FROM THE TOP: Foundations of the top station for the new Burnt Hut chairlift take shape at the top of the Burnt Hut Spur. PHOTO: Matt Janney

Work on 530 metre long, $3.1m chairlift begins

WORK on a new $3.1 million chairlift is under way on the northern slopes of Mt Buller.

The new chairlift will be the third new chairlift installed at Mt Buller since 2005, and will be the only new chairlift investment at any ski resort in Australia for 2012.

It will span 530 metres with a vertical rise of 135 metres and offers enhanced safety features and creature comforts for skiers and boarders including individual foot rests.

Mt Buller is adding the new fixed-grip Doppelmayr quad chairlift to its network to service the popular area between the Horse Hill and Grimus chairlifts.

It will replace the Burnt Hut Chairlift lost to lightning damage in early 2010.

"The project is an exciting addition to the resort revitalising the popular northern slopes and giving improved access to this popular gladed ski area for skiers and boarders," Buller Ski Lifts general manager, Laurie Blampied, said.

Mr Blampied reviewed the earthworks on site on Monday with mountain manager Matt Janney as concrete footings for the new lift towers were poured.

"This new chairlift is a terrific addition for skiers and boarders at Mt Buller, particularly day visitors who will be able to access this popular ski terrain directly from the Horse Hill carpark," Mr Blampied said.

Mt Buller is the only ski resort in Australia to build any new chairlifts in the past seven years and maintains the largest ski lifting network in Victoria and with 13 chairlifts shares the record for the most number of chairlifts in an Australian resort.

In support of the new chairlift Mt Buller is expanding snowmaking operations on the Burnt Hut Spur and new 200m long trail with fully automated snowmaking machines being installed this summer.