PERISHER visitors should be excited to ride the new $26 million Mt Perisher 6-seat high-speed chairlift this winter. The new Doppelmayr D-line chairlift is state-of-the-art technology and ready for the 2025 season opening.
The summer build has gone flawlessly, courtesy of exemplary weather from October 2024 to May 2025.
“Ten years plus of planning and the 18 months of frantic building, and then the transformation of the hill. It’s just a smooth, quiet, clean ride, and it’s a big step forward for Perisher,” said Shaun Turner, Doppelmayr Australia’s General Manager.
Perisher removed the old double chair during the 2023-24 summer and completed initial top station foundation works before winter 2024. This early start was required due to the size of the build. Work this summer has been non-stop finishing the chair, and a huge shout out to all the staff on site for completing the project on time.
“It's gone to plan,” said Michael Fearnside, Perisher’s Operations Director.
“I've got to say that with all teams, everyone involved, not an opportunity has been missed in this construction program, not a day has been wasted, it’s been really successful.”
Having been afforded numerous visits this summer, including during testing of the chairlift, I can only describe the chairlift as impressive. It will be loved from the first ride guests take this winter and become a real asset for Perisher.
Discussing the project with Shaun Turner, he said the chair has been on the radar since the late 90’s when Perisher had costings factored into the ski slope master plan. They discussed the 6-seater chair when they finished the Village Eight. “You always finish one lift and go, what’s next?”
“In 2006 I had some firm design and pricing, and then it was 2018 that we had planning detail,” said Shaun, recalling the timeline.
The latest Doppelmayr D-line lift technology is incorporated into the Perisher 6-seat chairlift.
“What's going in here will be reliable, efficient. It's the newest technology that we can deliver.”
The new lift incorporates direct drive, meaning no gearbox. This results in greater energy saving, quieter for guests and staff, and is more thermally efficient. “From a greenhouse gas point of view, from an environmental emissions point of view, that's a big tip.”
The chairlift’s wind performance may be its greatest asset. Australian snow lovers have experienced the brutal weather that Mother Nature can deliver during winter. The new chair should accommodate winds that would have sent the double and triple chairs onto wind hold.
The 6-seater chairs have been designed with the weight of an eight-seat chair. “When the wind blows, it's like a sail. If you've got a bigger sail, it moves further. So we've got a small sail and a lot of weight behind it, and then technology aspects behind there.”
Multiple safety features and sensors are factored into the design for virtually everything. A key feature is the detection of any slight rope deviation from the centre of the sheave, which produces a signal to the operator. It’s also automated to slow the lift, allowing the rope to realign to its preferred position.
When asked his thoughts on people’s first impression when riding the chair this winter, Shaun said, “I think they will be surprised by how smooth the ride is.”
With the top station nestled under the rocks at what is now Australia’s highest lift point at 2042 metres, the vistas from both the ride and once you disembark the chair are superb.
“It’s not just a pure lift, I think there will be some great experiences,” said Shaun, referring to the 360-degree vistas.
The chair unloads at 90 degrees to the south, where guests can access the top ridge line above Eyre T-bar. Plus, with exceptional views of the Main Range towards Mt Kosciuszko, it will become a must-have photo opportunity. As of early May, Perisher has yet to advise if a commemorative plaque at the top will indicate Australia’s highest lifted point.
“Perisher and Doppelmayr Australia teams have made great progress and I have been in awe of all they have achieved so far,” said Nathan Butterworth, Perisher Vice President and General Manager.
“This will truly be a game changer for the Australian ski industry and we can’t wait for our guests to experience the freedom and options it will give them.”
The new chairlift will open as soon as snow allows, via snowmaking or natural snowfall.
Mt Perisher 6 Facts
- Highest lifted point in Australia at 2042 metres
- Replaces the old Mt P Triple and Mt P Double chairlifts
- 5.6-minute ride time to the summit of Mt Perisher (previously 10 minutes)
- 60% increase in chairlift capacity on Mt Perisher
- 22% increase in overall lifted capacity in the Mt Perisher precinct
- Doppelmayr D-line technology
- Maximum speed 4,5 metres per second
- Inclined length 1.294m
- 88 Chairs in total