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Kosciuszko National Park ski resorts - winter access arrangements 2008

May 2008

Introduction

The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), is responsible for the care, control and management of access, parking and oversnow vehicle use within Kosciuszko National Park. The following procedures on the use of parking areas and oversnow vehicles have been adopted to assist with the smooth operation of the ski resorts.

Vehicle access to Kosciuszko National Park ski resorts

All vehicles entering the resort areas within Kosciuszko National Park must display a valid pass.

Road closures

The following roads will be closed to all vehicles other than oversnow vehicles from the beginning of the June long weekend to the close of the October long weekend ('the winter period'), subject to snow conditions:

Kosciuszko Road (from Perisher Valley to Charlotte Pass)
The Link Road (between Smiggin Holes and the Guthega Road)

The following roads will be closed to all vehicles other than oversnow vehicles as road conditions require:

Kings Cross Road, between Mt Selwyn and Cabramurra
Cabramurra Road (KNP 5), between Cabramurra and Khancoban turn-off

Should snow conditions require, these closures may be extended or removed.

In-resort roads

Perisher Range resorts

Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes (except Willow Road which will be open to authorised vehicles only) and Guthega in-resort roads will be regarded as closed to all traffic other than oversnow vehicles from the start of the June long weekend to the close of the October long weekend.

Download the Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes and Guthega maps:

perishervalley2008map (140kb, requires Acrobat Reader)
smigginholes2008map (105kb, requires Acrobat Reader)
guthega2008map (102kb, requires Acrobat Reader)

Download the Perisher Range Resorts Road Status and Signage: road-status-signage2008 (92kb, requires Acrobat Reader)

During marginal snow conditions, access will be restricted to authorised vehicles only.

Thredbo Village

Village roads will be cleared of snow as required. Public access to the resort and parking in designated lodge car parks is allowed, provided it is in accordance with all signage and/or instructions.

Charlotte Pass Village

As Charlotte Pass Village is snowbound in winter, only authorised oversnow vehicles will be permitted to access and park at Charlotte Pass Village. Access to this village by conventional wheeled vehicles (including 4WDs) during the winter period is at the discretion of Charlotte Pass Village Pty Ltd, in consultation with RTA.

Public car parks

Resort staff direct the parking of vehicles within car parks in accordance with parking arrangements agreed between ski resorts and the NPWS. Vehicles found obstructing access lanes, traffic or parked in any way contrary to instructions or signage, may be issued with an infringement notice.

Overnight parking in the resorts

Vehicle overnight parking is not permitted in daytime public car parks at Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Thredbo, Guthega and Selwyn Snowfields during the winter period, between midnight and 7am unless authorised. This is to allow for unhindered snow clearing operations in the car parks and on roads and to minimise vehicles being snowbound.

There are no overnight public car parks in Perisher Valley or Smiggin Holes.

Perisher Range resorts

The only vehicles permitted to park overnight will be authorised by NPWS according to the procedures set out in the allocation of authorised vehicle status and parking section. Authorised vehicles are permitted to park only in authorised overnight parking zones or in designated lodge parking areas.

Thredbo Village, Guthega and Selwyn Snowfields overnight car parks

Overnight parking is permitted in the designated overnight car parks in Thredbo, Guthega and Selwyn Snowfields. No vehicle-based camping is permitted in overnight car parks.

Allocation of authorised vehicle status and parking

Authorised Vehicle Status

During marginal snow conditions, when there is insufficient snow to operate an oversnow vehicle, seasonal authority may be given to lodge management who provide guest services for conventional vehicles to be used to access lodges for business management purposes. Authorised vehicle status recognises the needs of some lessees who do not have an authorised overnight parking space.

It does not automatically allow for an overnight parking space. NPWS will issue an authorised vehicle sticker following approval of an application and payment of a fee. Allocation will be according to the criteria for long term overnight parking. Stickers must be prominently displayed on the windscreen of the authorised vehicle.

