Holiday-makers ready for 2020 snow season despite the coronavirus pandemic and summer bushfires

Snow resorts in NSW and Victoria say they ‘worked under pressure’ to get ready for the 2020 snow season amid the pandemic and bushfire season.

Rentaro Thomas, 20, from Sydney, and Thomas Frieberg, 24, from Brisbane on their way to the top of Walkabout run at Thredbo, NSW, at the weekend. Picture: Sean Davey

Bushfires and the coronavirus pandemic are not going to stop Australia’s snowfields from opening this year, but mother nature may have something to say on the matter.

Snowfields across the NSW and Victorian alpine regions can expect between five and 15cm of snow over the next few days, but towards the middle of the week things will get a “little more interesting”, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s Grace Legge.

Jayd Arbalis and Zander, 5, from Canberra on the chair left at Thredbo, NSW. The 2020 snow season opens on Monday. Picture: Sean Davey.

“We definitely have a chance of seeing snow showers across the various alpine areas and resorts,” she said. “Mount Hotham on Wednesday looks like it might get to four or five degrees for its maximum and may stay above zero overnight, which isn’t great for snow on the ground.”

Thredbo spokeswoman Caroline Brauer said the resort expected chairlifts to start turning on Monday regardless.

“We are seeing an influx of interest in coming to the area, but we are operating on our COVID-safe plan, which includes a limit on how many skiers and snowboarders can use the resort each day,” Ms Brauer said. “I think there is a new sense of excitement and ­energy coming to town.”

Brazilian nationals Eric Alkema 34, and Isamar Fontes, 28 with friends at Eagle’s Nest, Thredbo, ahead of the ski season on Monday. Picture: Sean Davey

Ms Brauer said the fields would operate at 50 per cent capacity because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Renato Thomas, a seasonal worker in Jindabyne, decided to hike up Mount Kosciuszko on Sunday after it was covered in 10cm of fresh snow.

“It’s great because once I got back from Japan, I literally did nothing for two months, so it’s great to get back outside and start socialising,” Mr Thomas, 20, said.

Matthew Kavanagh and his family booked a trip to Thredbo after spending almost two months in total lockdown in the northwest Sydney suburb of North Kellyville.

“As a testament to all the hard work and the sacrifices people have made, it’s nice to see the season operating again, even at limited capacity,” Mr Kavanagh said.

Thredbo opened its slopes to visitors on Monday, while Perisher and Charlotte Pass will reopen this week.

Slopes manager Shane Macleod ploughs on snow at Friday flat, Thredbo, on Sunday. Picture: Sean Davey.

And while the season is set to go ahead in NSW, some popular ski destinations in Victoria are simply waiting for snow.

“We have permission to operate our ski season from Monday but we don’t have sufficient snow to do that yet,” Mount Buller spokeswoman Rhylla Morgan said, noting the resort was also keeping track of a spike in infections in the state.

“It all hangs on mother nature,” she said. “This region has had a ­really difficult start to the year with bushfires; we rely very heavily on tourism in the high country and so being able to get open and stay open is really important.”