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MULTI MILLION DOLLAR QUEENSTOWN SKIFIELD UPGRADE

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November, 2018

NZSki has announced a whopping $35 million spending spree on its
Queenstown skifields, including a new Coronet Peak chondola.
The boost takes the companys total investment in Coronet and The
Remarkables to nearly $100 million since 2014.
As well as the chondola, whichll feature a mix of chairs and gondola
cabins to replace the Coronet Express, NZSkis also adding a second six-
seater express chairlift from the base of The Remarks and expanding
into summer activities at Coronet.
NZSki boss Paul Anderson calls the investment massive.
Hes hoping the investment, coupled with walking the talk on
conservation efforts, will turn the tide of public opinion.
The major upgrades come off the back of a bumper ski season, with
operations about 20 percent up, Anderson says.
Weve had an absolute record winter at Coronet Peak and The
Remarkables, and these developments along with our future plans for
growth are absolutely key to the future here in Queenstown.
In winter, the new Italian-designed Telemix chondola at Coronet will
operate predom-inantly as an express chairlift, while in summer the
chairs will be dedicated to mountain bikers and gondola cabins will be
incor-porated for sightseers.
The Telemix is designed for a capacity of up to 3000 people per hour.
NZSki plans to open the Coronet Peak base building restaurant in
summer, from 2019/20, and also offer guided walks, along with
mountain biking and sightseeing, Anderson says.
The sheer number of people wanting to head up in summers been the
driving force, he says.
Well have 200-300 up there a day, and at the moment theres nothing
for them to do.
That incorporates a new high-speed six-seater chairlift starting from the
base area and opening 2.5km of trails that were previously harder to
access, including the terrain park, and also off-piste, Anderson says.
Therell be 36 new snow guns.
Following this major upgrade, we will look to replace the Shadow Basin
chairlift with a new high-speed lift which will position us for further
expansion, Anderson says.
Weve always been open about the need to expand the ski area into
the Doolans [over the saddle] and we will continue to talk with the
Department of Conservation about how we can make this terrain
available to our guests in the future.

Source: Mountain Scene