The owner of a snow sports store in Victoria's east says he was shell-shocked to learn the state government wanted to privatise the operation of two major snow resorts.

The government has confirmed it is seeking expressions of interest for the long-term lease arrangement of operations at Mount Baw Baw and Lake Mountain.

Matt Youd, who has been running Erica Ski Hire since 2010, said he had concerns about the future viability of his business.

"There's a lot of misinformation and confusion at the moment," he said.

With an altitude of 1,450 metres, Mount Baw Baw has seven lifts across 35 hectares of ski terrain. 

Lake Mountain sits at 1,433 metres above sea level and has the distinction of being the closest snow resort to Melbourne. 

Both are considered ideal snow locations for young children and families.

They also boast a wide range of alternative nature-based activities, including mountain bike trails and hiking.

The state government's decision to lease out the resorts to private enterprise comes just two years after it took back control of operations under Alpine Resorts Victoria.

At the time, the resorts were operating at a collective loss of $8 million a year.

The ABC can confirm the deficit has since been reduced to $6 million a year.

With his business riding on the success of the winter season at the mountains, Mr Youd said he would consider putting his "hat in the ring".

"In the past, the mountains were built on the backs of lodges and individuals … the business owners and people that have a genuine love and compassion for the mountain," he said.

For lease, not for sale

Alpine Resorts Victoria chief executive Amber Gardner said there was a lot of misinformation being spread about the future of the mountains. 

"A lot of people are saying that we're selling the resorts. We're not selling the resorts," Ms Gardner said.

"All of the resorts in Victoria are on Crown land, and everyone who has a property or operates a business in the resorts has a long-term lease with state government."

In the past, private companies signed on to manage Baw Baw and Lake Mountain, which Ms Gardner said had been unsuccessful.

This time, the government is looking for a company interested in securing a long-term operating lease over the resorts.

It would be similar to what is in place at Victoria's bigger snow resorts — Mount Buller and Falls Creek.

"We're looking at someone taking out a lease over one or both of the resorts, and owning the commercial outcomes of that as well," Ms Gardner said.

"We want great ideas to really innovate the offering in those resorts, but they still have to be delivered within a sustainable framework."

Ability to adapt

The state government's calls to find an operator for the snow resorts come after two years of poor snow conditions across Victoria.

All six ski resorts closed early this winter, including Mount Buller on September 1, the earliest end to a season since 1982.

A recent report from climate change advocacy group Protect Our Winters found that under current emissions the length of Australian ski seasons would decline by 2030.

However, it also stated the alpine regions would likely begin to bounce back if global emissions were drastically reduced.

Ms Gardner said it was important for interested parties to present a business case that considered Australia's changing weather conditions.

"It's about investing in more snowmaking, which is something that underpins all of our resorts, to add to the consistency and continuity of the season," she said.

"But also, how they might be able to introduce new ways to really harvest and sustain snow for longer … and look at new activities that both do and don't rely on snow.

Associate Professor Glen Croy from the Department of Management at Monash Business School specialises in sustainable tourism.

Professor Croy said it was crucial for tourist operators to diversify their offerings as the impacts of climate change became more prominent.

"We know that climate change is having numerous effects on our communities," he said.

"We're seeing hotter summers [and] drier winters, which can very much disrupt highly seasonal tourism activities."

He called on seasonal operators to make investments in a range of activities that would suit varying weather conditions.

This could include mountain bike trails, guided walks, and orienteering adventures.

"These adaptations provide multiple benefits for local communities, in that it can create greater stability within demand and greater stability within employment," Professor Croy said.