December 10, 2020
Protecting Wilderness Integrity
Victoria’s Alpine National Park is one of Australia’s most significant high-country landscapes. It is valued not only for its ecological importance, but for the experience it offers. Remoteness, exposure, and a sense of travelling through a landscape that has not been shaped for convenience.
These qualities are central to why people visit and why these places were protected.
The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing
The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing is a 37-kilometre, multi-day route traversing the Bogong High Plains. Connecting the alpine resorts of Falls Creek and Mount Hotham, it offers a rare opportunity to experience extended alpine terrain through self-directed travel.
For many hikers, its value lies in its simplicity. A defined route, minimal infrastructure, and a landscape that still requires preparation, judgement, and respect.
A proposal that raises broader questions
In 2020, the Victorian Government announced funding to upgrade the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing, supported by a broader master plan that included the introduction of commercial accommodation and guided tourism models within the Alpine National Park.
While presented as an opportunity to enhance visitor experience and support regional tourism, proposals of this nature raise broader questions about the role of national parks.
Not whether people should experience these places, but how.
Introducing commercial accommodation and service-based infrastructure into protected areas represents a shift in how these landscapes are used and understood. What begins as a targeted development can establish a precedent for further change.
Why this matters
National parks were established to protect landscapes for their ecological, cultural, and public value.
When infrastructure is introduced to support premium or guided experiences, it can alter both access and experience:
- Self-directed travel may be displaced by structured, commercial models
- The sense of remoteness and challenge can be diminished
- Permanent infrastructure introduces lasting environmental and visual impact
Individually, these changes can appear modest. Over time, they reshape the character of the landscape.
A principle-based response
In response to this proposal, I made formal submissions to relevant Ministers and Parks Victoria outlining concerns about the introduction of commercial accommodation within a protected alpine environment.
This response was not based on opposition to tourism, but on a clear principle.
Protected areas should remain focused on conservation and equitable public access, supported by low-impact, publicly managed infrastructure. Commercial accommodation and high-impact development are better located outside park boundaries.
Looking beyond a single project
The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing is not an isolated case. It reflects a broader pattern of proposals seeking to introduce commercial infrastructure into protected landscapes.
Understanding these proposals requires looking beyond individual projects and considering the cumulative effect of incremental change.
Continuing the conversation
Questions raised by developments such as this continue to shape how Australia’s national parks are managed and experienced.
You can explore these issues further through:
Position on Trail Access and Development →
Media Contact:
Darren Edwards
