Latest News
December 09 - Stage 1 to be Outdoor Slope
Concerns over carbon emissions and energy consumption have put the development of an indoor refrigerated facility on hold, pending availability of viable green energy sources.
Rather than delay the entire project, the decision has been taken to modify the project to commence with a 'Stage 1' outdoor facility, using one of two possible synthetic surfaces.
More information will be released soon.
May 08 - Poor Financial Market forces Delay
The target date of June 2010 is now looking unlikely as the impact of the US sub-prime financial crisis hits the local investment market. Investment funding has become extremely hard to source, and even highly predictable resource projects are struggling to raise capital.
Raising funds for a mining project - or any commodities project for that matter - is comparatively simple. The revenue side of the equation is straightforward (you know, for example, that there is a vast market for iron ore and you know pretty much what you'll be able to sell your product for). Once you work out what it will cost to dig it up and transport it to the customer you can work out the return on investment.
For a project like Snowpark, however, there is uncertainty on both the cost and revenue sides of the equation. The project needs around $2 million to finalise the planning phase, to firm up on the financial viability estimates and to seek the capital necessary to construct the facility. But while there is uncertainty around the ability to raise the full project capital it is difficult to attract the 'seed' investors required to fund the planning phase.
So with the capital raising side of the project being on an enforced hold, we are in a position to watch the developments in renewable energy sources (see following story). All going well we will see a return in confidence in the capital markets at about the same time that new large-scale solar generation capabilities become a reality.
For now, though it's a case of being patient and continuing to develop the business case. Frustrating? Sure - but the mood of the global investment markets is not something within our control so we just have to bide our time.
December 07 - Green Technologies Explored
About the only negative comment we’ve received about the project has been the expected energy consumption. There’s no escaping the fact that keeping a large building cooled to around -5 degrees will use lots of watts.
Fortunately, Snowpark Director Professor Nick Forster foreshadowed the increasing community concern over energy consumption some years ago so energy efficiency and the pursuit of appropriate green technologies has been a mantra for the project from the beginning.
The project team is currently investigating innovation in insulation, climate control and large-scale solar energy generation. There are some particularly exciting developments in solar energy generation that look like reaching commercial fruition in time for consideration. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if this major new attraction for Western Australia was also a pioneer in breakthrough Australian green energy generation?
December 07 -Land Negotiations
We’ve identified some land that would be a very good location for Snowpark. No, it’s not down the side of Kings Park or on the roof of the Convention Centre as some people have (optimistically) suggested.
But it is within an hour’s drive from the CBD, fronts onto a major road, has plenty of space to develop a range of ancillary activities and has a slope gradient that really suits the beginner / intermediate / advanced slope profile that we are planning.
We are hoping to conclude negotiations early in the New Year, and have at least one back-up alternative, so we remain optimistic that the delay in securing the land won’t adversely impact our target launch date.
July 07 - Hands on Research in Dubai
An opportunity to develop MBA courses at Dubai’s Zayed University – and go skiing every week at Ski Dubai - was too good to pass up for Snowpark Director Professor Nick Forster. As well as honing his technique, Nick has been picking up lots of good ideas for Snowpark which we are feeding into the Business Plan.
Nick retains his involvement with the West Coast Snowpark project and will be returning to Perth periodically for key project meetings.
May 07 - Snow Planet Research
As part of West Coast Snowpark's exhaustive research Directors Nick Forster and Steve Pretzel visited Auckland's successful Snow Planet facility in May.
Snow Planet is similar in concept to the proposed West Coast Snowpark in that it is built on an existing slope and services a relatively small population base.
Despite having a slope length of only just over 200 metres our intrepid researchers rated the facility high on fun factor and returned with even greater confidence that the Snowpark project is on the right track.
May 07 - Land Options Identified
Three potential sites for West Coast Snowpark have been identified as a result of the Expression of Interest process and our own investigations.
Preliminary discussions have been held with agents for one of those sites and research is continuing into other land options that fit the size, location, access and gradient requirements.
This process will shortly be entering a commercially sensitive phase, but we will provide updates where practical.
April 07 - Concept Development Continues
With the Expressions of Interest for land due in by the April 24, the team has been working solidly on refining the concepts to reduce construction and operating costs while ensuring that we don't compromise the experience for visitors.
The good news is that with some lateral thinking and innovative engineering we may be actually be able to reduce the construction cost and increase the run length.
It's premature to go into details, but things are looking good for West Coast Snowpark to rank among the top 5 Snowdomes in the world in terms of run length!
