The Snowy Monaro region surprisingly came out of lockdown this afternoon and it did not take long for people to start resuming somewhat of a normal life.
Venues reacted quickly to open up and friends gathered for more freedom than they have had in the past month.
Perisher resort did not waste any time and had their Village Eight chair open on the Front Valley slope at 1.30pm. The word travelled fast that people could ski and snowboard again and they wasted no time strapping on their skis and snowboards.
There were smiles on all faces at Perisher where guests happily lapped the slope enjoying a chairlift ride in between runs they had not experienced since lockdown. Kids were enjoying the snow before they return to school.
The opening surprised everyone as it was not expected the Snowy Monaro would emerge from lockdown due to the Cooma COVID-19 cases earlier last week. (see current restrictions)
Perisher’s Peter Brulisauer said his team were into full swing quickly and had the grooming machine smoothing the slope and the chair running by 1.30pm. He himself was on skis as he stopped for a video interview with Snowy Mountains Magazine. (see below).
Above: Interview with Perisher's Pete Brulisauer on lockdown, the season and what will open at Perisher.
The Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the Snowy Monaro were expected to come out of lockdown on Sunday night, and maybe they got lucky today.
“We put up a batch of LGA’S that were able to come out by the weekend, and Snowy Monaro had just snuck in, officially it would have been Monday, so it would have been midnight Sunday, so that was part of the batch,” said Mr Barilaro.
“The decision by health to just allow the lifting of the orders to be today surprised all of us, so in one way we are comfortable with all the LGA’s, the exposure sites that were limited, and maybe Snowy Monaro were one of the lucky ones.”
“We will have to again be vigilant in that area, again, as I said previously, just because you are coming out today doesn’t mean you won’t be in lockdown again in the next few days if there are cases.”
Perisher will open more lifts by the weekend, with Mt Perisher expected to open and Thredbo have also stated they will open on Saturday.
“Following today’s NSW Government announcement that the lockdown has lifted for the Snowy Monaro LGA, Thredbo Resort will be reopening for skiing and snowboarding from this Saturday 18 September,” said Stuart Diver, Thredbo Resort General Manager.
“Operating lifts will include the Kosciuszko Express chairlift, Cruiser chairlift, Merritts Gondola, Basin T-Bar and Antons T-Bar.”
“The health and safety of our guests, employees and community continues to be our highest priority. We continue to operate under our COVID-19 plan that has been developed under the guidance of NSW Health. The Thredbo team can’t wait to welcome our guests back to the mountain until the season closing date of Sunday 3 October.”
Who Can Travel
Anyone from regional and rural NSW areas that are now open can travel to other areas that are open.
In Jindabyne Rydges Horizons Snowy Mountains spread the word on social media they would open at 2pm, and soon enough there was a good crowd visiting to enjoy the spring sunshine and time with friends.
The Banjo Paterson Inn in Jindabyne had a good crowd soon after their 5pm opening today and more venues are set to open Friday in Jindabyne and the resorts.
At Perisher’s Eiger Chalet, they had their bar open with a small crowd enjoying great spring atmosphere and people enjoying the re-opening of not only the resort, but the region.
