Washouts on skifield access roads
Several access roads to Canterbury skifields have been washed away, leaving some staff stranded, after heavy rain that fell over much of the West Coast also battered the mountain ranges.
Craigieburn Valley Ski Area club president Sander Kriek said 50 metres of the access road to the slopes had washed away, leaving five staff members stranded with multiple cars.
‘‘We escaped most damage from the first storm,’’ he said, referring to the wild, wet windy weather that devastated the Canterbury region with floods in May.
The club had ‘‘taken the brunt of it’’ this time though.
It had planned to open for the season last weekend and had sold out the ski area, and Kriek now hoped to open on August 7.
His priority was to get his staff off the mountain first, before looking at ‘‘more substantial repair’’ options.
The stranded staff were in ‘‘good spirits’’, with plenty of resources as the ski field was stocked in preparation for opening.
However, longer-term repairs would not be possible as a club alone, he said.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) owned the land where the road was and Kriek said he would meet DOC staff soon to discuss the repairs.
‘‘We’re hardie locals,’’ he said, but added the damage would have big financial consequences for the club.
The rain also caused two ‘‘significant slips’’ on the Mt Cheeseman Ski Area access road, club president Cam Lill said.
Cars were able to pass through but the road could not handle heavy traffic, he said.
The ski field had planned to open on July 3, but milder temperatures and rain had delayed the opening date.
‘‘The snow has been late coming,’’ Lill said.
It then planned to open last weekend, but could not because of more rain.
Staff were disappointed to be unable to open for the school holidays but were staying ‘‘positive and upbeat’’, he said. ‘‘There’s a lot of support out there from the skiing community.’’
The priority was to work with DOC staff to come up with a way to open as soon as possible.
The access road to Broken River Ski Area also suffered moderate damage over the weekend, with multiple slips that blocked the road.
Slips were not uncommon but the weekend’s ones were ‘‘bigger and uglier’’ than usual, club president Ross Campbell said.
‘‘The bulk of the temporary repairs were completed over the weekend and the road [is] likely to be back open to the public by the end of next weekend,’’ he said.
His biggest concern was the possibility of another year of poor snow. The club was able to open for just 24 days last year.
‘‘We’ve all been on edge because of that,’’ Campbell said.
‘‘My feeling of support and concern go for our neighbours.’’
Further north, Amuri Ski Club spokeswoman Julia AtkinsonDunn said staff were relieved to receive little damage. The Hanmer Springs Ski Area closed on July 6 due to a lack of snow but hoped to reopen this Saturday.