Perisher resort has received National Parks approval for the upgrade of Mt Perisher where a new six seat detachable chair has been proposed.

THE development application, which was lodged in 2020 now has one green light, the next phase of the process will be determined by Vail Resorts hierarchy to fund the $19 million project from their annual upgrade budget.

Each year the USA Colorado based company, which is listed on the US stock exchange, make an annual announcement of expenditure. They currently have a substantial number of upgrades listed for their North American resorts.

The new chair, when it is approved within the Vail Resorts financial system will see the new six seat detachable chair replace both the current double and triple chairs on Mt Perisher. It is expected the new chair will run along a similar alignment of the existing triple chair and extend to an elevation of 2042 metres making it the highest lifted point in Australia. The new chair would have a 90 degree unload at the top similar to the Village 8 Express.

In the overall grand plan, the current restaurant at the base of the double chair would be upgraded and the widening of Towers run with additional snowmaking. These are not confirmed yet.

The development is much needed, and some would say long overdue with the Perisher double chair being installed in 1961. Guests will eagerly await any updates from Perisher and Vail Resorts.

Background Story from July 2020

$19 Million Mt Perisher Project

MOUNT Perisher has forever been a favourite area and the Towers run a haven for the Perisher faithful.

Good news on the horizon is Perisher have a Development Application (DA) lodged for a new six seat detachable chair to replace the current double and triple chairs on Mount Perisher.

In what Peter Brulisauer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts Australia and Perisher described as a “significant development”, the Mount Perisher landscape is set to be vastly changed.

The development is much needed, and some would say long overdue, as the double chair was installed in 1961. Included as part of their overall plans would see the Towers run widened and the new bottom station lower than the current triple, plus take a similar line to the triple chair. With a 90-degree unload at the top the chair would also be the highest lifted point in Australia.

Currently Thredbo have the highest lifted point with Karels T-bar at 2037m. This would be surpassed with the new six-seater top station unload area at 2042 metres.

There would be two new skier bridges at the bottom of Towers for access and the Eyre T-bar bull wheel would be relocated downhill 11.2 metres.

The estimated cost for the entire project is over $19 million. The DA is currently under assessment (June 2020) and Perisher have indicated they do not have a timeframe for construction yet.

“Once we receive approval, we will assess the landscape and determine the best path,” said Brulisauer. Considering a recent statement from Vail Resorts saying all capital expenditure will be deferred, once the project is approved who knows when we will ride the new chair.

In discussing the finer points of the project, Brulisauer, who grew up skiing at Perisher and knows the resort terrain intimately said, “We are really excited about how well the run will ski and ride once its widened and the towers from the Mt Perisher Double and Triple chairlifts are removed. It’s excellent terrain and it will be an unbelievable improvement.” “The 90 degree unload like the Village Eight Express will deliver guests higher up on the hill, sheltered from the prevailing wind and ready to head out high and wide past Eyre T-Bar to Shiftys, or select more fall line and choose from one of the many runs from the top of Mt Perisher.”

Regular visitors are well aware that when the blizzards deliver new snow, they often arrive with strong winds which result in wind hold days for the chairs.

Mr Brulisauer said, “We are very confident that the chair design will perform very well in the wind, just like the Village Eight Express. It will be a massive improvement on the current wind performance of the chairlifts on Mt Perisher.”

When we queried once the new chair is installed would Mt Perisher become overly busy and create traffic problems, Brulisauer said, “I think it will be loved like the recent chairlifts we have added to Perisher, only on a much bigger scale.

In 2014, our guests rushed to Guthega to experience the new Freedom Chairlift and for many it is still their favourite place in the resort. Likewise, in 2019 the new Leichhardt Chairlift changed the way that skiers and snowboarders experienced Perisher Valley with far more people enjoying that part of the resort including the much loved Leichhardt Terrain Park.”

There are also plans to revamp the double chair restaurant, but no confirmed schedule as yet. You would expect the new chair would see increased traffic, so the current Powder Inn restaurant would be in dire need of an upgrade.

The restaurant plan is to expand the facility and create an indoor and outdoor dining venue and bar. Access to the new chair would be via a slight downhill traverse from the deck area across to the loading station.