As thousands of skiers and snowboarders prepare to head for the Australian Alps this winter, police have launched a large scale safety operation across the Snowy Mountains aimed at reducing road crashes, alcohol related incidents and alpine emergencies.
The initiative, known as Operation Snow Safe 2026, began on June 5 and will remain in place until October 5, covering the entire New South Wales snow season.
For many New Zealanders, the opening of the Australian ski season marks the start of a steady flow of winter travellers crossing the Tasman in search of early season turns at resorts such as Perisher Ski Resort, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Selwyn Snow Resort. Authorities say increased visitor numbers also bring increased risk, particularly on mountain roads and in alpine environments where conditions can change rapidly.
The operation is being led by the Monaro Police District and includes additional officers deployed from around New South Wales. Specialist units involved include the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Police Rescue Squad and the NSW Dog Unit. They will work alongside the State Emergency Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service and other emergency agencies throughout the winter.
Police say the focus will be on keeping visitors safe both on the road and in the mountains. Enforcement efforts will target speeding, drink and drug impaired driving, licensing offences, seatbelt compliance and distracted driving.
The launch coincides with a busy public holiday weekend in New South Wales, with double demerit points applying to a range of traffic offences. Authorities expect heavy traffic volumes on roads leading into the Snowy Mountains and are warning drivers not to treat the journey as part of the holiday experience.
The scale of the operation reflects the challenges emergency services face during the Australian snow season. Last year, police carried out more than 31,000 random breath tests across the region and conducted approximately 1,400 inspections of licensed venues. Officers detected 227 positive roadside drug tests, issued more than 3,100 traffic infringement notices and laid 153 criminal charges.
Rescue operations also formed a significant part of the season’s workload. More than 25 multi agency search and rescue missions were conducted across the alpine region as visitors became lost, injured or stranded in rapidly changing mountain conditions.
Australian snowboard cross Olympic gold medallist Josie Baff has been appointed as an ambassador for the programme and is encouraging visitors to take personal responsibility for their safety.
What makes the Australian approach particularly interesting is the level of coordination. Rather than waiting for problems to occur, authorities treat the ski season as a predictable risk period and allocate resources accordingly.
There is an argument that New Zealand could learn from that approach.
Every winter, roads leading to ski fields such as Whakapapa Ski Area, Tūroa Ski Area, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables experience crashes, traffic issues, vehicles without chains, poor weather decisions and occasional search and rescue incidents. Yet there is little visible evidence of a coordinated national winter safety operation involving police, road authorities, ski areas and emergency services working under a single banner.
Most New Zealand skiers would probably support stronger enforcement of dangerous driving on access roads. Anyone who has spent time on the Bruce Road during a powder day or sat behind vehicles struggling without chains knows that many of the risks facing winter visitors are entirely predictable.
National Parks and Wildlife Service representatives are also reminding visitors that Australia’s alpine environment can be surprisingly unforgiving. Although the mountains are lower than those found in New Zealand, weather systems can move in quickly, bringing strong winds, poor visibility, freezing temperatures and snow conditions that catch inexperienced visitors off guard.
Officials are encouraging anyone venturing beyond resort boundaries to check weather forecasts and park alerts before heading out. Personal Locator Beacons are available free of charge through a network of visitor centres and are strongly recommended for backcountry users.
Mountain environments do not care whether you are in Australia or New Zealand. Preparation, good decision making and respect for conditions remain the most effective safety tools available.
Australia’s Operation Snow Safe shows what can be achieved when agencies plan for the problems they know are coming. The question is whether New Zealand should be doing something similar before the next major incident forces the conversation.
