NSW: Early winter thaw at ski resort

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2001
NSW: Early winter thaw at ski resort

Charlotte Pass ski resort has had an early winter thaw with more than 600 guests and
staff members ordered to leave the complex because of a sewerage plant failure.

Sewerage tanks at the Snowy Mountains site were on the brink of overflowing after an
unknown chemical killed off bacteria and caused a build-up of sludge.

About 540 holiday makers were forced to either cut their ski trip short or move to
another ski resort after the Environment Protection Authority order the complex be cleared.

Staff tried in vain to regenerate the bugs that break down the sewage by trucking in
30,000 litres of sludge from another resort during blizzard conditions over the weekend.

Charlotte Pass general manager DAVID PAYNE says it's a devastating blow for the small
boutique resort, which runs five ski lifts, and he had to stand down staff with virtually
no hope of reopening this season.

AAP RTV gmw/klw

KEYWORD: CHARLOTTE (SYDNEY)

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