Best snow in 25 years but breath tests snarl traffic
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Perisher, Australia’s largest alpine resort, has experienced its best August snowfalls in over 25 years – and possibly even longer. Social networking is helping produce a great season by letting snow fans know of the great falls – but random alcohol and drug testing action by police at the weekend took the shine off the snow, slowing road traffic to a crawl at Jindabyne.
“Despite above-average temperatures in Sydney, the mountains have continued to produce very cold temperatures and now abundant snow,” said Perisher’s general manager of marketing, sales and hospitality, Gary Grant.
Fresh snowfalls of over 30cm before this weekend pushed the August total to 113cm.
“You only have to look back through the snow charts to see that a slow season start doesn’t necessarily translate into a poor one, with many record-breaking falls being recorded on the back of a less than average start,” Grant pointed out.
The previous season recording the largest fall in August was in 1984. This year’s season follows almost an identical snowfall pattern. On 1 August the independent (SHL) snow depth measure at Spencer’s Creek (located 6km down the road from Perisher) was 35.9cm, it is now 192.5cm – an increase of 156.6cm to date. Snowy Hydro reports snowfall has exceeded two metres now, though the official measure won’t take lace till later this week. In 1984, August snowfall was 15 7cm for the whole month.
Social networking helped. Grant added: “Many people were put off by the late start to the season but for those who remained faithful were rewarded. It’s been a unanimous thumbs up from visitors across the resort this month with plenty of dry powder dumping almost daily.
“Without social networking, diehards would have given up hope long before the first big dump. The slow start this season had a lot of people shelving their plans for a snow trip this year. Through the power of social networking Perisher kept their fans in touch with what has been happening throughout the resort. Facebook and Twitter posts of fresh powder dumps create a great buzz with our fans!”
At the same time, NSW Alpine Resorts apologised to guests for traffic delays of up to two hours over the weekend. It blamed the traffic chaos and “road safety issues” on NSW Police alcohol and drug testing and the NSW Government’s inadequate investment in road infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NSW Alpine Resorts said it supported the NSW Police in conducting RBT operations but “it must only occur at a time and place that does not cause traffic chaos and road safety issues like it did today.
“For many years the NSW Alpine Resorts have been urging the NSW Government to upgrade Kosciuszko Road in Jindabyne where currently four lanes merge into one at the intersection with the Barry Way,” the statement said. “
The resorts have also suggested to NSW Police that they should stop causing additional traffic congestion on peak weekends by finding alternative locations for RBT operations.
“The NSW Alpine Resorts met with NSW Police prior to the 2010 winter suggesting viable alternative locations for RBT between Jindabyne and the resorts. The Alpine Resorts believe that solutions exist to allow RBT to occur and to avoid the congestion caused today, but the NSW Police appear unwilling to relocate their operation.”
Perisher will remain open until the October long weekend so there’s still plenty of time for people to enjoy great snow conditions. NSW and Queensland School Holidays coincide well with great spring conditions for families. The Station Resort is offering a room that sleeps up to 6 people from $130 per night.
Written by Peter Needham
