Bumper snow season sparks car parking debate in NSW alps
Decent snowfall totals have brought an influx of visitors to the region and relief for businesses off the back of to two poor seasons.
But car parks have been filling up quickly, prompting a debate about how to best manage the traffic congestion.
Sydney couple Mark Allwood and Adina Parr have been based at Jindabyne for the winter season.
They said car parking was an ongoing issue.
"It is pretty bad. Sometimes you just won't get a park," Mr Allwood said.
Ms Parr said weekends were particularly busy "so you want to be here before 9 o'clock to get a park."
"It would be nice if they could expand it a little bit, if that's possible," she said.
Local businesses in Jindabyne have heard similar concerns from customers for years.
Jacob Loten, a supervisor at Boss Outdoor Sports ski hire, said demand for car parking had noticeably increased this winter.
"It's been really busy this season, we've had loads of snow," he said.
"This season has definitely been more busy and car parks fill up earlier.
Roads to the ski resorts are managed by Transport for NSW but the car parks, which are on national park land, are managed by the resorts themselves.
There are more than 6,000 public car parking spaces across ski fields in NSW including Perisher Valley, Thredbo Village, Smiggin Holes, Guthega, Bullocks Flat and Selwyn.
There is no car parking at Charlotte Pass because the resort is snowed in.
The roads to Perisher and Thredbo have temporarily closed several times this season, including during the peak NSW and ACT school holiday period and on weekends, due to the car parks filling up.
There is an SMS service run by Transport for NSW that alerts subscribers of when car parks are nearing capacity and when they are full.
Perisher Resort services director Andy King said it was a popular winter due to ideal conditions, with the snow base "probably up around 150-160 centimetres."
In a bid to ease traffic congestion snow-goers are being encouraged to take the alpine railway or the bus.
"We recommend using the Skitube, which is basically a train that can transport people up here," Mr King said.
"That way people don't have to drive in alpine conditions.
"We're also seeing a lot more people getting onto the bus and not dealing with driving up."
The Snowy Mountains Bus Service, run by the NSW government, had completed 81,580 customer journeys since the start of winter through to August 3.
The Bullocks Flat car park, which adjoins the Skitube, has recorded 88,244 inbound vehicles so far this winter.
Cars remain a popular form of transport, with more than 231,109 vehicles recorded visiting Perisher and Thredbo from June 7 to August 4.
Solving the congestion problem is not as simple as building more car parks.
President of Bushwalking NSW David Bell is "reluctant" to support that.
He instead suggested a "financial incentive" such as lift-pass discounts if taking the bus, or making the bus trip free to entice drivers to swap out their vehicles.
"No matter how well designed, car parks do have an impact on the environment," he said.
"We don't want to be polluting streams and waterways with runoff from car parks.
Snowboarder Charlie Pearse from Broadwater in NSW agrees.
"More national park, less parking — that works for me," he said.
"The ecology and the environment is more important than us going skiing."
Skier Thomas Heins said he was willing to put up with the struggle of finding a car park for a chance to visit the snow.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
3 hours ago
- SBS Australia
China up, US down: Why Australian travellers are moving away from old favourites
Australians are switching up where they're travelling to, according to the latest annual report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The top five destination countries in 2024-25 were Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, the US and China. Indonesia — particularly Bali — remained at the top, accounting for 14 per cent, or 1,741,370, of Australian trips. Japan also continued its rise, stepping into the third place with 910,640 visitors. The number of trips to Japan has tripled compared with data from 2014-15. It overtook the US, which dropped to fourth with 746,220 visits — down from third in 2023-24. The US was the only country in the top five where travel volumes were lower than 10 years ago, with 253,220 fewer trips in 2024-25 than 2014-15, a 25 per cent drop. China moved up two places to become Australia's fifth most popular travel destination. Ten years ago, in 2014-15, the top five countries were New Zealand, Indonesia, the US, the UK and Thailand. Indonesia topped the list of Australians' most popular travel destinations yet again, thanks to its island paradise of Bali. Meanwhile, the United States has dropped one place. Source: SBS News Japan up, US down According to Sara Dolnicar, Professor at the University of Queensland's Business School, the rise in interest in Japan is multifaceted — including a strong