Proposals by NZSki Ltd for a new 1.3km Curvey Basin chairlift, plus two new ski trails, snow-making facilities and more development at the Remarkables ski area have been welcomed by a veteran snow industry operator and a former world-level athlete in Queenstown.
As reported in the Otago Daily Times yesterday, the Otago Conservation Board was briefed during its meeting on Friday on applications for the multimillion-dollar proposals by NZSki.
The early verdict of the Department of Conservation Wakatipu area office, after review and several site visits, was the "amended applications could be agreed to", subject to conditions to mitigate the adverse effects "typical of such ski area developments".
NZSki chief executive James Coddington said the new lift and terrain could be open in two years, if the consent process went smoothly and business was consistently good.
Queenstown-based Kiwi Discovery has been in the ski business for 25 years taking skiers to fields, including the Remarkables.
When asked to comment, managing director Vance Boyd said any development of the ski areas was great for the Queenstown Lakes district. He could only assume NZSki had done its sums and the decision stacked up commercially, he said.
"Any enhancement of the facilities at the Remarkables would definitely be an added attraction to the area in terms of our ski clients. I say that with the proviso that obviously there would be some environmental impact and I'm sure that NZSki would be keen to try to negate that."
Born-and-raised Queenstown resident Deni Bevin has seen the Remarkables develop over its 26 years and was a competitive snowboarder at World Cup level for more than decade.
The former professional freestyle coach of about 15 years said he remembered skiing at the Remarkables in the first year it was open and he had his first year of snowboarding on the mountain.
When asked for his reaction, Mr Bevin said he thought the NZSki proposal was a great opportunity.
"They've chopped and changed the lifts etc at Coronet for many years, but it's the first time that I've noticed they're actually going to expand the trails and give us a bit more area at the Remarkables.
"This is the biggest expanse they've done ever since they built the place. I saw one of the instructors the other day and he said 'the Remarks is the future'.
"You've got the elevation; it's a lot sunnier up there because it's north facing; it's got a real alpine feel up there. I cut my teeth on Coronet, but it's really a foothill compared to the Remarkables. Being in the car park of the Remarkables is basically the top of Coronet.
"It's a good thing and good for sport."
