Things have been changing rapidly
- we have seen COVID outbreaks in most states, and all but NSW and parts of SE Queensland have been well contained
- restrictions for accommodation have changed
- official interpretations of restrictions have changed
- our new manager has looked after the lodge under peak conditions
All this means that the way the lodge operates has evolved again. We understand that it is confusing and frustrating but sadly that is the environment taht we find ourselves in.
We try to keep the COVID Status on the website as up to date as possible, so please check to see the latest conditions. The booking officer will contact you directly if conditions change close to the start of your stay.
Who can come?
No one from a red zone may stay. This is now all of NSW and ACT. There are exceptions for the Victoria/NSW border bubble.
Anyone from an orange zone cannot come unless they have had a COVID test in Victoria and isolated until they receive a negative result. Current Orange zones are City of Brisbane, Moreton Bay and regions of the Sunshine Coast.
Pre-visit COVID testing for Melbournians is still recommended, but no longer mandatory. Whilst not mandatory, if you can have a test done before arriving, it will be reassuring to Members and Guests that we are all doing our best to keep the Lodge COVID free.
Sunday Changed Operations
Streamlined Sunday conditions mean we can lift the Sunday block-out, but special conditions apply. OnSundays, beginning18 July:
- no admittance to lodge before 4pm
- you must depart lodge by 10am
- continental breakfast only
If you drop off luggage or access the ski room prior to 4pm, you must also sign-in using the government QR system and you must not come up the stairs.
Rostering
We are now not allowed to have people congregating in groups bigger than the Victorian cap on private gatherings. When the lodge is full, the dining room and adjoining kitchen and mezzanine lounge are not big enough to allow everyone in that space at once either.
The committee has decided to roster meal times rather than severely limit the number of people who can stay.
When there are more people booked into the lodge than the private gathering cap, you will be asked to join a booking group with a time slot for breakfast and dinner. Other times of the day are less likely to be crowded so we ask that you just avoid interacting with another booking group, and observe capacity limits in common rooms. For more implications of not interacting, please read the summary of our COVID Safe Plan.
| Meal | Session 1 | Session 2 |
| Breakfast | 7:15-8:15 | 8:15-9:15 |
| Dinner | 5:30-7:00 | 7:00-8:30 |
You must not use the kitchen, dining room or mezzanine lounge during a session that you are not allocated. If you don’t want to stay in your room, remember that the games room & TV room will be open, and the spa in the evening.
You can express a preference to the Booking Officer but if too many people want the same session, he will have the final say. Getting to morning lessons and feeding children will be considerations.
If you are coming at a time when rostering is in place, please keep to meals that can be easily and quickly prepared in that time frame. If you are in the 2nd session for dinner, you will not have access to the kitchen during the early session.
We understand that these constraints may be very inconvenient but it is the best way to allow as many members as possible to enjoy the lodge while the current restrictions are in place.
QR Sign-in
This requirement has become more stringent. You must not only sign in using the Victorian Government QR code system on arrival but at least once every day. If you can’t use your phone for that, there is a Kiosk tablet in the lobby.
Paperwork
Don’t forget that you need to complete the Liability Waiver and Patron Health Accommodation Questionnaire for everyone in your party and return them to the Booking officer before departing for the Lodge.
Falls Creek Resort Management also requires you to purchase and print off resort entry permits/oversnow tickets online. (The previous requitement to preint them out yourself has been removed.) Keep an eye on the Falls Creek resort website for up to date information. Resort entry Season Pass holders must still register their visits, but need not print out the permit (you still need to display your Season Pass on your windscreen).
Our full COVID Safe Plan is a rather bulky document that includes much material of little interest to most members and guests. A summary of our COVID Safe Plan has been published to more succinctly inform members and guests about how the lodge will operate. These documents will be revised in the next few days to reflect clarifications and new advice that is expected to come through. The table below summarises factors that may override the summary.
Keep up to date with the changes
The most up-to-date information will be published on the wesite at aacfallscreek.com. Be sure to check for the latest information.
Hopefully we will soon see further easing of restrictions and hotspots cleared up.
Key settings from 12 July
| Hotspots |
We try to keep this up to date but please double-check current declarations at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victorian-travel-permit-system and https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/travel-updates. People (over 12 years old) coming from ” Melbourne Metro” are recommended to have a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departing Melbourne. Red zones: All of NSW and ACT. People who have been there recently may not enter Victoria. Orange zones from 11 July: City of Brisbane, Moreton Bay and regions of the Sunshine Coast. People from these areas will not be permitted to enter the resort until they have had a COVID test in Victoria and isolated until they receive a negative test. There are exceptions for Vic/NSW border bubble people who have not been outside the bubble. |
| Lodge Capacity | 46 |
| Separation of booking groups, incl rostering of meal times | Yes |
| Visitors | Not until restrictions ease |
| Bedrooms shared between bookings | Not until restrictions ease |
| Masks | Must be worn indoors unless eating, drinking or otherwise exempt |
| COVID cleaning surcharge | $5 per person per night |
| Sunday conditions |
From 18 July, no admittance to lodge before 4pm. Must depart lodge by 10am. Continental breakfast only |
| Physical distancing | At least 1.5m where feasible. No mingling of booking groups |
| Density | 1 person per 2sqm in all common areas |
Travelling from interstate?
- QR code check-in is mandatory at the lodge and nearly everywhere on the mountain. This will be easiest if you install the Service Victoria app on your smart phone.
- You will need an entry permit for Victoria. Unless you are coming from a hotspot, it is a formaility akin to checking-in in case they need to find you later.
However, recently some areas outside Victoria have been declared as red zones. People who have been there are not permitted to enter Victoria. Many other areas have been declared Orange Zones. People from these areas will not be permited to enter the resort until they have had a COVID test in Victoria and isolated until they receive a negative test. There are exceptions for the Vic/NSW border bubble – check the entry permit conditions carefully - Check the border and quarantine rules for your state (and any states you will transit)