Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing project

Project status

Revised scope

• The project scope was revised and communicated in late 2024. The revised project focuses on track improvements (drainage, boardwalks and other trail works) to parts of the existing trail to reduce environmental impact and improve safety; camping facilities at three overnight nodes (Cope Hut, Westons Hut and High Knob) including new tent platforms and gathering spaces, a toilet at Weston Hut and a shelter and toilet at High Knob; and, signage for the trail and campsites.
• Roofed accommodation has been excluded from the project scope. Although being identified in the Master Plan, there are no plans to progress, develop, or revisit this component. 

Cultural heritage management and statutory requirements

• The Cultural Heritage Management Plan has been approved, and planning permits have been issued.

Environmental planning and approvals

• Detailed assessments have been completed, including additional flora and fauna surveys and assessing the project’s environmental impact.
• An environmental impact assessment report was prepared, providing a comprehensive review of environmental values within the project area and the broader landscape, as well as the potential impacts of the project on those values.
• Parks Victoria referred the project and its environmental impact assessment to the Victorian Government, and the Victorian Minister for Planning determined that an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) is not required for the project.
• Parks Victoria referred the project to the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The project has been deemed to be a Controlled Action that requires further assessment and approval.
• Parks Victoria will work with DCCEEW to progress the project through the Controlled Action assessment pathway, which will require further information and public comment. See the DCCCEEW website for an overview of the steps involved in this process. 

Timeline

Updated May 2026

Construction timing will be confirmed following completion of the EPBC Act Controlled Action assessment and receipt of Controlled Action approval conditions. 

Subscribe for updates

The project

The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing project is a proposed 52-kilometre multi-day hiking experience. The walk is situated in the Alpine National Park between Falls Creek and Mt Hotham.

The current Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing is a 37-kilometre track. To create the proposed extended 52-kilometre route existing tracks within the Alpine National Park trail network will be used.

The extended route will include Diamantina Spur and Razorback with an optional ascent of Mount Feathertop, Victoria’s second-highest peak.

The project has evolved from the original Master Plan as a result of stakeholder and community feedback and detailed investigations, including environmental, Cultural Heritage and landscape assessments.

The overnight campsites are proposed at Cope Hut, Westons Hut and High Knob.

The $15 million project is proposed to:

• Include track works to improve existing trails and install boardwalk sections to protect sensitive vegetation.
• Include new tent platforms and new toilets (where not currently existing) at overnight campsites and the addition of a shelter at High Knob.
• Improve signs along the trails and at campgrounds.

You can view the project overview map and current site plan for each overnight campground below: 

Project Overview Map

• Night 1 – Cope Hut 
• Night 2 – Westons Hut 
• Night 3 – High Knob 

Cultural heritage and environmental management

The project requires several approvals and complex assessments. An infographic has been prepared to outline the steps in the environmental compliance process and what has been completed so far.

Protecting and managing cultural heritage is an important part of the project. Traditional Owner involvement will continue throughout the next stages, including actioning the approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

Where required, parts of the trail will be upgraded to help protect the environment by keeping walkers on the track and away from sensitive vegetation. At the Overnight Nodes, tent platforms and defined paths will help prevent camping areas from spreading, reducing the impacts on the surrounding landscape. 

Community consultation

Community consultation was undertaken between 2016 and 2018 to create the Master Plan.

Further community consultation for this project was done in 2022. Changes were made to the project scope based on the 2022 feedback received. The Engage Vic page outlines the engagement undertaken, provides a summary of the feedback received and how this feedback influenced the direction of the project.

During November 2024, a series of information sessions were held to update the community on the project’s progress, including the rescoped project. These information sessions were held in the local community and online. For a copy of this recording, go to Engage Victoria.

The EPBC Controlled Action process will include further opportunities for public comment through Engage Victoria.  

Who we are working with

Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) is the main partner.

Parks Victoria is working with the Traditional Owners across the project area. 

Project funding

$2 million from the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions to do the detailed planning and business case – Completed

$15 million from the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions to implement the project – Active

Stay up to date

Parks Victoria will provide updates and information as the project progresses. To stay up to date please register your interest to receive community updates via this link. You can also email us at engage@parks.vic.gov.au. As the project progresses, information on this page will be updated

Related information

Documents and information

• Community Update - June 2026
• Community Update - November 2024
• Community Update - Winter 2023
• Community Update - Summer 2022/2023

This includes a link to the full community consultation report. 

Environmental and cultural heritage assessment infographic

The Environmental and cultural heritage assessment infographic (PDF 225 kB) shows what we have already done and where we are going, including details of assessments, referrals and relevant legislation.

Business Case for the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing

This Business Case (PDF 6.18 MB) was an independent in-depth analysis of the then project and investigated its viability, implementation, operating costs and benefits. It analyses several project alternatives and proposes a solution that is viable from a user experience and economic standpoint.

