Legal battle over plans for staff carpark at Mt Buller’s Shaky Knees run

A POPULAR Mt Buller ski run is at the centre of a legal tussle involving plans for a carpark extension, with one half of the Grollo family set to take on the state government at VCAT.

A POPULAR Mt Buller ski run is at the centre of a legal tussle involving plans for a carpark extension.

Mt Buller Ski Lifts, owned by one half of the Grollo family, wants to build an extra 12 car spaces for staff next to the Shaky Knees run.

The company says the extra parking is needed to keep the lifts operating efficiently, but state Planning Minister Richard Wynne’s department claims it will cause rising traffic and conflicts between skiers and pedestrians.

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The carpark will be located next to Mt Buller’s Shakey Knees run. File picture: Supplied

The ski lifts company has gone to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to appeal against Mr Wynne’s refusal to grant a permit.

In documents lodged with VCAT, the company said that the extra car spaces opposite the Arlberg Hotel were needed for staff living off-mountain.

“Without adequate access for staff, particularly in time for the daily morning start-up period, we would find it difficult to maintain our operation and have as many lifts as possible ... open by 08.30-09.00 as is the public expectation,” it said.

The company, which amended its original plan to relocate two of the car spaces, said there would be no loss of usable ski slope as a result.

Mt Buller’s ski lifts are owned by one half of the Grollo family. File picture: Andrew Railton

Mt Buller resort management initially opposed the works, but in December withdrew its objection.

In its decision to refuse the permit, Mr Wynne’s department said the extra car spaces would encroach on the Shaky Knees run and “deliver an inappropriate visual outcome”.

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“The proposal ... is considered to generate additional congestion in a high-intensity area, reducing safety of car movements, pedestrians and skiers alike utilising the area,” it said.

VCAT is due to hear the case on July 26.

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