Blue Mountains Tourism has warned the closure of One&Only Wolgan Valley resort will have a negative impact for the whole region.
The resort announced it would have to close until further notice due to accessibility issues.
Tim Stanhope, general manager of One&Only Wolgan Valley, said the poor condition of the access road into the valley meant they could not operate with certainty over winter.
“We are never prepared to compromise on our guests’ experiences, therefore, due to these circumstances, the resort will unfortunately need to temporarily close its doors for the foreseeable future, effective 9 June 2023 until these issues can be fully resolved,” he said in a statement.
Blue Mountains Tourism vice president Anthea Hammon said the closure was disappointing for both guests and the resort’s team.
“The resort was a renowned luxury property that shines the global spotlight on the Blue Mountains,” she told the Blue Mountains Gazette.
“The closure will have negative impacts beyond just the resort to the wider tourism industry in Lithgow and the Mountains.
“We hope that the road can reopen as soon as possible so that this key accommodation site can start welcoming visitors from around the world once again.”
The Wolgan Valley Association said the resort’s closure was a blow to other businesses in the region.
“Any of the businesses that have a link to One and Only are going to be in an even worse situation,” Wolgan Valley Association president Martin Krogh told the Blue Mountains Gazette.
“Small businesses have been doing it extremely tough, because we have difficulty getting people into the valley, particularly if they don’t have a four-wheel drive.”
