Mt Hutt Revises Plans for Park & Ride Service

Mt Hutt Ski Area is revising plans for a new transport service this winter in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake.

The Canterbury ski area was planning to introduce the Mt Hutt Road Shuttle - a park & ride shuttle service – and two new bus lines from Methven and Christchurch.

Mt Hutt Ski Area Manager Dave Wilson said recent events in Christchurch, in addition to hurricanes and floods on East Coast Australia, had driven the review.

“These are two of Mt Hutt’s key markets and the potential impact on the uptake of our proposed new services is unknown at this stage.

“We have had to review a number of our plans given recent events and as a result we have had to hold off on our planned introduction of transport services for the 2011 season. We will take a look at the situation later this year with a view to a possible introduction in 2012.”

The regular service run by local Methven operators is expected to continue as in previous years.

Mr Wilson said Mt Hutt was forging ahead with other key projects for the 2011 season which largely centre on improvements to and around the Towers triple chairlift.

Mt Hutt is scheduled to open for the 2011 season on Saturday June 11. In light of the recent earthquake in Christchurch NZSki has extended its early bird season pass sales through to 14th April 2011.

ENDS

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