Mt Hutt development on schedule for skiers

Skiers and snowboarders will not recognise Canterbury's Mt Hutt skifield when they take to the mountain at the opening of the season on June 4, says mountain manager Ross Lawrence.

Mr Lawrence said the off-season development was coming together nicely, and he was confident the $7 million facelift announced late last year would be completed by early next month.

Projects under way include earthworks to create a new novice trail, Virgin Mile Trail, Summit Trail and a reshape of the base area where the bottom lift now stands.

A snow fence is also being put in place, to help protect users from the northwesterly winds that often batter the mountain.

The season's first big dumping of snow could hit Mt Hutt any time, but Mr Lawrence said balmy and windless conditions have been meeting the 30-odd workers on the mountain.

Although snow would hamper progress on the mountain, recent warm conditions have also been causing problems.

The 30 towers for both the Summit Six, a six-seater Leitner Poma detachable chairlift from the base area to the top of the mountain, and the exhibition quad, which is being realigned to become a dedicated novice chairlift, were to be installed by helicopter yesterday.

Mt Hutt announced late last year plans to invest in new chairlifts and trails for novice and experienced skiers and boarders.

Ski area manager David Wilson said the investment represented a logical step in the development of the ski area.

- NZPA