The Business Case did not assess the project in terms of values impacted – such as environmental or cultural heritage. Other independent assessments have been done are underway on these matters. Further approvals will be sought from relevant Government departments before implementation begins. 

Some information in the document has been redacted for privacy and commercial reasons. We have left in as much information as possible to show the decision-making criteria and process undertaken. Information that has been redacted includes: commercial information that may influence procurement and operational processes; personal information such as names, and; internal working documents.

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment

The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (PDF 99.8 MB) is a detailed independent assessment of the visual impacts of the revised project scope of November 2024 for the proposed new infrastructure on the landscape. This followed a preliminary assessment of 2022 of the earlier project scope.

The 2024 report concluded...'Importantly, the photomontages demonstrate that the magnitude of visibility of proposed structures at each of the four overnight node locations associated with the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing is very low. The photomontages demonstrate that whilst proposed structures may be visible, they will in all likelihood be barely perceptible given the visual scale of the landscape within which they sit, the small scale of the structures themselves and the use of building materials which adopt a recessive colour palette which complements (rather than contrasts) the surrounds.'

National Heritage Values Assessment

The National Heritage Values Assessment was an assessment of the project’s likely impact on national heritage values relevant to the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves National Heritage Place was undertaken in 2025 and found that the project was unlikely to have a significant impact. This assessment involved screening of heritage values identified from ecological, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage assessment reports and identification of potential impacts to heritage values.  

Environmental and Ecological Values Assessments

Protecting the environment is a guiding principle of all the work that will be done as part of the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing project. In total 5 ecological assessments have been undertaken of the area between 2020 and 2024, identifying potential impacts and informing the scope and design of the project. Field surveys have also been undertaken between 2020 and 2025. In total 64 km of trail and 21 potential locations for overnight nodes were surveyed.

These assessments provide a great resource of comprehensive information on current park values and condition, as well as an overview of the regulatory environment.

Additional targeted surveys and micro-siting will occur prior to construction to sensitive environmental and cultural heritage values. 

Frequently asked questions

Will there be significant environmental impacts because of the project?

Minimising environmental impacts is a guiding principle of all the work as part of this project. Environmental Impact Assessments have been undertaken to ensure potential impacts are identified and that the appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures have been applied in project scope and design and will also be applied to construction. You can find the full assessment further up this page. 

When will the project be complete?

Construction timing is now dependent on the EPBC Controlled Action approval process. The project timeline will be updated when the environmental approvals are received. 

Will helicopters regularly fly in to service the overnight campgrounds?

Any increase in helicopter flights will be minimal. Helicopters already fly into Alpine campgrounds to service them on an infrequent basis and this practice will continue.

Of the three proposed overnight campgrounds along the Crossing, one is accessible by management vehicles. The remaining two, which are not accessible by road, will require limited helicopter access. This will involve a small number of flights each year to remove wastewater.  

Will people be able to fly into the overnight sites without walking to them?

No, flying into the overnight sites will not be possible.

Is the walking track going to be turned into a wide smooth ‘superhighway’? 

No, the upgrades planned to the track are minor and are aimed at making the track clear and defined to improve safety and reduce off-track impacts. In some areas, upgrades will incorporate design features that manage drainage and erosion. Upgrades are also being planned to improve the track resilience to cope with current and projected increased demand.

How are Aboriginal cultural heritage values being considered? 

Traditional Owner groups have been involved in the Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) process.

Why was an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) not required?

The Victorian Minister for Planning determined that the potential impacts of the revised project scope can be addressed through existing statutory process and environmental management measures, and therefore an EES is not required.

Why is the project now a Controlled Action under the EPBC Act? 

The Controlled Action decision does not mean the project cannot proceed. It means it triggers additional assessments to ensure impacts to nationally protected environmental values are appropriately managed. Parks Victoria is working closely with DCCEEW to provide further information and ensure appropriate management measures are in place.

What environmental values are being assessed under the EPBC Act?

The EPBC assessment relates to nationally listed alpine species and ecological communities identified within the broader project area. 

Will this project significantly increase visitor numbers? 

The project upgrades the existing trails rather than creating new large-scale infrastructure. The aim is to improve safety and manage existing users while protecting environmental values. 

What happens next? 

Parks Victoria will address any requests for further information from DCCEEW. Once the information meets DCCEEW’s requirement they will advise Parks Victoria to publish it for public comments.

The estimated timeline for next steps is below.

• Early to mid 2026: DCCEEW notify Parks Victoria of additional information requirements.
• Mid 2026: Parks Victoria prepare the additional information requirements.
• Mid to late 2026: Parks Victoria provide all previous assessments and additional information for public comment, as directed by EPBC Controlled Action process.
• Late 2026 to early 2027: Parks Victoria receive, review and respond to matters raised during public comment period.
• 2027: DCCEEW conduct assessment and decision based on additional information and public comment.
• 2027: Construction timing will be confirmed.