FORMAL plans have now been submitted by the Grollo Group for the construction of a workers' village on surplus land at the Mount Hotham airport.
The Grollo Group has applied to the Victorian Government's Regional Worker Accommodation Fund in order to create a new supply of beds for local workers.
Currently, workers in alpine areas are struggling to find accommodation, with some businesses ultimately using their own lodges to accommodate their staff.
The Grollo Group, through its alpine development business Altiset, bought Mount Hotham airport for $6.5m in February 2023, and soon after announced plans to develop a communal accommodation village, expected to provide hundreds of beds to meet a need for mountain staff accommodation during the winter season.
"We have submitted our planning permits to the Department of Planning for the Key Worker Village at the Mount Hotham airport site," Grollo Group property manager, Martin Ansell confirmed last week.
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"Building this workers' village on the vast, flat, surplus land already available at the site will alleviate Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain's accommodation needs.
"We are now waiting on the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund announcement from the State Government regarding projects in regional areas."
Mr Ansell said completion of the project is expected 18 months after government approvals and grants are in place.
He said there will be a bus dedicated for occupants travelling to and from the staff village, Dinner Plain and Mount Hotham during the declared winter season.
The 105–hectare site is only 10 kilometres from Dinner Plain and a further 10 kilometres from Mount Hotham, putting it in a prime position for accommodation, especially for the staff and seasonal workers in the ski fields.
"The airport will not be impacted and will remain open and continue to exist as a functioning facility," Mr Ansell said.
Mount Hotham Chamber of Commerce president Steve Belli said the airport was a key asset to the community.
"We are looking forward to working with Worker HQ, a part of Grollo Group that is in charge of the construction," Mr Belli said.
"The chamber of commerce is waiting on a projection of the costing to businesses after the staff accommodation at Mount Hotham is complete.
"This project aims to be an affordable solution for staff which we hope will work out quite well.
"This village may not be a viable solution for all staff working in the area, but once Hotham workers have a place to live, it will create availability for guests and be a boost for local businesses."
Mr Belli said that with no current commercial flights, the airport is mostly used for private charter flights and as a training ground for emergency services.
"The airport was particularly useful during fire season when fire tankers were refueled at the site," he said.
Mr Ansell said the Grollo Group has even more plans for the airport, with the hope of bringing back commercial flights and further providing access to the ski fields.
