28/04/2008 - Snow has blanketed Mt Buller - six weeks before the official start of the 2008 ski season.

More than 15cm of snow has fallen across the resort, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting snow showers to continue until Tuesday.

Buller Ski Lifts’ general manager, Laurie Blampied, said it was great to see families enjoying the snow more than a month before the official start of the season on June 7.

“This is the third snow we’ve had in the past month, so it’s shaping up to be a great start to the season. It’s always exciting when we see kids building snowmen and throwing snowballs weeks before the season officially begins.

“The more snow we receive now the colder the ground becomes and that makes for a better base when heavier natural falls arrive and we begin snowmaking in late May.”

With six weeks to go until the Queen’s Birthday Opening Weekend, Mr Blampied said staff were finalising preparations for the season - including finishing work on the new $6 million Holden Express Chairlift.

“We’re excited to be opening Australia’s only high-speed, six-seat chairlift this winter,” he said.

“The new lift has replaced the Abom and Blue Bullet 2 chairlifts and runs from Helicopter Flat, near the Ski School, to the top of Baldy. Mt Buller has always had the most extensive lift system in Victoria and the new Holden Express Chairlift will enable us to move skiers from the Village more quickly, meaning more time on the slopes for our guests.

“As part of this development, we’ve removed the Blue Bullet 2 lift towers improving the visual amenity of Baldy and boosting the amount of skiable terrain on this popular beginner run. We've also expanded snowmaking under the new lift, meaning more reliable fresh snow.

“The new lift is also the first at Mt Buller to run on 100 per cent GreenPower, helping us to protect the precious alpine environment.”