Tasmania's Treasurer has batted away calls for more funding for roads at Mt Mawson, saying a landslip which left visitors stuck waiting in cars was an "act of God".
On Sunday, visitors hoping to mark the official start of the ski season either had to abandon their trip or waited up to six hours when the access road to Mt Mawson, in the Mt Field National Park, was closed due to a landslip.
Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans said more needed to be done to maintain the popular ski destination.
"Visitation is going through the roof at the national park up in Derwent Valley, with another 20 per cent increase in visitor numbers on top of the 27 per cent from last year," he said.
"We want equivalent funding, I think we are currently funded about sixth in the state."
Mr Evans said the ski field was a popular spot for tourists due to its close proximity to Hobart.
"You get 250,000 people visiting each year, it's one of the closest snowfields to Hobart," he said.
"We knew the snow was coming, there should have been more forward planning."
A Government spokesman insisted the delays were necessary to ensure public safety.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the landslip was not foreseeable.
"Yesterday was an act of God, it was a landslip," he said.
"It's not as a result of a lack of road maintenance or investment in the area."
But Cafe Owner Rachel Power said she was worried about visitors returning to the area.
"Business was booming in the cafe, but in the long term that's not a great thing," she said.
"They're excited they can get a great coffee, but they're not going to come back again."
'Frustrated' visitors left waiting for hours
Visitors were less than impressed, many left devastated they were not able to enjoy the heavy snowfall.
"It's a good day for it, but I don't think we're going to get up there," said one visitor who had been waiting for hours.
"We are pretty frustrated to be fair. We had an option to go to Ben Lomond, bit of a longer drive, but we would be on the slopes right now," said another.
Southern Tasmanian Ski Association president Peter Davis said the delays had a damaging effect on the brand of Mt Mawson.
"People come a long way to travel up there and can't get through," he said.
"It's very damaging to Mt Mawson ski field, but more generally to tourism in Tasmania, especially when you can't get through to one of Tasmania's most beautiful sites."
The Department of State Growth will repair the road on Tuesday and Wednesday.
One lane will be available through the repair site but drivers are being warned to expect up to 15 minute delays.
