I got a rather boring but slightly interesting email newsletter a couple of days ago from the West Coast SnowPark people. Don’t get too excited, this isn’t like the New Zealand SnowPark. This is the indoor snow centre in Perth that’s been in the works for some time. Given the amount of money they’re pulling out of the ground over in WA you’d think they could get a giant refrigerator built by now. Obviously there’s more too it than that. Still, it’d be cool if they could get it done. I copied the newsletter below for anyone interested.

Dear Supporter,

Well it’s been a frustrating few months. The process of identifying and negotiating the ideal location has taken longer than we expected – and we’ve still got a way to go before we will be in a position to make any firm announcements.

Meanwhile we have been continuing to develop the concepts, researching new energy-efficient techniques and gathering ideas to make sure that West Coast Snowpark will delivery a truly world-class experience.

As we head into 2008 we bring you our somewhat overdue project update. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

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 we 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.

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?

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.

Snow Planet Research

A visit to Auckland’s Snow Planet facility in May this year confirmed that we are on the right track with planning for West Coast Snowpark. In a city with a substantially lower population than Perth, and where ‘real’ skiing is a lot more accessible, Auckland’s Snow Planet is attracting a solid clientele.
Understanding how similar facilities operate around the world is considered crucial if we are to ensure that West Coast Snowpark achieves both our quality and excitement targets and the attractive commercial return that investors require.

Employment and Supplier Opportunities

It’s still early days, but a number of people have already been enquiring about employment or opportunities to supply goods or services to West Coast Snowpark.
If you wish to be kept informed about opportunities please use the ‘update / change your account’ link at the bottom of this email to notify us of your interests.

On behalf of Nick and the Snowpark project team I wish you and your family a healthy, successful and safe 2008.
Steve Pretzel
Director