Download the Oversnow Operations Application Form 2008: oversnow-app-form2008 (21kb, requires Acrobat Reader)

Winter overnight parking allocation

Perisher Valley and Smiggin Holes

A limited number of spaces for winter overnight parking are available in the authorised parking bays at Perisher Valley and Smiggin Holes, to lessees and operators. Parking allocations are reviewed each year.

NPWS will lock each parking bay until the allocated occupier has completed the application process and paid all fees. Occupiers of authorised parking spaces are responsible for security of their allocations. NPWS will arrange for the clearing of authorised car parks on 2 occasions throughout the season if required. NPWS will nominate 2 days in the season on which the clearing will occur. NPWS will advise authorise parking holders by SMS text message, 1 week before the nominated day.

Temporary vehicle parking

Authorised vehicle parking for temporary periods, including overnight, may be made available on an extremely limited basis. Applications will be assessed on merit and are subject to availability of space. These may include disabled vehicle parking, tradespersons undertaking emergency repairs and visiting performers. If an application is approved, a temporary vehicle parking permit will be issued and must be clearly displayed on the dashboard inside the nominated vehicle.

Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes and Guthega

Contact NPWS Perisher office on (02) 6457 4444

Selwyn Snowfields

For temporary parking requirements contact Selwyn Snowfields ski resort on (02) 6454 9488.

Thredbo

For temporary parking requirements contact Thredbo ski resort on (02) 6459 4100.

Oversnow vehicles

Definition of oversnow vehicle

An oversnow vehicle is defined as 'a vehicle specifically designed to be driven over snow and/or capable of driving over snow'. This includes snowmobiles, quad bikes, snowcats, all-terrain vehicles (Argos, vehicles fitted with rubber track system) and snow grooming machinery, defined below:

Snowmobiles

Oversnow vehicles driven by continuous single or double rubber drive track(s), with ski/s for steering or equivalent system.

Quad bikes

Multi-purpose four (4) or six (6) wheeled motor bikes capable of being driven over snow.

All-terrain vehicles

Oversnow vehicles driven by six (6) or eight (8) low-pressured tyred wheels, with steerage by mechanical or hydraulic brake or equivalent system.

Snowcats / snow grooming machines

Oversnow vehicles driven by two separate full-length continuous rubber tracks, with steerage by mechanical brake, hydraulic drive or skis, or equivalent system.

Vehicles fitted with Rubber Track System

Conventional 4WD vehicles with all wheels fitted with a rubber track system, capable of being driven oversnow.

Four-wheel drive vehicles

Conventional four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles are not regarded as oversnow vehicles and will not be permitted on oversnow vehicle routes, unless granted authorisation during marginal snow conditions.

NOTE: The carrying of passengers must comply with machine specifications.

Trailers

Trailers pulled behind snowmobiles, quad bikes, snowcats or all-terrain vehicles may be either wheeled, tracked or skied, and must comply with RTA regulations and specifications. When trailers are being used to convey garbage, the load must be covered to prevent any loss from the trailer.

Under the Australian Road Rules it is an offence to transport passengers in trailers.

Use of oversnow vehicles

Within Kosciuszko National Park, the use of oversnow vehicles shall be limited to the safe and efficient functioning of ski resort business. Oversnow vehicles are registered to operate in strictly limited areas, as approved. Away from resort centres, oversnow vehicles may only be used for official park management, Snowy Hydro Limited and search and rescue operations.

Recreational use of oversnow vehicles is not permitted in Kosciuszko National Park.

The registered owner of the oversnow vehicle is responsible for ensuring any operator of the oversnow vehicle is licenced and aware of all regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to oversnow vehicles.

Oversnow vehicle operator's licences

Each operator using an oversnow vehicle must hold a current motor vehicle driver's licence and the NPWS oversnow vehicle operator's licence. The NPWS licence shall become invalid should the motor vehicle driver's licence expire or be cancelled. The NPWS will issue an oversnow vehicle operator's licence to the operator following approval of a completed application form and payment of a fee.

A written authority from the operator's employer, stating the applicant's need to obtain a licence for business operations, and the type of vehicle(s) to be operated, must accompany the application.

Provisional car licences are permitted but learners licences are not acceptable.

Oversnow vehicle operator's licences must be carried at all times when operating an oversnow vehicle.

