fields, largely independently. With automatic key coded sensor doors, ample secure storage facilities for equipment and personal items, an an artificial snow surface connecting the transfer room to the ski area, racking supports to help with independent sit ski transfers and fully accessible toilets with hot showers (2). We are beyond excited with this new addition to the resort.”
- Phil Knight, Resort Services Manager Mt Hotham for DWA
…But wait there is more!!…DWA is also excited to announce, with great thanks to the Mount Hotham Skiing Company, a new presence within the Hotham Centra building. The new DWA “Hub” comprises a 16 square metre room that will be used by our higher needs members for fit outs in a dignified and private manner. This hub will also be our daily meeting place for volunteer guides, and will be DWA’s public face at Mt Hotham. The facility is located adjacent to accessible toilets and a short walk to food and beverage outlets and public areas. The area is serviced by a wheelchair lift that provides access to the main level which is at snow level.
Most importantly, DWA would not have been able to fund the $30,000 plus fit-out of these rooms without the fantastic community efforts last season with our Chill Bar fund raising events, and our annual auction. We would also like to acknowledge the DWA volunteer work party that completed all the fit-out works in April – with a big shout out and thank you to local DWA legend, Rob Broerson. Rob led the design and construction works for these fit-outs. The support for DWA from the Mt Hotham community and commercial operators has been fabulous – we can’t thank you all enough, except to ask you to look out for us and say “hello” – and know that it is your support that is making this possible.