Industry News
Vail Resorts Australia today announced it will not reopen its lift operations at Falls Creek or Hotham for spring skiing and snowboarding following the Victorian Government’s introduction of Stage 4 restrictions for Melbourne and Stage 3 restrictions for regional Victoria, which will be in place for six weeks. This announcement follows the Company’s decision on 9 July to suspend operations until at least 19 August, in line with the re-introduction of Stage 3 restrictions for greater Melbourne and the closure of the NSW border.
“We made the decision to close Hotham and Falls Creek in early July to support the government’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health of our employees, guests and community. It was certainly a difficult decision, which unfortunately has been reinforced by the worsening COVID-19 trends and the declaration of a State of Disaster in Victoria until 13 September. We are disappointed to mark the end of the season this way and extend our gratitude to our teams and the businesses in the local community who all worked incredibly hard to open this winter. We also want to thank our loyal guests for their patience and understanding; we look forward to welcoming them back to our resorts for the 2021 season.”
– Pete Brulisauer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts Australia
Perisher will remain open and is unaffected by this decision, operating in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions in NSW.
Guests who retained their 2020 Epic Australia Pass planning to ski and board late season at Hotham and Falls Creek, may apply for a refund under Epic Coverage by emailing claims@epicaustraliapass.com.au.
Vail Resorts originally decided to suspend operations at Mt Hotham and Falls Creek on July 9th due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne. The closure was expected to last till at least 19 August, as a result of the stay at home directions for Melbournes metropolitan area. NSW’s border closure to Victoria also contributed to Vail’s decision.
We recognize that this is incredibly disappointing news. We assure you that we did not make this decision lightly as we know our employees, guests and the communities where we operate have already endured so much hardship this year. However, we are focused first and foremost on health and safety, following local health guidelines, and doing our part to support efforts across Victoria to address the recent rise in coronavirus cases.
– Mt Hotham Skiing Company
Mount Buller, another Victorian ski resort is still operating.
