Australian Ski Resorts short of Snow
The Age reports that Victoria’s Ski Resorts, suffering from a lack of snow, are unable to create artificial snow due to ongoing water shortages.
Mount Buller has been badly hit;
Mount Buller has even cancelled its World Cup Aerials, scheduled for September 2 and 3, due to the conditions.
Buller Ski Lifts general manager Laurie Blampied said it would have taken millions of litres of water to create enough snow cover for the World Cup jump site. The event has been held at the mountain since 1996.
Mount Hotham discounted lift tickets until last week, when it received 30cm of natural snow in one night - the only Victorian resort to do so.
Mt Hotham, which this season opened a 27 megalitre dam for snow-making, has 70cm of snow in snow-making areas compared to 41cm of natural snow. Just eight of 13 lifts are operating.
Falls Creek has more water available but is still suffering;
Falls Creek spokeswoman Debbie Howie said the mountain’s “extensive snowmaking facilities” were serving it well.
“We’re the only resort in Australia that has a large lake that we can tap into … we’ve got an unlimited supply of water to make snow,” she said.
Check the latest Skiing Conditions and Snow Reports for Australian Ski Resorts here.
