Australia’s first indoor ski resort has taken a major step forward after securing the support of the world’s largest indoor ski operator, positioning Western Sydney for one of the most significant tourism developments in its history. Winter Sports World, a AU$700 million project planned for Penrith, has signed a memorandum of understanding with BonSki Group in Guangzhou as part of an NSW government trade delegation.
The signing took place at Guangzhou Sunac Snow Park, attended by the NSW Minister for Trade, Anoulack Chanthivong. Winter Sports World managing director Peter Magnisalis said the agreement marks a turning point for a development that has been more than a decade in the making.
Magnisalis conceived the idea in 2015, initially unaware that indoor ski centres already existed. A quick online search revealed Ski Dubai and dozens of similar facilities worldwide, setting him on a path he describes as a “challenge accepted” for western Sydney. Despite never having skied and never having overseen a standalone development of this scale, he has spent years navigating planning approvals, environmental assessments and extensive design revisions.
He purchased the 2.4 hectare Nepean River site in 2009, long before Penrith Council rezoned it as part of the Riverlink Tourism Precinct in 2015. What began as a conceptual idea has since evolved into a detailed and shovel-ready plan supported by the NSW government.
Under the partnership, BonSki will lend its operational expertise once the resort opens, drawing on its experience running some of the world’s largest indoor snow centres, including Huafa Snow World in Shenzhen. Winter Sports World estimates the development will create more than 2,700 jobs and could contribute up to AU$2.5 billion to the western Sydney economy in its first decade of operation.
The resort will feature a long advanced ski run, a dedicated learning area, a snow play zone and a hotel integrated with dining and event spaces. Key features include:
- A 300 to 350 metre indoor ski run
- A lesson area and snow play zone
- A hotel of approximately 170 to 200 rooms
- Bars, cafés and conference facilities
Magnisalis and his architects significantly reworked the design after visiting sites in the UK and Dubai, ultimately discarding an earlier concept. He now describes the structure as a “groundscraper”, designed to become a prominent architectural landmark for Penrith.
According to Winter Sports World, the building’s form draws inspiration from blizzard movement and the surrounding landscape and incorporates elements that acknowledge local First Nations heritage. The resort will also include what the company describes as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest indoor snow play area.
Sustainability has been a central component of the project. Magnisalis told Forbes Australia that energy use is expected to be lower than that of a typical shopping centre of similar volume due to high levels of insulation. Solar panels across the roof and northern face are forecast to generate more than 60 per cent of the resort’s electricity needs, with the remainder sourced from green power.
Condensation captured in the snow chamber will be reused for snow production, supplemented by a 1.6 million litre rainwater tank. Heat generated within the snow zone will be recycled to warm water for the hotel and food venues. Winter Sports World is targeting net-zero operational emissions.
Visitor projections fall between 1.38 and 1.5 million people annually, placing the attraction alongside some of Australia’s most visited paid venues. With the opening of Western Sydney International Airport in 2026, the resort will sit within a rapidly expanding tourism corridor.
Magnisalis is currently finalising funding arrangements with domestic and international partners and expects to bring builders on early to refine engineering and construction methodology. Excavation of the 12 metre deep, 350 metre long basement is scheduled to begin in mid-2025, with opening planned for 2028.
Despite visiting indoor ski centres across the world for research, Magnisalis still has not stepped onto skis.
“I have vowed that I will learn at Winter Sports World,” he said. “I am not going to learn anywhere else.”
For Western Sydney, the project represents the largest tourism investment ever undertaken in the region. For Magnisalis, it is the culmination of a long-running effort to establish a world-class attraction on the banks of the Nepean River.
Photos thanks to Winter Sports World.
Read also Greek Sisters Win Global AI Gold with a Project to Protect the Parthenon
Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.
