Following the fire that broke out last Friday, May 17, at the Charlotte Pass sewage treatment plant, the team at the Australian ski resort has been working tirelessly to source a temporary option to enable the snow season to proceed. Charlotte Pass Snow Resort have today announced that the 2024 snow season will proceed from Friday, July 5, 2024, in time for the start of the New South Wales school holidays.
Lifts are scheduled to start spinning on Friday, July 5, two weeks later than originally planned. Guest arrivals for all overnight accommodation will also commence from Friday July 5 (the resort is only accessible by over-snow vehicles). The opening is subject to prevailing snow conditions.
After extensive investigations, it was determined that the only viable option is restoring temporary services to the existing sewage treatment plant. This has involved the purchase and rapid construction of bespoke containerised equipment to provide the necessary electrical, aeration, disinfection and treatment processes.
AKS Industries has been engaged in constructing and installing containerized equipment. Design and construction of the new equipment has already commenced, with fabrication occurring at the AKS Industries factory in Geelong.
The new equipment will be delivered to Charlotte Pass the week of Monday, June 24, to ensure an appropriate period for equipment installation and commissioning of the sewage treatment plant before the resort accepts guests. The proposal for restoration of temporary services has received the in-principal support of the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure and the NSW Environmental Protection Agency.
Kevin James Blyton, Chairman of Charlotte Pass Snow Resort, said: “I am pleased that a solution has been found to ensure the 2024 snow season can continue. We look forward to welcoming our valued guests back to the resort. I’d like to thank the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for their support in leading the approval process to enable the use of temporary facilities this season.”
Angela Murdoch, General Manager of Charlotte Pass Snow Resort, expressed her appreciation to AKS Industries for agreeing to undertake the project: “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.”
Guests with bookings for prior to July 5, 2024 will be offered the opportunity to transfer their dates to later in the 2024 snow season, defer their booking to the 2025 snow season or receive a refund.
No public access will be available to Charlotte Pass Village until the opening of the resort on Friday, July 5.
