New South Wales, Australia — Last Friday, a fire at Charlotte Pass Snow Resort derailed preparations for the 2024 ski season. The fire caused severe damage to the Sewage Treatment Plant, meaning that the village is without a proper wastewater system. However, they’re aiming to make a prompt recovery.
On Friday, May 24th, Charlotte Pass announced that they’ll be opening for the ski season on July 5th. Over the next month, they’ll be working to temporarily fix the issues with the wastewater plant thanks to help from AKS Industries. The new equipment will arrive and begin being installed starting the week of June 24th. Those who planned to visit before July 5th are being offered to move their bookings to later in the winter, defer to next season, or receive a refund.
Angela Murdoch, who’s the General Manager of Charlotte Pass Snow Resort, said the following in the press release about the reconstruction project ahead of them:
“The task that AKS Industries has committed to is a mammoth one, with the construction work expected to be completed within a 31-day window. The construction of these types of services would typically take several months.”
While this will be a delayed opening for Charlotte Pass, many mountains could see slow starts to their season, as natural snowfall has been minimal so far. Australian ski resorts are currently relying on snowmaking to build up their bases.
Charlotte Pass isn’t the only Australian ski resort that saw fire damage to its infastructure. In 2019-20, a bush fire destroyed many parts of Selwyn Snow Resort. After years of reconstruction, they reopened for the 2023 ski season.
Image Credits: Charlotte Pass Snow Resort
