Survey Results

Survey Results & Community Feed Back

Press Release 22/3/2010

4,000 people have their say on skyways

This week the Mount Buffalo Skyways Task Force passed a significant milestone - having consulted with more than 4,000 people about the project.

This includes 3,500 national and international visitors as well as 500 local residents of the Alpine Shire. The consultation was carried out through meetings with community groups, interested individuals, an on-line survey on www.mtbuffaloskyways.com.au and by sending out electronic newsletters to a database of previous visitors to the region.

Chair of the Task Force, Sabine Helsper, announced the results of the preliminary assessment of responses from visitors and residents.

She said 64% or 137 out of 214 respondents had supported the idea of a gondola or cable car to the top of Mount Buffalo. Another 57 or 27% had opposed the idea, and 20 or 9% had said they were unsure.

"We are delighted at the way both the community and visitors have participated in the survey, and we expect to receive many more responses as the consultation program continues over the next two months," she said.

The top five reasons given by tourists for supporting the concept, in order of response numbers were:-

	Growth in the number of tourists to the region
	Revitalisation and reopening of the Chalet
	Easier access to the top of Mount Buffalo and its plateau
	Growth of local employment and investment
	The success of other gondolas and cable cars around Australia and internationally


The top five reasons given by tourists opposing the concept, in order of response numbers were:-

	Defacement of Mount Buffalo with visual scars
	Environmental impacts of various kinds
	Lack of project viability and creation of a white elephant
	Preservation of parks for their natural beauty, not tourism activities
	Waste of money, including Shire funds

Ms Helsper said respondents who were unsure were mostly seeking further information, particularly on issues relating to potential defacement of the cliff and rock faces. Others said the project might be too ambitious and had too little gain.

"One trend was very noticeable. Residents of the region were more strongly in favour of the project than those living outside the region, " she said.

"At public meetings of community organizations like Bright and District Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Probus and Lions, there has been outspoken support for the project, and many of the questions asked have related to viability, timing and cost. We do not know the answers to these questions at the moment because this will depend upon an initial feasibility study which we are attempting to arrange. When the full survey and consultation results are complete we shall announce them to those who have participated, and also to various Government Ministers, bodies and departments."

Survey Results to 19th of March 2010 (final survey results will be posted by the end of June 2010

RESPONSE SOURCE	NUMBER SENT SURVEY FORM
Survey Monkey/Website	3,500
Community Meetings	500
TOTAL	4,000

RESPONSE SOURCE	TOTAL	YES	NO	UNSURE
Survey Monkey/Website	157	87	54	16
Community Meetings	57	50	3	4
TOTAL	214	137	57	20

NOTE: The below and then following table(s) will be updated shortly to incorporate qualitative comments from community group meetings.

SUMMARY OF REASONS GIVEN FOR “YES” IN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA	NUMBER OF RESPONSES
Growth in the number of tourists to the region	23
Revitalisation & reopening of the Chalet	14
Easier access to the top of Mt. Buffalo & its plateau	12
Growth of local employment & investment	10
Success of other gondolas & cable cars around Australia & internationally	8
Will build a showcase icon for the region	7
Will revive the mountain & stop it from dying	6
Will provide power for the mountain	3
Will provide beautiful views	2
Will not cause environmental damage	2
Will create an international destination	1
Provides a different experience for locals and visitors	1

SUMMARY OF REASONS GIVEN FOR “NO” IN OPPOSITION TO THE IDEA	NUMBER OF RESPONSES
Defacement of Mt. Buffalo with visual scars	13
Environmental impacts of various kinds	10
Lack of project viability & creation of a “White Elephant”	9
Preservation of parks for their natural beauty, not tourism activities	8
Waste of money, including Shire funds	4
Spend on the Chalet only	2
Project will not build prosperity	2
There’s nothing for people to do, and few experiences	2
Protests will stop it	1
Project is unpractical for delivery of power	1
Money will go overseas instead of staying locally	1
Will cause a fall in land values	1
We don’t need tourists, there are enough already	1

REASONS GIVEN FOR BEING “UNSURE” ABOUT THE IDEA	NUMBER OF RESPONSES
Fear defacement of Mt. Buffalo and need assurances	3
It must be linked with Chalet redevelopment, will this occur 1	1
Too much investment and hard work for too little gain	1
Not enough information available to make an informed judgement, push Bright Framework Project instead	1
Project is simply too ambitious, can it be scaled down	1
Is power really going to be available, no proven answer	1

Mt Buffalo Skyways

Survey Results & Community Feed Back

Survey Results to 19th of March 2010 (final survey results will be posted by the end of June 2010

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