March 07 - Site Selection Process - EOI released
A site of up to 12 hectares, ideally with a one in four slope of at least 400 metres and well situated for public and private transport. That's the essence of the requirements identified for the Snowpark site in the call for Expressions of Interest released on March 15.
SKM worked with facilities planning experts from Hames Sharley to develop the selection criteria for the site, which is forecast to attract over 300,000 visitors each year.
The project team considered several development concepts, including building an elevated structure on flat land – the technique used by the massive Ski Dubai snowdome - or utilising existing ground contours as has been adopted by the Snowplanet snowdome in Auckland. According to SKM's Ian Revie the decision to seek out and utilise an existing slope was reached fairly quickly.
“Although a flat site would have given us a much wider choice, and probably advantages in centrality and transport, the structure would have been about ten storeys tall and the capital costs would have been prohibitive. Identifying the right location with the optimum ground contour may be more difficult, but it will have a major impact in lowering both the capital and operating costs of the project.”
Expressions of Interest must be received by 24 April.
Register and download EOI document.
February 07 - Risk Management Workshop
As detailed planning gains momentum the team got together for a Risk Management Workshop to uncover all the challenges and 'gotchas' that the project is likely to face. Facilitated by SKM the workshop included representatives from West Coast Snowpark, Hames Sharley, SKM (including an economic modeller flow in from Melbourne for the day) and Rider Hunt.
The day provided participants with a comprehensive and realistic view of the many risks that a major project like Snowpark faces. Many of the risks related to the choice of location, while another major set of risks related to the difficulty in predicting demand.
Identifying the risks, and developing strategies to mitigate against them is an important part of the project planning.
The output of the session will be used help shape the Expression of Interest document for potential sites (which will be released in mid March) and to support the business case.
February 07 - Rider Hunt Engaged for Construction Cost Consulting
Finding innovative ways of keeping both the construction and operating costs of West Coast Snowpark as low as possible are critical to the project's commercial success. So we are delighted that SKM have engaged international property and construction consultants Rider Hunt to provide construction process and cost advice.
Rider Hunt specialises in feasibility analysis, estimating and cost planning, providing professional service and advice on methods of controlling and monitoring the cost of construction projects in order to deliver the most cost effective solution.
Major commissions include the development of the Melbourne Tennis Centre with its outdoor courts and state of the art closing roof , Theme Parks on the Queensland Gold Coast, golf courses, waterside developments, cinemas, Horse Racing facilities and the Telstra Dome Stadium.
Significantly, Rider Hunt also has recent experience in the construction of large scale refrigerated buildings such as the Snap Fresh Food facility in Queensland. Perfect!
February 07 - Hames Sharley joins the Snowpark Team
The team working on the Snowpark project has been boosted with the engagement of Hames Sharley as architectural and town planning advisors.
Hames Sharley is an internationally acclaimed multi-discipline consulting practice with a focus on architecture and interior design, planning, applied research and landscape architecture disciplines.
The firm has been responsible for the design of many of Western Australia's most spectacular public buildings, including Carousel Shopping Centre, the Swan Belltower and the Mandurah Cultural Centre.
Attracted to the Snowpark project because of its uniqueness and challenges, Hames Sharley will add critical planning and design expertise and experience to the project.
Concept designers, Bylund+Bylund will maintain their involvement in the project, working with Hames Sharley and focussing on the detailed design of admin / cafe / restaurant areas.
January 07 - Sinclair Knight Merz appointed for Stage 1 Design Management
Leading international project delivery consultancy, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has been appointed to Stage 1 of the West Coast Snowpark project.
Stage 1a involves assessment and selection of specialist consultants and suppliers, assessment and short-listing of potential sites, high level review of business case and economic model and assistance in preparation of materials for initial capital raising.
Stage 1b is subject to the initial capital raising and involves the detailed design and costing work necessary to finalise construction and operating costs to enable a Final Investment Decision and capital raising for Stage 2 (construction).
SKM was selected on the basis of previous experience (specifically Snowplanet in New Zealand), expertise in large scale project engineering and management and specialist expertise in the design and supervision of construction of large scale refrigerated facilities.
According to Snowpark Director, Steve Pretzel, SKM not only had the requisite skills and experience, they also demonstrated a real empathy for the project and a genuine enthusiasm for the idea of creating a snowsports facility in Western Australia. "This is an important milestone for the project and we're looking forward to working closely with the SKM team." he said.
More News stories can be found in our Archives Section.
