THE Victorian ski season was last week saved from an almost-certain cancellation when Premier Daniel Andrews announced it could go ahead from June 22.
Vail Resorts-owned Mount Hotham and Falls Creek announced this week they will open for skiing and snowboarding on June 24 under changed operating conditions.
Snow lovers will only be able to access the resorts with a pre-purchased pass or lift ticket because on-the-day lift ticket purchases will not be available.
Falls Creek Resort will enact a safe operating plan, including social distancing measures and enhanced cleaning protocols. Social distancing will be based in the amount of terrain and lifts open.
The resort will open for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend but Falls Creek Resort Management chief executive officer Stuart Smythe said the ski fields will remain closed.
“The industry, each resort and our stakeholders have been developing detailed safety management plans and implementing strategies to ensure the DHHS directives regarding health and safety are applied, including putting measures in place to manage social distancing and to comply with the gathering restrictions,” he said.
“The great work by everyone over the past few months is paying off.
“Let’s keep up the diligent work so we can all safely enjoy the snow this winter and get some turns in.”
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort will also open its ski fields on June 24.
The mountain will be open over the long weekend but its website has stated it will be a “low key affair”.
"Those looking to travel to Mount Hotham over the Queen's Birthday weekend and until the skifield operations commence will be required to pay a resort entry fee of $35 per vehicle, and will also need to carry diamond pattern wheel chains to enable safe access," Mount Hotham's website states.
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board chief executive officer Amber Gardner said the resort’s cross country trails will be open in alignment with recreational trails around Victoria, albeit under a reduced grooming regime.
“From Queen’s Birthday long weekend until the official launch, we will maintain a very limited level of winter operations to ensure that Hotham is well prepared to scale up in late June,” she said.