exchange rate, more affordable and shorter direct flights, and cultural motives such as cuisine, scenery and traditions. Skyscanner's 2025 travel trends report found that the top factors influencing destination choice were weather (66 per cent), attractions (65 per cent), food (63 per cent) and culture (59 per cent). Travel to the United States is 25 per cent lower than 10 years ago, while the number of trips to Japan has tripled compared to data from 2014-15. Source: SBS News On the other hand, Dolnicar says the United States may be seeing a dip in travel interest partly due to political insecurity. "I don't know if it's specifically the Trump administration or whether it's the perceived volatility of decision-making, but there is absolutely no doubt that that has affected international travel into the US," Dolnicar said. "I think for Australians, there is a bit of unease. But I wouldn't say it's that people feel the fear in their bones." "The way consumers operate in their behaviour is that they'll still want to go to New York, but they'll say, 'maybe I'll just wait a couple of years.'" An increase in travel to China is not necessarily politically motivated either, Dolnicar said. Instead, it's more likely linked to the new policy introduced in November 2024, allowing Australian passport holders to travel in China for 30 days without a visa, she said. "Being able to walk in and get a stamp for 30 days — that would have had a big effect [on the figures]." "With the US, people might say they love it, but now is not a good time. And now with China, they might have always wanted to check it out and they've made it easier to get in — so why not?" The bigger forces shaping travel While destination-specific factors matter, Dolnicar says five broader forces are influencing where Australians go: exchange rates, political insecurities (including safety), natural disasters, the cost of living, and the post-COVID desire for international travel. Cost is often the first consideration, especially in a cost-of-living crisis. "If you've seen that your disposable income is not sufficient, you'll just say that you can't travel that year," she said. Margy Osmond, CEO of peak industry group Tourism and Transport Forum Australia, said their data indicated two-thirds of the nation were planning a trip, but there was still a "noticeable drop" in those who actually took holidays. "That suggests that while the desire to explore remains strong, cost-of-living pressures and economic uncertainty are influencing how and when people travel," Osmond told SBS News. Exchange rates are also having an effect. Dolnicar points to a roughly 25 per cent increase in the value of the Australian Dollar over the Japanese Yen in the last decade: "It's gigantic. For a dollar now, you get 25 per cent more holiday than you used to." On the other side of the coin, the Australian Dollar's exchange rate with the US Dollar has fallen by almost 9 per cent over the last five years. Osmond added: "While the US remains a bucket-list destination for many Australians, higher costs, a weaker exchange rate and the rising expense of long-haul flights have dampened demand." What's the next hotspot? Osmond predicts Australians may increasingly choose destinations closer to home, particularly in South East Asia and the Pacific. "Many travellers are now gravitating towards destinations that offer better value and shorter travel times, particularly across Asia and the Pacific, which has seen some of the US market share shift elsewhere," she said. "While traditional favourites like the US and Europe will remain aspirational, emerging destinations in Asia and the Pacific could enter the top five, and the industry will need to navigate challenges such as affordability, sustainability and seamless border experiences to meet travellers' expectations." The Australian Travel Industry Association's (ATIA) May 2025 travel trends report found Japan had the largest percentage increase year-on-year, with a 38.4 per cent rise, followed by China (+35 per cent) and Vietnam (+26.2 per cent). "The whole of Asia is very attractive. It's close and it's affordable," Dolnicar said. "Vietnam is kind of an alternative to Indonesia … it's a little bit more off the beaten track." LISTEN TO But climate change is also set to make a large impact on where and how Australians travel in the future — potentially making some destinations less viable and increasing ticket prices. "Some popular ski areas will no longer have snow," Dolnicar said. "That sunny and blue-skied destination might now have rainfall." She warns that measures such as carbon limits or a mandated use of biofuels — a more expensive fuel made from renewable sources — could make overseas travel less affordable. "If the flight to Bali is suddenly very expensive, you're not going to go," she said. "There is a real likelihood that we'll need to move back to more local travel because the carbon emissions we generate with the way we're currently travelling is out of control."
ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
The Lodge Wadjemup opens on Rottnest Island as Indigenous elders launch new cultural place
A new cultural attraction at Rottnest Island is being hailed as an important step in paying respects to the island's dark history for Australia's Indigenous people. But as yet another major resort opens on the island, work is still continuing on the redevelopment of an infamous prison and Indigenous burial ground. Rottnest is recognised as one of WA's premier tourism destinations, but many locals and tourists alike are unaware of the beachside paradise's history of trauma. At least 373 people died on the island, making it the site of Australia's largest number of deaths in custody, with almost 4,000 Aboriginal men and boys were incarcerated between 1838 and 1931. The original prison was later used for hotel accommodation, called the Quod, before it closed in 2018, at a time when a number of Indigenous people were calling for more acknowledgement of what had happened at Rottnest. Aboriginal people have created the Kwoba Wirin-up cultural space on the northern tip of Rottnest to encourage other Indigenous people to visit. "A lot of Aboriginal people won't come to the island because of the dark history and they've been told that that it's a bad place and they shouldn't come," chair of Wadjemup Aboriginal Group Pamela Thorpe said. "So this is about inviting people to come over, and if they are feeling really traumatised by the events of the historical events that they can come here, they can sit, they can reflect, and they can commence healing." Uncle Ben Taylor hopes it's just the start of a movement to better recognise what went on at the island. "We want to see something done about the place, do all the graves up and stop people camping on them," he said. "Tell the true history, the truth telling, it's time." There is also a plan to transform the Quod prison into a museum of remembrance. "The fact that you could stay in the Quod really ignored the significance and the pain that many Indigenous people felt," Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said. "People were gathered up from across Western Australia and brought here and imprisoned — they weren't criminals, they were law men, they were political leaders, they were leaders in their communities from the north right down to the south of WA. "It was a way of colonising this state, and bringing control over the native population. "We need to acknowledge that." In the meantime a three-year, $50 million overhaul of The Lodge Wadjemup is complete. The new resort contains 109 rooms at a range of prices, which the government hoped would help make Rottnest accessible to all West Australians. But amid insatiable demand for the island's limited accommodation options, the cheapest prices in low season for a room at the Lodge is about $250 a night for two people and almost $900 for an interconnected four-person family room. "There used to be a time when Rottnest, let's face it, was a private resort, for certain people, from certain parts of Perth," Mr Whitby said. "There were a whole lot of Perth people and West Australians who never came here, it was a bit of an exclusive getaway. Budget accommodation is still available on the island, with basic facilities at Campground, Kingstown and Caroline Thompson sites under $100 a night. Last week, the island released its holiday unit bookings for the Easter school holiday period, which sold out within an hour after thousands joined a virtual online queue in the hope of securing a spot. Accommodation booking for self-contained, dormitory and campground options is subject to a public waiting list process, while the more upscale accommodation can be booked direct with the hotel.
ABC News
9 hours ago
- ABC News
Disability advocates want more Alice Springs transport options after dark
A lack of night-time transport options for people in Alice Springs is leaving people with disabilities feeling deserted and forgotten. Royston Thompson has a spinal disability, and not being able to get a wheelchair taxi after dark makes him feel isolated from the community, even "angry". He said if he tried to request an accessible cab after 8pm he was told they are unavailable. "After 8pm the only vehicles with the taxi company that are available are just small vehicles … difficult to get into," he said. Mr Thompson is a radio volunteer with the local SES and sometimes his training finishes at 9pm. It is a common story, as many people in Alice Springs have faced long wait times for a taxi due to fewer drivers and taxi services in town. But those with disabilities say that with far fewer options for them, it can feel like a curfew. Due to his epilepsy, Joel Crawford cannot hold a licence. He has up to 17 seizures a year, and after having suffered some on his pushbike, he cannot ride that either. Mr Crawford runs a part-time business called Heritage Cleaning Services, working at a few venues across town and often at night when they are closed. One of the venues is the Old Hartley Street School heritage building in the centre of town, where he also volunteers during the day. "I've got three options [if a taxi doesn't arrive] — I can either risk walking home, wait for a really long period to get a taxi, or I can sleep on the premises," he said. "That's the situation I've found myself in. "I really don't think that is encouraging people living with a disability in any way, shape or form to get out and do something with themselves. "I think that's the biggest problem we are having in this town." There are two main taxi companies in town: Alice Springs Taxis and 13CABS. They have fewer than 15 wheelchair taxis, also called multi-purpose taxis (MPTs), between them. Alice Springs Taxis manager Ann Mellors disputes that MPTs have been unavailable for people with disability after 8pm. A spokesperson from the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure stated that MPTs "must not refuse a booking to pick up a passenger in a wheelchair" by law. The spokesperson also stated that later this year, the Northern Territory government would re-establish a commercial passenger industry forum with stakeholders from the disability sector. Access to MPTs by wheelchair users would be "an agenda item for discussion", the spokesperson said. Mr Crawford and Mr Thompson are a part of the Disability Advocacy Service's (DAS) leadership group, who are pushing for a transport service to fill the gaps for all vulnerable people who want to get around town in the evenings. "If we are considered the third-largest city in the Northern Territory after Darwin and Palmerston, [both of which] have a 24-hour bus service, who have security guards on buses … I believe Alice Springs deserves the same thing," Mr Crawford said. DAS project facilitator Penny Watson said not having a way to get home was "curtailing people's freedom", and she wanted local and territory governments to partner with community stakeholders to make the bus plan happen. The group met with Alice Springs Town Council candidates on Tuesday to put forward their goals for a more accessible town. Mr Thompson said people with disability had the right to leave the house after dark. "For people with wheelchairs, [a night time bus service] would be a good thing," he said.
