The process for applying for a new lease is as follows;

1. Discuss with me your desire to enter into a new lease to replace either your expired lease or your current lease.

2. Develop a business plan as a basis for lease term discussions. We should reach agreement at this time on proposed lease term and any special conditions.

3. I will present a paper to the Mt. Hotham Resort Management Board to gain the Board's approval for the new lease application based on the provided Business Plan.

4. Following approval of the Board, I will on your behalf apply to DSE for approval in principle of our agreed position for the new lease proposal. i.e between the lessee and the RMB.

5. DSE will either give approval in principle or request a review. Provided a strong case is presented to DSE, approval in principle should be agreed quickly. If DSE want to review the proposal there will obviously be some delay.

6. Following approval in principle from DSE lessees will be presented with the lease document including lease term and special provisions for review and signing.

7. Following signing of the lease by the Lessee I will prepare a briefing paper for the Minister to support approval for granting the lease.

8. The Minister will review the briefing paper which requests approval for the lease under the agreed terms.

9. When the Minister approves the lease it will then be granted by the Resort Management Board.

For lessees where leases have expired or will expire by year end 2003 and they have not yet contacted me about a new lease, I look forward to hearing from you in the near future about your business plan.

For lessees where leases expire at dates later than 2003 I will be pleased to discuss with you the advantages of the new leasing policy in relation to tenure and lease term.