Resort Information

Water and Waste

Improving water quality in Perisher Creek

The turning circle near the Perisher Skitube building carries lots of traffic during the winter period. This traffic includes buses, delivery trucks, oversnow vehicles and cars. The stormwater from this area previously drained directly into Perisher Creek, however with the cooperation of the NPWS a 'Stormceptor' was installed in 2004 to trap litter, silt and hydrocarbons before entering Perisher Creek. The Stormceptor is remotely monitored and subject to regular cleaning and maintenance.

Perisher Blue has commissioned an expert consultant to provide advice as to the management of snow clearing activities on the Perisher Valley car park so as to improve the water quality of adjacent water courses.

Reducing water use within hotels and staff accommodation

A program to retrofit existing bathroom fittings with water saving devices has been in place for several years. To date, 95% of all of Perisher Blue’s showerheads have been converted with low flow fittings, including 100% of the staff and guest accommodation at the Station Resort and ‘on-mountain’ staff accommodation.

Water saving opportunities are also being achieved through the conversion of existing single flush toilets to dual flush. 80% of the staff and 50% of the guest accommodation at the Station resort and 20% of the on mountain staff accommodation has been retrofitted. .

Recycling and donations

A key objective of Perisher Blue’s EMS is to minimise resource consumption through efficient materials management programs to reduce waste to landfill. A target has been set to increase recycling and the reuse of residual materials.

Last year saw the trial implementation of recycling bins within the Perisher Centre and the Blue Cow terminal giving Perisher Blue’s guests the opportunity to recycle. The trial was very successful and for 2008, the program will be expanded to include the Perisher Valley Skitube building. The bins are comingled bins that accept plastic, glass and aluminium.

On a broader waste management scale, paper, glass, aluminium, plastic and waste steel are all recycled at Perisher Valley and cardboard waste generated by Perisher Blue is compacted on site and picked up by a recycling contractor. In addition to this, all hazardous waste including (but not limited to) used motor oils and filters, batteries, engine coolant, tyres, used cooking oil and grease trap sludge and other rubber products are recycled at licensed disposal facilities. Further improvements to Perisher Blues's recycling capability will significantly depend on the implementation of a coordinated regional waste strategy by relevant authorities.

Perisher Blue is also working with a local contractor to set up aluminium, glass, plastic and steel can recycling, to add to the recycling of cardboard at the Station Resort Hotel.

In 2005, PB sent six pallet loads of used outdoor winter uniforms to Pakistan to assist earthquake victims.

Annual Clean up day

Every year post season, Perisher Blue coordinates a clean up day to collect solid waste within the resort area. In 2005, over two tonnes of litter was collected and removed from the Kosciuszko National Park. In 2006,1.3 tonnes was collected and in 2007, 1.03 tonnes was collected. The declining figure is very encouraging and it was evident that in 2007 the rubbish collected was predominantly empty drink bottles and confectionery wrappers.

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