Covid-19 Australia: Ski resorts left empty as snow blankets fields while NSW remains in lockdown

Australia’s ski resorts are blanketed in inches of fresh snow without a happy family in sight as they brace for their worst season yet, with locked down Victorians and New South Wales residents banned from hitting the slopes.

While both states bunker down, snow has covered the slopes at Perisher valley in NSW, with heartbreaking images emerging of an eerily empty resort that was once bustling with tourism.

As a wintry chill swept through the state’s Snowy Mountains region on Wednesday, chair lifts no longer operated along the alpine slopes, snow mobiles sat idle and accommodation remained unoccupied.

Pictured: Empty chair lifts are seen at Perisher Valley on Wednesday after a statewide lockdown forced the ski resort to cease operation with tourism operators concerned they’ll see no activity its last month of ski season

In cruel timing, Perisher recorded 8cm of snowfall in the last seven days amid the same period the ski resort was forced to shut after the announcement of a state-wide lockdown on August 14.

Residents in regional areas could only leave their homes for essential work and study – that cannot be done at home, healthcare and exercise, with non-essential retail closing and hospitality venues operating as takeaway only.

Prior to the state-wide health restrictions ski resorts scrambled with last minute cancellations from locked-down Sydneysiders as they relied on tourists from regional areas to fill the gap.

The Alpine community faced yet another blow on Thursday after the NSW government said it was extending the state-wide stay at home orders until September 10, leaving just three weeks left of the ski season.

Pictured: Snow blanketed the Perisher ski resort overnight, recording 8cm of snowfall in the last 7 days during the same period the resort announced its closure during the NSW statewide lockdown

Pictured: Perisher snow mobiles sit idle as a statewide lockdown extension was announced until September 10 forcing thousands of residents to remain locked-down in their homes across the state

‘The announcement of the regional lockdown extension is more difficult news for our Perisher community, guests and employees. It’s a very uncertain time for the whole region and sadly our lifts will have to remain closed until at least 10 Sep,’ said Pete Brulisauer, Chief Operating Officer Australian and Perisher.

‘We encourage everyone to stay safe and do their bit, so we can all get out of lockdown as soon as possible.’

Businesses and resorts in the Snowy region have already faced setbacks after it missed the crucial school holiday period in July missing out on much needed tourism dollars.

Thredbo ski resort, located in the heart of Kosciuszko National Park, also remains closed amid lockdown restrictions, confirming it will pause its winter season until they are able to reopen again.

Pictured: Tables and benches are left unoccupied by tourists at Charlotte Pass ski resort in the Kosciuszko National Park which is usually thriving with activity ski season

‘While we’re incredibly disappointed to see the temporary closure of our resort, we are committed to playing our part in ensuring the health & safety of our guests, teams and our community,’ the resort wrote on its website.

‘We look forward to welcoming our guests back to the mountain soon.’

Overnight Thredbo saw 15cm of snowfall blanket the empty alpine village as ski resort operators brace for their most challenging winter yet.

Pictured: Chairlifts no longer operate along the snowfields at Charlotte Pass in the Kosciuszko National Park as Covid-19 restrictions for holiday-makers to cancel their ski trips

Pictured: A once bustling ski village, Perisher remains eerily quiet as the state continues to grapple with the Covid-19 outbreak