Lockdown restrictions have lifted, but that’s cold comfort for the Australian snow industry, which cannot resume trading until mid-next year. The alpine regions could lose up to 20,000 jobs without government support, the industry says.
Kristy McBain MP, Member for Eden-Monaro, called on the Australian Government to do more to support the Australian snow industry, which she said was on the brink of collapse.
Ms McBain said she, the National Retail Association, and Snowsports Industries of Australia had “serious concerns about the snow industry’s ability to bounce back, especially now that Government support is ending”.
She called for the Federal and NSW Governments to urgently establish a joint grant package targeted to the snow industry.
Because of COVD lockdowns and restrictions, Ms McBain said, the industry missed two crucial seasons of trade which would have helped the region recover from the bushfires that devastated the summer tourism season in 2019/2020.
“Government-mandated lockdowns and restrictions have had a drastic impact on the snow industry and the wider Snowy Mountains communities, therefore it’s incumbent on this government to make sure support continues to flow to businesses who will need to wait at least another six months until they can recoup their losses.
“We’ve seen the Victorian Government step up to support Alpine businesses in Victoria, but no such support has flowed in NSW.”
Sue Harrison, owner of Harro’s Snowsports, a ski rental service in Crackenback, said her family business was doing their best to adapt to the situation, but she asked the government to consider the unique challenges of restrictions in the region and of uncertainty in the industry.
“The last two seasons have seen a significant drop in trade,” Ms Harrison said. “We have lost over 50 per cent of revenue during the latest lockdowns.
“Government support payments were not available to us because of the seasonal nature of our industry, forcing us to lay off staff and reduce hours.
“With the state now reopening and ski season having already come to an end, it will not be possible to simply begin trading as normal, as we have a long wait to resume trade in mid-May 2022.”
Dominique Lamb, CEO of the National Retail Association, said losing two winters in a row had taken a huge emotional toll on business owners and employees.
“The snow industry usually contributes $2 billion to Australia’s economy, but Australia’s alpine regions are threatened by around 20,000 job losses if the government fails to provide adequate financial support for the snow industry,” Ms Lamb said.
“While other businesses will adjust to being ‘COVID normal’, snow and alpine-region businesses will need to hold on for at least another six months until their season begins again.
“The financial and emotional toll on business owners and employees has been immense and many are now on the brink of collapse,” she continued.
Lloyd Green, executive officer of Snowsports Industries, said they had lost the winter season, and off-season trade opportunities were practically non-existent due to the closure of international borders.
“Our off-peak income is highly reliant on catering for travellers heading on northern hemisphere snow adventures, but there is still a huge question mark over whether international border restrictions will allow these trips to occur,” Mr Green said.
“The seasonal nature of our industry and reliance on tourism means we’re faced with far more dire implications than other areas of the retail industry.”
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