This was published 2 years ago
Holidaymakers turned around after ski resorts hit capacity
By Mary Ward
Hundreds headed to NSW’s snowfields this weekend were forced to abandon their plans, after resort parking hit capacity on early Saturday afternoon.
Police and transport authorities started turning cars around at Kosciuszko Road and Alpine Way at Jindabyne around 1pm, with car parks at Thredbo, Perisher and Guthega ski resorts all full.
“These diversions will be in place for a number of hours, expect delays,” NSW Police’s Traffic and Highway Patrol Command warned in a Facebook post. Those travelling to Perisher could still access the Skitube train from Bullocks Flat.
The roads were reopened at 4pm, after all car parks reported having spaces.
It was expected to be a busy week on the slopes with more than 30cm of snowfall last weekend and mild weather forecast.
Amy Harper was on her way to Thredbo early on Saturday afternoon, but was turned around at Snow Tube Road after sitting on the Alpine Way for 30 minutes.
The Ulladulla woman and her partner had spent the night in Canberra ahead of a snow weekend they had planned for two months.
Harper said they were offered no explanation for why they were being turned around by police and traffic authorities on site, and described the queue as “unsafe”, noting they were brought to an abrupt stop on a blind corner.
“If my friend had not have pulled his car over off the road, we would have been rear-ended by someone travelling at speed behind us,” she said.
Thredbo and Perisher resorts were both contacted for comment.
with Sally Rawsthorne
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