Front Valley Snow Cam at 4:16 pm on 28 May 2025: Local businesses have been shaken by the slow seasons for the last two years. Photo: Perisher.
Last May, intrepid snow lovers were hiking through deep snow to ski and board on Perisher’s ‘Front Valley’ ahead of the June long weekend opening.
This year, double-digit temperatures and rain on the horizon are painting a grim picture for the Snowy Mountains’ winter economy.
President of the Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce Olivier Kapetanakos said that local businesses have been shaken by the slow seasons of the last two years, but they remain hopeful.
“Businesses are finding it tough out there. There’s no doubt about that whatsoever,” Mr Kapetanakos said.
“In March, there was a 17 per cent decrease in visitor spend in the area. Now that’s going to have an impact … so there is an issue with visitor spend. It’s the economy. We’ve got to make sure that we’re resilient enough to be here once the economy bounces back up again.”
Late May usually sees a layer of snow already built up across the Kosciuszko’s main range, with the snow resorts pumping out artificial snow to build up their base ahead of the June long weekend, allowing dedicated powder hounds to strap on backcountry skis and hike in for some pre-season turns, but not this year.
“It’s a month late, but we know that Mother Nature is going to deliver in July, so we’re just hoping that we have enough cold mornings that allow the resorts to utilise their investment in technology to make snow,” Mr Kapetanakos said.
Despite a light dusting earlier in the week, double-digit temperatures are still predicted into early June. For Mr Kapetanakos, it highlights the importance of the Chamber’s goal to transform Jindabyne and the Alps into a year-round tourist destination.
“We need Jindabyne in its own right to become a destination … It’s a great place to spend some time on the lake or around the lake, but we need that other dimension.”
Perisher Front Valley this time last year … Mother Nature with a boost from the snow guns. Photo: Nicholas Ward.
Currently, winter still accounts for the lion’s share of the region’s yearly tourist numbers, with around a million visitors passing through the quiet town between June and September.
But with modelling by the ANU predicting ski seasons could be 28 to 55 days shorter by 2050, many skiers are looking to our northern neighbours for more reliable powder.
Mr Kapetanakos doesn’t think Japan’s record visitor numbers are a threat to the Australian industry.
“The difference between skiing in Japan and skiing in Australia is that you need a plan to go to Japan, you need to get a visa, and you need to book airlines. There’s a language issue, all this sort of thing,” he said.
“Whereas, in Australia, you come down for a weekend at a moment’s notice when the sun is good, so we’re always going to have a good ski industry down here. But I think it needs to be worked on.”
Despite the unpredictable forecasts, the industry remains outwardly optimistic, with Thredbo and Perisher both making major investments in their resorts over the last year.
Perisher unveiled its new six-seater chairlift to operate on Mt Perisher this season, while Thredbo is installing state-of-the-art snow-making facilities capable of producing snow at up to 20 degrees at Friday Flat. The Chamber of Commerce stated that these investments demonstrate confidence in the industry.
However, even when snow does arrive in full, it’s looking unlikely to be a smooth season, with the Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast predicting a warmer-than-average winter, with an 80 per cent chance of a warmer-than-median average over June.
