Queenstown, New Zealand – NZSki has announced the start of a multi-million-dollar new development at The Remarkables first proposed last year.

Off-season projects at The Remarkables this year will result in a new six-seat, high-speed detachable chairlift at the ski area, increased snowmaking capacity, expansion of the learners area, new trail development and the re-alignment and expansion of its parking lot.

The new 1.2km Curvey Basin lift will begin in the lower of the two existing main parking lots at 1600m and rise to a top terminal at 1900m above sea level, just below the ridgeline at the south head of the Rastus Burn, known as Curvey Basin.

NZSki CEO Paul Anderson said it was “perfect timing” to announce the “green light” for growth at The Remarkables as skiers and boarders contemplated plans for next season.

“The new chairlift at The Remarkables will quickly and efficiently open up two new runs and considerably more terrain, giving people all the more reason to experience its alpine environment. We know it will be a huge drawcard and a development that’s eagerly-awaited,” he said.

The Remarkables ski area manager Ross Lawrence said he and the ski area’s management team were “ecstatic” about getting underway with the lift and car parking project.

“A key factor will be the new lift’s ability to take up to 2,400 people an hour up the mountain to access new terrain and new trails. From there they can take their pick skiing or riding all the way back to the bottom of the Curvey lift or quickly and easily access all the runs and terrain parks available via the Sugar Bowl lift,” Lawrence said. “As part of the earthworks we’ll be widening and upgrading some of the other trails in this area, and the new runs will feature 28 more snow guns.”

Lawrence said work on the parking lot would involve re-alignment of the last 300m of road and the provision of more car parking space with easier access and more efficient parking.

“We certainly have our work cut out over summer and are excited about the prospects for all our guests next winter,” he said.

Elsewhere at other NZSki-owned resorts, at Canterbury’s Mt. Hutt the Triple Chairlift bottom station that was destroyed by an avalanche earlier this year will be replaced in time for the start of the 2014 winter.