MOVING thousands of visitors on and off and around Mt Buller can sometimes prove to be demanding and frustrating.

COVID-19 has added new pressures to the Resort Management Board (RMB) in providing sufficient shuttle services while at the same time keeping social distancing restrictions in place.

RMB chief executive officer Mark Bennetts made it clear that this season guests should plan ahead.

“Our primary message is if visiting the ski fields this year, plan ahead and pre-book to minimise disappointment as there are capacity restrictions in place," Mr Bennetts said.

He said the restrictions on the number of visitors allowed on the mountain each day will be calculated on a daily basis.

This will vary day by day depending on the conditions - weather, number of lifts open and the skiable terrain available.

Prior to June 22, vehicles were capped at 200 per day at Mt Buller and 30 per day at Mt Stirling (excluding season pass holders and overnight guests).

“For the Queen’s Birthday weekend we contemplated the bus shuttle and other services as the season was not officially open,” Mr Bennetts said.

“Anticipating visitation we decided shuttle services in particular was necessary based on the number of guests who had booked resort entry online.”

Appointed in 2019 to run the shuttle services, TravelSafe has since gone into receivership and a new company has had to be employed.

“TravelSafe advised the RMB on that basis, they were unable to fulfil the contract at Mt Buller,” Mr Bennetts said.

“The RMB undertook a selective evaluation process with operators experienced at Mt Buller and comparable environments.

“The successful participant is a publicly listed company and has notified the ASX of their appointment.”

The Snow Play Express won’t be required in 2020 as it was there to deal with excess demand for the available parking bays on the mountain by encouraging guests to park at Mirimbah, and due to reduced capacity on the ski fields this season because of the COVID-19 restrictions,

“Village shuttles didn’t commence initially (up until June 22) as they were considered a non-essential service and there was no ability to trace passengers if a transmission risk was identified.

However, Mr Bennetts indicated this would be monitored over the season as restrictions are rolled back to determine if feasible to re-introduce the service.

Given the COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing rules are still in place the bus drivers and passengers will be catered for as best as possible.

Shuttle buses from the car parks will be limited to 42 passengers seated only (no standing) with a 1.5 metre barrier between them and the drivers.

“It’s impossible to guarantee safety anywhere and Mt Buller is no different,” Mr Bennetts said.

“But measures are being put in place to minimise transmission risk.

“Guests will be required to enter and egress via the rear doors of the buses to minimise interaction with drivers."

Other measures put in place include supervisors at bus queues and bollards to keep guests in lines and maintain social distancing as well as signage at both the village and carparks.

Additional ‘guest services’ staff may be allocated around the mountain to keep an eye on visitors and watch that social distancing is being maintained if and when required.