Construction To Start On New Remarkables Chairlift After DOC Approval

The Remarkables ski area has received approval from the Department of Conservation (DOC) for a new chairlift project. This upcoming chairlift, set to open next year, will unveil 47 hectares of fresh terrain for skiing enthusiasts. Last year, NZSki submitted an application to replace the existing Shadow Basin chairlift, which has been in service for 33 years, with a larger and faster version that would terminate at a higher point on the mountain, closer to Queenstown.A decision was recently signed by Aaron Fleming, the Director of Operations for the Southern South Island Region at the Department of Conservation, confirming the granting of this concession. However, the concession's term has been limited to 30 years, as opposed to the 40 years initially sought by NZSki. This reduction in duration was made in response to opposition from various parties, including Ngāi Tahu.Paul Anderson, the CEO of NZSki, mentioned that the company has now applied for a resource consent from the Queenstown Lakes District Council to cover earthworks and vegetation clearance for the project. He expressed confidence that there would be no significant issues, and the plan is to shut down the existing Shadow Basin chairlift during the week of September 25, with full decommissioning scheduled for October 9. The new chairlift is expected to be operational in time for the 2024 skiing season. “Building new lifts and opening new terrain is one of the more rewarding things we do because people just love it, this chairlift is going to make access in Shadow Basin so much easier, increase capacity and shorten the ride time.” — Paul Anderson, NZSki Chief Executive

A visual representation depicting the proposed route for the new Shadow Basin chairlift at The Remarkables Ski Area (highlighted in green), alongside the current chairlift (depicted in grey). Credit: The Remarkables Ski Area This new chairlift will be a six-seater, replacing the aging four-seat chairlift that has been in use for over three decades. It will travel at a speed five times faster than the old one, reducing the travel time from 8.20 minutes to just 3.30 minutes. The terminal for the new chairlift will be situated 50 meters higher than the current station, positioned on a ridge to the left of the existing location, offering access to the previously untapped 47 hectares of skiable terrain.Additionally, NZSki has submitted a separate application to the Department of Conservation for a 40-year concession to operate the Remarkables ski area, which includes plans to double the size of the base building. While most of the skifield operator's operating concessions expired in February 2022, they were legally entitled to continue operating as new concession applications were submitted in November 2021.