Fairmont Resort puts ice rink back in motion

A child-friendly resort in the heritage-listed Blue Mountains has lodged plans for a covered ice rink that can be coverted into a conference centre.

The Blue Mountains’ first ice rink could open at Leura’s Fairmont Resort as early as next year.

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The Blue Mountains’ first ice rink is a step closer to completion.

The Fairmont Resort in Leura has had plans to build an ice rink over the exisiting pond for almost three years, and has lodged an amended DA to change previously approved plans.

Owner of the resort, Dr Jerry Schwartz, first applied for a 26mx20m ice rink in 2017, expected to cost almost $700,000.

Another DA in late 2017 increased the size of the rink by 50 per cent, and another DA in 2018 applied for an almost $500,000 roof to be built over the top of the rink.

A fourth DA in 2019 added roofed access from the hotel, more toilets, and the conversion of a plant room to a kitchen server at a cost of $130,000.

Dr Jerry Schwartz first applied for the ice rink back in 2017, and it’s gone through several changes since that time.

However, the ice rink was to also be converted to a conference centre.

Now, a DA has been lodged that would see the kitchen server removed, the toilets relocated, and more storage and plant areas.

The reception area would be changed to a cafe for use with the ice rink and pool area, and a new store room would be built for the storage and distribution of ice skates.

There would also be a new deck adjacent to the cafe.

The ice rink is also back on the table, with plans to have a temporary floor that would be laid over the ice to become a conference room.

It is expected to be open over the winter months, and could be open as early as next year.

The Fairmont Resort has been contacted for comment.