A helicopter would be used to install the Italian-made TechnoAlpin snow guns on the upper slopes of the skifield - owned by Southern Alpine Recreation Ltd - from tomorrow, SAR chief executive James Coddington said.
The investment would eventually bring to 203 the number of snow guns on the mountain, with the aim of delivering snow on all trails in a system believed to be one of the world's largest and most sophisticated, he said.
Once complete, snow making at Coronet Peak would be ‘‘the closest thing you can get to guaranteeing the snow sports season'', he said.
‘‘The result will be more skiable terrain from opening day and vastly improved skiing and riding surfaces throughout the season.
‘‘This is a massive snow-making system, which allows for every possible snow-making window to be maximised. It will drastically increase our current snowmaking capacity,'' Mr Coddington said.
The expansion of the skifield's snow-making capacity was proceeding hand-in-hand with the upgrade of the base building.
The major project, approved at the end of winter last year, was likely to expand the mountain's capacity to 6000 daily visitors.
Mr Coddington said it would also help position Coronet Peak ‘‘among the world's top mountain resorts''.
The project was the most significant development package undertaken at the ski area since its inception in 1947, he said.
The project included two new water reservoirs and pump houses - for snow making - which would more than double the storage capacity from 80 million litres to 175 million litres, he said.
The system was designed so the central core of the mountain - the M1, Big Easy and beginner areas - could open within three days of continuous snow-making conditions.
Under optimum conditions, all trails, including those on Rocky Gully and Greengates, could open within 10 days, he said.
The project would be ready for the 2008 season.
