060606

The devil is in the detail – well actually no devils were seen today.

A light dusting fell around the 1800m mark last night and there was a huge night of snowmaking. With the high-pressure system sitting over this area there should be more snowmaking over the next few nights.

The cooling trend continues. After the last two months being colder than the same months last year, already only 6 days into June and the minimum temperature this month is 0.3C below the coldest June day last year.

You will all know by now of the Commonwealth, NSW and VIC state governments back down on the sale of Snowy Hydro. Thank you to all those who helped in any way to turn this around.

Winter 2006 is upon us. Be aware that the speed limit within the Kosciuszko National Park drops from 100kph to 80kph for the duration of winter.

There may be some fresh snow to top up the man made over the long weekend.

Antons and upper High Noon

Steeper part of High Noon

Upper Supertrail

Funnel Web

Overnight man made snow at Ski In Ski Out

Friday Flat this afternoon

More of Friday Flat

Now that the winter season is starting we have a new battle on our hands. Annual pass fees rose late last year from $88 to $145 and will rise again this year to $190 per annum. Day prices go up from $16 per day to $22 per day in Winter 2006 and will rise even further in winter 2007 to $27 per day.

You will agree with me that these prices are completely outrageous even though the NSW state government keeps trying to justify them. A rise in any fee or charge for anything else in this state of the same magnitude would cause mass outrage.

Together with the huge local petrol prices, these horrendous fees will severely reduce numbers to the NSW snowfields over the next few years. This will result in job loses, business failures and a general lowering of standards and services available in the entire region. If you care, you will act. I will be soon starting an online protest, similar to that done for the SaveOurSnowyHydro.com campaign. Petitions will also be available for people to sign, requesting that the NSW state government reduce fees back to, or very close to, last year’s rates.

If the NSW Labor party believes it will lose power next year because of your votes, then they will change their minds or at worst a new government should reduce the fees in their place. People power will change their minds.