The Environmental Protection Authority has requested additional information from NZSki regarding its fast-track application to expand Coronet Peak into the Doolans Basin.
NZSki lodged the application on 20 May 2026 and replied to the EPA's request on Wednesday. The Department of Conservation told the EPA that NZSki's application appeared to presume Doolans Basin would be unaffected by warming.
Doc said the company had not provided enough detail on how a precautionary approach to ski area development in a warming climate would apply to the proposal. The department noted missing information about how long the ski area might operate, and what it would cost to restore land and remove infrastructure if operations ceased. Climate data and modelling backing the expansion over the proposed 40-year period were absent from the application.
NZSki pointed to 2012 research that concluded developing Doolans Basin's higher-altitude terrain, alongside snowmaking technology, would allow reliable snow activities for future generations. That research found warming would reduce natural snowfall across New Zealand, with the largest reductions at lower elevations, but that higher-altitude sites supported by technology were better placed to sustain snow cover over time. The basin's high elevation, south-facing orientation and natural snow accumulation features favour strong snow retention. The company said its long-term snowfall records showed it had run operations effectively through decades of variable snow conditions.
The $150 million, 4-year project would expand The Remarkables from 449ha to 711ha, making it New Zealand's largest skifield. It includes a 2.7km gondola and a new hospitality building alongside other facilities.