Oz resorts open after severe weather
Wednesday September 8, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

At Mt Hotham a landslide wiped out the lift station and closed many runs. Falls Creek has been closed for days. The severe weather though appears to have passed.

The weather in Australia has been appalling with severe flooding in parts of Victoria and widespread devastation.

It was snow at high areas but the temperature was above freezing in many ski resorts so it fell as rain.

There have also been high winds.

The rain caused big problems at Mount Hotham as we reported over the weekend.

A sudden landslide badly damaged the ticket office though fortunately no-one was seriously hut. It went into the car park damaging vehicles.

For a time the resort was cut off.

The ticket office has been replaced by a temporary structure and the Village Chairlift, next to the damaged ticket office, will re-open on Wednesday after final safety checks are concluded.

Some of the ski area was closed and that too is expected to re-open.

"The snow conditions are fantastic for Spring and it's a great time to get good value on your next snow holiday," says a statement from the resort.

Hotham currently has an average natural snowdepth of 1.29m, a snowmaking base of 1.78m.

12 out of 13 lifts are operating.

The weather also disrupted access to Falls Creek and the road was shut.

"The road to Falls Creek was temporarily closed but with the hard work of the Police, Vic Roads, Resort Management and SES, the road is open" says Michael Callahan, from Falls Creek Ski Lifts.

"Falls Creek weathered the significant storm and we are happy to say we have all lifts and all areas open," adds Callahan.

Staff have worked round the clock to get the resort open.

For the spirit of the mountains