Oversnow vehicle registration

All oversnow vehicles MUST be registered with both the NPWS and Roads & Traffic Authority (RTA). The RTA registration label and number plates must be correctly fitted to the vehicle. NPWS registration stickers must be fixed so as to be clearly visible from both sides of the front of the vehicle.

Applications for the registration of an oversnow vehicle must be presented, with the appropriate fee, to the NPWS Perisher Office, accompanied by current RTA registration papers of the vehicle to be registered.

Oversnow vehicles must be registered in the names of the respective lessees and licensees, tradesperson or emergency services authorities. Their use will be restricted to business management purposes consistent with the legislation and any applicable lease/licence, or NPWS policy.

The number of oversnow vehicles registered for any one operation will be determined by:

demonstrated genuine need ('demonstrated genuine need' means a genuine need associated with the management/operation of a lease, licence, sub-lease or sub-licence, or trade or business conducted within the park. In this regard full written, detailed and accurate reasons are required to be provided to the NPWS on the need for oversnow vehicle use)
satisfactory proof that existing licenced vehicles do not provide an adequate service
lease conditions
distance to the operational centre of Perisher Valley (for Perisher Valley only).

Companies holding head leases, franchises or leases with the Minister for the provision of mechanical uphill transport for alpine skiing will be entitled to register the number of oversnow vehicles necessary for the safe, efficient and economical management of their facilities.

Various commonwealth, state or local government bodies with statutory responsibilities within Kosciuszko National Park will be permitted to register oversnow vehicles as determined necessary to enable them to meet their statutory obligations. All government authorities must display their ensign on their registered oversnow vehicles. The licencees of commercial oversnow transport operations will be permitted to register such oversnow vehicles as determined are necessary to enable them to meet their licence obligations.

Only licenced commercial oversnow transport shall be permitted to charge a fee for the oversnow transport of persons, freight, garbage, etc.

All other persons and organisations who do not fall within the above categories will not be permitted to register oversnow vehicles for use in the park. Oversnow transport for these persons is available by:

the licensed commercial oversnow transport operator
the oversnow transport provided by appropriate commercial or ski club lodges.

Conditions of use of oversnow vehicles

abide by the Australian Road Rules (1999)
abide by the National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2002
park oversnow vehicles in designated zones only
operate oversnow vehicles for business purposes only
operate oversnow vehicle on designated routes only
operate in areas as approved, and indicated by the registration sticker, as follows:
- Perisher Valley and/to Smiggin Holes.
- Charlotte Pass Village;
- Perisher Valley to Charlotte Pass Village via Kosciuszko Road;
- Kosciuszko Road to Charlotte Pass Village via Spencer's Creek pole line.
- Selwyn Snowfields.
- Kosciuszko Thredbo.
- Guthega.
- Management Services.

NPWS registration stickers MUST be prominently displayed, on each side of the front cowling of the vehicle.

Acceptable routes

Oversnow vehicles must travel only on designated oversnow routes.

Download the Perisher Valley to Smiggin Holes Oversnow Routes & Parking: oversnow-routes-parking2008 (81kb, requires Acrobat Reader)

Snowmobile parking

Three areas have been set aside for snowmobile parking in Perisher Valley:

the north-east end of the Perisher Ski Centre
the area immediately below the Perisher Quad Chair
the eastern side of the Skitube building.

Speed limits

the pedestrian and oversnow vehicle shared zone has a maximum speed limit of 20 km/h
all other oversnow routes and designated roads in Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes and Charlotte Pass have a maximum speed limit of 30 km/h
the oversnow route from Perisher Gap to Charlotte Pass has a maximum speed limit of 60 km/h.

Fees

Annual vehicle registration and licensing fees are:

oversnow vehicle operator licences - $15.00 per person per season
snowmobile and quad bike registration - $80.00 per machine per season
large oversnow machine registration (tracked, ATV's etc) - $100.00 per machine per season
authorised vehicle status / overnight parking - $50.00 per vehicle
replacement registration stickers - $20.00 per set
re-registration of the same vehicle within the winter period - $20.00 per registration.