The Landgraaf lesson

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” –?George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist

?

A friend of mine tells a story about a family he knew in The Netherlands.

Every year they’d go skiing – but not in Landgraaf, in Swtizerland.

Every year, Dad would head off to the pro slopes, Mum would head to the day spa, retail and cafes and the kids would spend the day with other kids in the snow play area and beginner slopes and all meet up for dinner.

And every year, they would return home feeling like they had spent the holiday apart.

Then SnowWorld NL opened in 1996.

It felt like this family’s very first holiday together because all four of them were in the same place and had spent time together throughout the day.

Renowned for its flat landscapes and intricate canal systems, The Netherlands has historically been an unlikely candidate for a thriving skiing culture.

Dutch winter sports enthusiasts traditionally travelled to the Swiss Alps or Pyrenees to ski because there were no natural slopes at home.

That all changed when SnowWorld Landgraaf opened in 1996, making winter sports more accessible to everyone.

You know where I’m going with this – Winter Sports World will do likewise for Penrith and Western Sydney.

?

Changing the landscape

Before local indoor snow facilities, winter sports were reserved for holidays abroad, and the logistical challenges and costs of travelling to mountainous regions meant that skiing was not a regular pastime for many Dutch residents.

The Netherlands did not have a robust skiing culture (my friend’s family contacts were the lucky ones) and made regular practice or early exposure to winter sports inaccessible to many.

SnowWorld Landgraaf changed that.

Located in the hilly region of Limburg, the indoor snow attraction capitalised on the area's unique topography to offer an authentic skiing experience.

It boasts five slopes, including a 400m red slope that serves as an official FIS competition piste, attracting skiers from around the world for training and competitions.

The centre also features a full-sized ski lift, an alpine hotel and one of the largest indoor fun parks in Europe.

?

Accessibility and participation

SnowWorld Landgraaf has significantly lowered the barriers to ski entry for people in the Netherlands.

Providing year-round access to well-maintained slopes has allowed people who would otherwise not be able to engage with the sport because they now don’t have to travel abroad to ski.

Beginners and families have especially benefitted from the controlled environment where they can learn and practice.

One visitor on TripAdvisor said: "It is skiing in a remarkably convenient place less than 2 hours from Brussels, that has cheap gear rental and is not a bad place to start learning to ski."

In just a short amount of time, more Dutch residents began to incorporate skiing into their regular recreational activities because they could access a centre locally.

SnowWorld Landgraaf's offerings, such as lessons for various age groups and skill levels, have fostered a community of enthusiasts and budding athletes.

Its commitment to nurturing talent is evident in its hosting of international competitions and providing training grounds for professional teams.

?

Economic and Social Contributions

SnowWorld Landgraaf has had positive economic and social impacts too.

It has created employment opportunities, boosted tourism and positioned The Netherlands as a destination for indoor skiing.

Facilities like its hotels and restaurants have enhanced the overall visitor experience, encouraged longer stays and repeat visits.

"Great stay at SnowWorld,” one reviewer wrote. “Only 4 hours from the Paris region, possibility to ski all year round. We chose this destination to teach our son to ski before snow holidays."

?

Sustainability and Innovation

SnowWorld Landgraaf has embraced sustainable practices to minimise its green footprint, which aligns with global efforts to promote environmentally responsible tourism and sports facilities.

It uses advanced snow-making technologies and energy-efficient systems to maintain optimal conditions while reducing resource consumption.

?

Winter Sports World transforming Australia

Drawing parallels to the Dutch experience, Australia is on the cusp of a similar transformation.

When it opens in 2028, Winter Sports World at Penrith in Western Sydney will revolutionise the Australian interest, perception and experience of snow and winter sports.

Traditionally, we have been a nation of surf and sand lovers, with winter sports culture limited to outdoor snowfields by geography and climate to those who can afford to access it.

Australia’s first indoor snow resort will change that.

Winter Sports World will feature a 300m advanced ski run, beginner slopes, a 3200m2 dedicated snow play area, ice climbing and a 4-star, 170-room hotel with conference facilities and function rooms.

There will also be several restaurants and cafes with snow views, an ice bar, day spa, First Nations education and creative experiences, and extensive landscaped sanctuary spaces outdoors.

Winter Sports World will make winter sports and the snow experience more accessible to everyone by providing perfect weather, perfect snow and perfect snow conditions 365 days a year in constant -4 degrees C.

We will also have programs for school, community and sporting groups.

We might even establish our own winter sports teams.

?

Economic and social impact

Winter Sports World will bring significant economic and social benefits to Penrith, Western Sydney and beyond – before it even opens.

The project will generate thousands of jobs, making us one of the largest employers in Penrith.

Half of those jobs (1,368) will be during construction – scheduled to begin in the first half of 2025, and a further 1,350+ ongoing jobs when Winter Sports World opens.

The rest will be ongoing positions upon completion – hospitality, cleaning, admin and management, ski instructors, engineers etc.

Winter Sports World is conservatively estimated to attract around 1.35 million visitors annually, almost doubling Penrith’s current visitation.

The closest tourist attraction to the new Western Sydney International Airport just 15km away will inject $222 million a year into the Western Sydney economy ($2.5 billion over 10 years).

?

Fostering a new winter sports culture

Going by The Netherlands example, Winter Sports World is set to transform Australia's winter sports culture with its year-round training, leisure and corporate facilities.

Around 50 per cent of Australians (more in Western Sydney) haven't been fortunate enough to see snow.

We will change that by bringing the ski fields to people’s doorstep.

Introducing non-snow enthusiasts to the winter environment will encourage greater visitation to outdoor snow fields by people confident of maximising value for money because they have learned to ski indoors at our controlled environment at Winter Sports World.

?

Sustainability initiatives

Like SnowWorld Landgraaf, Winter Sports World is committed to environmental sustainability, aiming to be net-zero carbon from day one of opening in a world first for a building of its kind.

Ground-breaking insulation and heat transfer technology will mean we will only use about the same power as a similarly sized office building.

Our unique alpine exterior design was developed in collaboration with sustainable design consultancy Atelier Ten by boutique Sydney architecture firm Collins and Turner Architects , which won the design competition and achieved design excellence endorsed by the Government Architect of NSW.

Solar panels on the facade and roof will form one of Australia's largest building-mounted photovoltaic installations.

Here’s what else we are doing green:

?? Lush rooftop garden, lawns and sprawling green spaces outside

?? Rainwater harvested in an underground tank to maintain the snow and ice, and greywater reused for things like flushing toilets and watering gardens

?? Vehicles and mechanical plant equipment stowed underground, plenty of electric car charging points and buses and coaches shielded from street view under a porte cochere to mute noise

?? ``Blizzard’’ effect of the facade created by a screen that will also shade the windows to help cool the interior