FALLS Creek businesses are enthusiastic about energy company AGL transferring the sub-lease of Bogong Village to Grollo Group, who are expected to deliver worker accommodation for Falls Creek by next year.

Under the sublease agreement, the Grollo Group will take over the ownership and operation of Bogong Village and redevelop it over the next three years.

This will include investing in renovating village facilities including 27 buildings and tavern, with a view to providing key worker accommodation for Falls Creek.

Grollo aims to deliver 200 beds for Falls Creek workers starting in winter 2024.

Falls Creek Chamber of Commerce president Michelle Lovell said she was excited to see it come to fruition.

“The whole business community has been concerned about staffing accomodation and beds and it does hold back progress in village,” she said.

“We need staff, and so we need beds to support that.

“It’s a great move, we’re very supportive of it and if we had any concerns it would purely be toward ensuring the staff have easy access to and from the village via shuttle bus and the timings work with the businesses.

“It’s also a positive move for the towns in the valley; it will free up year round accomodation for key workers and careers in the area.

“It also means any staff located in Bogong will have easy access down to Mount Beauty and be able to use the services more easily.

“We do still need staff living on mountain as some businesses need that support 24/7 but it’s good to have both options.”

Local business owners are enthusiastic about the plans, including Cooroona Alpine Lodge’s Lachlan Beckett.

“We personally have onsite staff accomodation so we won’t need it, but there’s a lot of businesses who desperately do need that support,” he said.

“Many businesses down in the valley have also been short staffed so hopefully they’ll be able to use it as well.

“Any usage of the space is positive for staff accomodation, it’s what we need and it’s great that someone is doing something.”

The 27 cabins will deliver 200bKWA beds by early-2024 and the beds have a pre-commitment from Falls Creek businesses.

The Grollo Group is assessing further development opportunities and working with the Victorian Government authorities to agree on desired outcomes and pathways to deliver upon its KWA vision.