Perisher Blue Pty Limited recognises the unique natural and cultural values of the Kosciuszko National Park and the importance of education and interpretation facilities in allowing visitors the opportunity to fully appreciate the unique values of the Australian Alpine environment.

The �Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail� initiative recognises, and respects, the significance of the Australian Alps to the Aboriginal Communities that traditionally inhabited the region, and will provide a first class learning and interpretive experience for resort guests and visitors to the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales.

The concept is to construct a number of small �Heritage Huts� and other interpretive facilities capable of being used year round that will act as mini education centres to be dotted around Perisher Blue Ski resort.

In winter, approximately 20,000 children in ski school classes will access the Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail to learn about the significance and traditional use of the Australian Alps by Aboriginal people, whilst also learning about Kosciuszko National Park�s unique plants and animals. In the summer months, the Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail will be accessible to walkers, school groups and others.

Gary Grant, Perisher Blue Ski Resort�s General Manager Marketing and Resort Services said: �Perisher Blue is pleased to initiate the development of the Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail concept as we place a high value on the uniqueness and fragility of the Alpine environment�.

He continued, �The development of the Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail is a key part of Perisher Blue Ski Resort�s strategy to improve interpretive facilities throughout the resort. The objective is to assist young, and older Australians to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the Indigenous cultural heritage significance of the area and the fragile alpine ecosystem helping to ensure the continuance of its unique biodiversity and, in turn, to create a first class cultural heritage tourism attraction�.

Perisher Blue will contribute $145,000 in cash and kind to the development and maintenance of the Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail to be located in the Perisher Blue Ski Resort.

To ensure the success and quality of the project, Perisher Blue will establish an open and transparent consultative partnership with the Aboriginal Communities who have traditional interests in the area, to ensure the appropriateness to and acceptability of the project by the Aboriginal Community.

Peter Brulisauer, Executive Officer of Perisher Blue Ski Resort, and one of the many who worked on establishing the project is rightly enthusiastic about the Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail becoming a reality: �It is important that visitors to Perisher Blue Ski Resort and the Snowy Mountains are provided with the opportunity to learn about and to appreciate the natural and cultural significance of this beautiful place, and we are pleased to embark on being able to provide that opportunity�. The Commonwealth Government also recently recognized the benefits of the Perisher Range Aboriginal Trail as a cultural heritage tourism attraction by contributing a further $75,000 by way of a special grant to assist in funding the project under its Regional Tourism Program.

It is expected that the Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail will stimulate employment for members of local Aboriginal Communities as specialist guides on the Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail in summer and winter. The Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail is also expected to generate demand for traditional Aboriginal arts and crafts.

The Perisher Range Aboriginal Heritage Trail presents great opportunities for both Aboriginal Communities with traditional interests in the Perisher Range area as well as for the local region and Perisher Blue Ski Resort.

For more information contact: Gary Grant, General Manager Marketing and Resort Services, Perisher Blue Ski Resort on Ph. (02) 64594495 or at: gary.grant@perisher.com.au