The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has today released the Alpine Development Control Plan.
The Alpine Region Development Control Plan 2025 (Alpine DCP) has been approved and published on the NSW Planning Portal today - 14th January 2025.
In their statement, the Department said, the Alpine DCP was publicly exhibited from 27th November 2023 to 7th February 2024. Based on the feedback received, significant changes have been made to improve clarity, reduce duplication, and ensure the plan aligns with existing guidelines and legislation. Key updates include:
- Resequencing sections and adding a separate section for alterations and additions.
- Reducing duplication of objectives and controls.
- Improving clarity of controls.
- Reducing requirements for detailed studies where appropriate.
- Updating controls to reflect the NPWS Building Code and Thredbo Development Guidelines.
- Realigning desired future character statements.
- Updating requirements for DCP control variations.
- Inserting a glossary of terms.
The Alpine DCP supports the statutory planning framework by providing detailed provisions for development, ensuring well-designed, quality built form, and guiding the assessment of development applications. It aims to guide development, enable diverse recreational activities, minimise environmental and social impacts, and protect biophysical values.
Decisions regarding additional accommodation capacity will be based on the Alpine DCP's carrying capacity provisions and the Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) Plan of Management, ensuring sustainable development in the Alpine Region.
We appreciate the community's input and look forward to the continued development of the Snowy Mountains SAP and the Alpine Region.
Comment
The document provides design guidance and regulation for the Alpine Resort Sub-regions, and secondary Alpine Sub Regions of Kosciuszko National Park, including:
- Perisher Range Alpine Resort Sub-region
- Perisher Valley
- Smiggin Holes
- Pipers Gap
- Guthega
- Blue Cow Terminal
- Thredbo Alpine Resort Sub-region
- Charlotte Pass Alpine Resort Sub-region
- Mount Selwyn Alpine Resort Sub-region
The document has a wealth of information in its 174 pages, including Alpine Carrying Capacity Framework for bed numbers at resorts (from page 87), plus design information on any potential Perisher Village (pages from 27 and from 93).
While it shows global snow villages as examples, the general snow public have probably lost faith in ever seeing a true Perisher Village. The appetite for investment on such a large scale to develop a “Village” may well have flown the coup. Particularly when the Department of Planning / National Parks and Wildlife are still in discussions about a change of head lease owner. This process has been in “discussion” and “negotiation” phases for what seems a lifetime. And still no result.
Is there a chance for infill buildings to be built at Perisher, that’s possible.
But if anything, ever happens, the Alpine Development Control Plan (DCP) is in place.
The most conversation often revolves around Perisher Valley, mainly through lack of development in the valley, not on the mountain. Vail Resorts are investing in new lifts, the $26 million Mt Perisher 6 seat chair is currently being installed and will open for winter 2025.
Thredbo Village is quite set in its ways and development, and there is potential for more beds to be incorporated into new subdivisions within Thredbo Valley. From page 102 there is commentary around ‘desired future character’ for Thredbo Resort.
Thredbo operate within their own Head Lease, different to how Perisher Valley operates.
Thredbo have openly discussed village developments, mainly in the golf course area (page 107) in the valley. Plus, have in the pipeline plans for a new Snowgums 6 seat chair. The exact timing is not clear at this point, but the DA process is underway for that new chairlift.
There is an appendix on page 125 regarding bed capacity. An excerpt reads.
‘The staging of bed releases detailed in 5.0 Alpine Carrying Capacity Framework and this Appendix assumes a peak in visitation by 2040 and that all beds up to the maximum limit identified in the Kosciuszko National Park PoM (plan of management) should be made available to align with the expected peak, subject to compliance with the Chapter and Kosciuszko National Park PoM requirements around release.’
If you have time to read the whole document, you will be well up to speed on what the future of the alpine region within Kosciuszko may look like at your favourite NSW now resort.
To read the Full Document, click on this link and go to Final Documents drop down box. From here you can download the PDF.
