Progress has finally begun on stage one of a new day lodge for the Snow Farm.

“The project is on schedule following the necessary approvals being expedited by Queenstown Lakes District Council,” Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (PACT) trustee John Burridge said. 

“This is a huge fillip for the Snow Farm team who will be able to receive our customers with more suitable facilities.”

Trustees of PACT, which oversees the cross country skiing area, decided in winter 2020 it was time to build a new base building.

The Snow Farm previously had a licence to operate within part of the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground (SHPG) lodge.

Plans for the new base building were delayed last year when PACT and Snow Farm general manager Sam Lee were “blindsided” by an unfavourable geotechnical report which identified uncompacted fill from 30 years ago on the chosen site for the new build.

They had to adapt the base building plans for a new site around 45m away.

Last year the Waiorau Nordic Sports Club operated out of a ‘container village’ at the Snow Farm.

As a result the 2023 season was a “back to basics” one, with the Snow Farm operating out of portable buildings to run rentals and other operations, and the Waiorau Nordic Ski Club operating out of a line of containers.

Go deeper: Snow Farm users ‘horrified’ by loss of facilities

Contractor Breens has now begun construction of a day lodge after clearing and reconfiguring the area.

John said “some gaps” remain until PACT has the funds to move to stage two in coming seasons, which would include a toilet block to replace portaloos.

People interested in donating to the Snow Farm’s new base building can contact trustee Peter Soundy ([email protected]).

PHOTOS: Supplied