Snowmaking on ice until skifield gets water consent

granted. The issue is time,’’ Goldschmidt said.

‘‘We plan to lodge consent by Christmas, so they can be granted early in 2023, so we can begin snowmaking in June 2023.’’

The skifield usually fires up its snow guns in June, a couple of weeks before the first weekend of the season, which usually coincides with the school holidays.

Rainbow didn’t have to make snow to start the season this year, and had an early opening on June 24, two weeks earlier than expected. But a storm and road closures ended the season four weeks early, with the top of the south experiencing one of its worst weather events.

Rainbow board chairperson

Mark Unwin said the skifield was allowed to take the same amount of water every year for snowmaking. ‘‘We haven’t made as much snow as we had previously. We haven’t ever got close to taking the amount of water that we are allowed to take. But if all the snowmaking guns were worked for the full season, we would be taking more water.’’

Rainbow had increased its fleet of snow guns to 13 to be able to build its base from the top to the bottom, depending on the weather, Unwin said.

‘‘It’s important to protect waterways – we understand that.’’

Rainbow will not be able to take water for snowmaking until the resource consent has been granted.

‘‘If we don’t get the consent, we can still operate, but we just operate with natural snow, which is not always ideal,’’ Unwin said.