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News Archive

December 06 - Location Selection Process to Commence in January

Over the past six months we have received several approaches from local government and property developers interested in attracting West Coast Snowpark to their area or development.

We have already met with a few of these groups, but the real work in site selection will get underway in early January when we will start the formal assessment process.

This will be a critical stage of the project, and we anticipate a challenge in balancing the competing priorities of terrain (a sloping site will reduce both constructions and operating expense), centrality (so that the Snowpark is as close to everyone as possible), transport options, zoning requirements and other factors.

We'll provide an update on progress in early March.

December 06 - New Design Concepts for West Coast Snowpark

Planning work has been progressing well, and we now have a sneak preview of the exciting new designs created by bylund+bylund architects ready to whet your appetite. More images will be added to the Snowpark web site over the next few weeks.

This interior image shows the two parallel slopes (one beginner and the other intermediate / advanced) as well as the terrain park with viewing area.

September 06 - Planning Update

Planning for West Coast Snowpark continued throughout the winter, with new design concepts developed, continuing research into best practice facilities around the world and a firming up on the viability research.

We are currently considering three construction options. These are a suspended structure on flat ground, such as Dubai; a structure that follows the contour of a hillside, such as Snowplanet in New Zealand, or a half-in / half-out structure that would reduce overall height and take advantage of the sandy Perth soil.

In tandem with the exploration of these construction concepts we will shortly be beginning the search for potential locations. We have already received a number of expressions of interest and suggestions. (someone suggested converting the Perth Convention Centre - but it's not quite long enough!).

We are also assembling our consortium of partners who will provide the specialist services required as the project evolves.

At this stage we are still on track for an early 2010 opening.

July 06 - Congratulations to our Survey Winners

West Coast Snowpark would like to thank everyone who has participated in our Survey and congratulate the following winners:

The survey is still open, so if you have any friends or rellies who are interested, please encourage them to visit this site and complete the survey.

 

June 06 - Over 3,000 Responses to Snowpark Survey

Response to our Skiers and Snowboarders Survey continues to build. We now have over 3,000 responses which is providing us with very valuable information about the snowsports preferences of the Western Australian market. The information we are collecting will be used to support the business case for the Snowpark and will help to inform decisions about the facilities, activity programs and location.

If you have completed the survey, thank you. If you haven't, what are you waiting for?

June 06 - Media Coverage for the Snowpark

Sometimes you just can't keep a good idea secret! Over the past month West Coast Snowpark has been reported in various print and electronic media, including:

Getting the word out to skiing enthusiasts (and those who would like to be) is an important element of our strategy to build a support base for the project and to capture as much data as possible to boost the business case. So if you know anyone who might be interested please refer them to this website and encourage them to complete the survey.

May 06 - Over a Thousand Expressions of Support Received

We've been overwhelmed by the number of people sending expressions of support for the West Coast Snowpark project. Over a thousand at last count - and we haven't yet officially launched the project!

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send a message. We are unable to answer all of them individually but we will create a FAQ section to answer all of the many questions raised.

If you haven't already done so, please complete the Online Survey as this is the vital information we need to build a rock-solid business case.

May 06 - Prizes offered for Online Survey

Getting feedback about the Snowpark concept - and an understanding of who in Western Australia goes skiing when and where - is a vital part of developing the Snowpark Business Plan.

Our thanks go to the following organisations who have generously offered incentive prizes:

To be in the running for one of these prizes, simply complete our online survey, remembering to include your email address. The prize draw will be held at 5.00pm Western Standard Time on June 30th 2006.

April 06 - Instructors Association Endorses the Snowpark

The Australian Professional Snowsports Instructors association (APSI) has endorsed the concept of West Coast Snowpark.

According to APSI President, Tony Smythe: "it would be a great advantage to guests to the traditional resorts to have taken beginner classes, or to have had that first experience in snow play, prior to visiting an outdoor resort."

APSI has offered to design instructional courses for indoor situations as well as training and accreditation of indoor instructors.

Read the APSI endorsement.

April 06 - Preliminary Designs now Up for Comment

The initial concept designs are now avalable for comment. We'd love your feedback!

You'll find them in our Image Gallery section.

March 06 - Preliminary Designs nearing Completion

Initial design concepts are taking shape as we near our Public Information Release in April. If you think of an indoor skiing facility as a factory building with snow in it you'd better prepare for an adjustment!

West Coast Snowpark will be dramatic, modern and functional. We think you'll be impressed.

March 06 - Info for Skiers and Snowboarders added to Snowpark Web site

Visitors to this site will notice the new Info for Skiers section on this site.  As part of our push to build a strong community of support for the Snowpark concept we have created this area to provide snow enthusiasts (especially those looking for their first taste of this great sport) with a reference and information source that is tailored to the unique needs of the Western Australian market.

We will continue to add useful information and links to this section - so please contact us if there is information that you would like to see.

February 06 - Congratulations Dale!

The profile of skiing is bound to receive a big boost with the fantastic Gold medal performance of Dale Begg-Smith in the Torino Winter Olympics.

Well done, Dale - and good luck for the rest of the World Cup series.

December 05 - West Coast SnowPark Pty Ltd

The promise of an indoor skiing and snowboarding facility for Perth took a major step foward with the formation of West Coast SnowPark Pty Ltd.

The new company has been set up to undertake the detailed feasibility studies and coordinate the funding, development and operation of the facility.

July 05 - Initial Feasibility says Snowdome could work in Perth

The results of a preliminary feasibility study have provided a cautiously positive outlook for the development of an indoor skiing facility in Perth.

A consortium of MBA students from the University of Western Australia Graduate School of Management was commissioned to undertake the study, which looked at local factors such as population, comparable recreation activities and number of existing snowsports enthusiasts. It then examined worldwide trends for indoor skiing facilities, including technological evolution and critical success factors.

Location and funding options were considered and a financial model prepared.  The model provided a basis for capital cost threshold calculation which was considered sufficiently encouraging for the project to move forward.