There is renewed optimism that Tasmania's largest ski field, Ben Lomond, could soon receive a new lease of life.
After years of uncertainty, two businesses operating on the mountain have sold to new owners who are eager to see the ski slopes in north-east Tasmania transformed for the next generation.
Ben Lomond is one of two ski fields in the state with operating ski lifts, the other being at Mount Field.
Two years ago the Williams family, who had worked the lifts for the past 47 years, put the business up for sale.
The company has recently sold and the mountain's snow sports hire store has also changed hands in recent months.
More change could also be on the horizon.
Snow-making plan to extend season
Tasmanian-born Stewart Hosken and business partner Ben Mock are the new owners of the ski lift company.
Mr Mock, who has worked in the ski industry on mainland Australia for decades, said the purchase was years in the making.
"We've worked with the previous owners for the past few years discussing things on and off, and this year we came to an agreement," he said.
It is unclear how much the company sold for, but it was previously listed for $1.75 million.
The ski season usually varies year to year on Ben Lomond.
Sometimes the slopes can be used for about 40 days, while other years there is only enough snow for a day or two of skiing.
Mr Mock said he wanted to help make the snowfield have broader appeal.
"We'll be putting in submissions with that over the coming time to increase snow making here at Ben Lomond, so we can also increase the length of the season.
"We'd like to extend the season and we can go that with snow grooming and snow farming."
Mr Mocksaid he would like the ski season to last at least 100 days.
More investment needed
The Tasmanian government has committed to spending $2.8 million to "unlock the potential" of Ben Lomond National Park as a year-round destination.
The government said that funding would be used to undertake "crucial planning" to guide future development on the mountain, including identifying priority infrastructure and investing in priority assets.
"This includes undertaking a Ben Lomond Snow-Making Feasibility and Economic Benefit Assessment to determine if snow conditions on the mountain can be augmented and extended," a government spokesperson said .
"Currently the capacity for snow-making is limited by water supply and determining feasibility for improvements is one of the keys aspects of the project."
Claudia Alves, who moved from Canberra to Tasmania to work at the mountain's snow sports store, said this season was already shaping up to be a busy one.
"The snow's looking great at the moment and we had a really busy weekend," she said.
Ms Alves said more investment on the mountain was desperately needed.
"They need a public day shelter, a pub would be great as well and more food places," Ms Alves said.
The mountain's former day shelter and pub burnt down in 2018.
The fire was deemed accidental and caused by a fault within a cluster of batteries used to power communications equipment
"At the moment there's only one temporary day shelter at the top car park, the other one isn't open and that's not enough space for people up here at all," Ms Alves said.
"We do get heaps of families in here gathering around the heater and because of all the coronavirus restrictions we're not actually allowed to have many people in here, so there needs to be a public day shelter."
The Parks and Wildlife Service has released plans to rebuild the day shelter, but it won't happen until next year.
"We expect that a tender will be awarded for the public shelter in coming weeks and that the shelter will be completed in time for the snow season in 2022," a government spokesperson said.
"In the meantime, the temporary facilities remain in place at Ben Lomond."
It is hoped mountain biking could also become a summer activity on the mountain.
Brisbane-based Mariana Guillen was one of the many skiers testing out the slopes this week.
"When you think about Australia you think about beaches and summer, but this looks like another country and it's awesome," she said.
"It's our first time here, we came from Brisbane … it's my first time in the snow, so I'm pretty beginner."
