At the 2016 NZSki post-winter update in Queenstown yesterday, chief executive Paul Anderson said the company had been looking at long-term expansion options, but growing patronage had brought that forward.
"This year we [had] a look at Doolans ... it’s the next natural place for us to go."
The existing ski area has a patrolled area of 220ha. Mr Anderson told the Otago Daily Times there was the potential to "at least" double that by opening up the Doolans area, over the back of Curvey Basin, east of the skifield.
If the current rate of growth continued, Mr Anderson said the company would consider opening up the new area within two or three years, subject to the Department of Conservation (Doc) granting a concession.
Initial discussions about the proposal with Doc, stakeholders and user groups and early planning were on the horizon, he said.
"It’s not as simple as putting a lift up and over; we’ve got to look at the whole infrastructure environment we’ve got over there, so car parking; the pressure on the road; if and when there’s a gondola up there ... water, sewerage, snow-making — all of the infrastructure a ski area now needs to operate reliably, you’d need to cost all of that in.
"Those early conversations that we’d have to have with all the stakeholders would be really important."
At yesterday’s update Mr Anderson said while the 2016 winter had been challenging, it had also been one of the most successful yet, with more than 600,000 guests visiting NZSki’s three ski areas — Coronet Peak, the Remarkables and Mt Hutt. It amounted to a 15% increase on the previous winter.
This was despite the fact the warmest June on record forced Coronet Peak to close for 16 days after early snow melted. That closure boosted visitor numbers at the Remarkables across the Wakatipu Basin and the 2016 tallies outstripped all expectations.
Ski area manager Ross Lawrence said he had been smiling "from ear to ear" since early this season.
"It’s been the best ever [at the Remarkables]."
The season was not normal, with just two significant storms, and of the 107 possible days of operation, a "phenomenal" 74 were clear and sunny.
Mr Anderson said one of the key factors in the increased usage at both ski areas was lower-priced season passes. They had a "profound impact" on the business, bringing back local skiers.
A new package, targeting beginner skiers, also reaped benefits, with 12,000 lessons sold through it.
Australians made up about a quarter of Coronet Peak’s visitors this season, while at the Remarkables they accounted for about 40%.
