Perisher Valley (NSW), Australia – The vision of creating a village heart for Perisher Ski Resort is one step closer with the agreement announced this week between Perisher Village Developments and the New South Wales Government.nPerisher Ski Resort Chief Executive Peter Brulisauer said the village will provide a balance of recreation, education and retail opportunities.

“Most importantly, the village is the centerpiece of our vision to create Australia’s best four-season mountain resort based on ecologically sustainable development principles,” Brulisauer said.

The agreement between the NSW Government and Perisher Village Developments P/L, a wholly owned subsidiary of Perisher Blue P/L comes after a public tender process in 2009 for the development opportunity. When complete, the village will comprise new recreation, retail and commercial facilities and 800 beds of accommodation.

“The new development will be staged. Stage one will begin with 66 new apartments providing 218 beds and almost one thousand square meters of retail space,” Brulisauer explained. “We anticipate work on the village could commence at the earliest in the summer of 2012-13.

“The village will be a major economic boost to the Snowy Mountains region,” he added. “The village development complements the AUD $30 million Perisher has invested into snowmaking, upgraded resort facilities and improved environmental management over the past five years to ensure that Perisher remains Australia’s favourite ski resort.”

Brulisauer stressed that environmental principles have governed the development plan. “The village development has been subject to rigorous environmental assessment, and has been modified in response to various submissions and consultations with Government and stakeholders over many years. We are one step closer to having a village development that delivers on our vision for a world class, ecologically sustainable all-year-round resort,” Brulisauer said.