THE Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct (SAP) was announced in November 2019, to expand the scope of the 2018 Go Jindabyne Master Plan and to encompass the wider Snowy Mountains region.
The investigation into the SAP will continue to focus on Jindabyne’s transformation into Australia’s Alpine Capital. It will include the snow resorts within the Kosciuszko National Park as well as the key transport corridors between Jindabyne and the alpine resorts.
In a nutshell, this is a once in lifetime opportunity for the alpine region of Jindabyne and the NSW snow resorts. There is potential for government investment upwards of $500 million dollars. Plus, what it brings to the table is private investment.
The NSW Government will deliver a master plan for the area in 2021 that will show private investors that the region is growing and therefore worthy of investment.
The SAP vision has been on display for public comments and closed on August 14. There was also an accompanying survey, both were open to the public with good response.
The NSW Planning Department also visited the region in August where they presented to various strategic parties. During the next six months consultants will continue to visit as they piece together data acquired from not only the recent vision and survey, but incorporated with information previously received in the Go Jindabyne Master Plan.
The objective of the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct is to make the region sustainable for 12 months of the year, not just winter. The target is to increase year-round tourism by making the region an unmissable place to visit during any season. The funds to transform the area will be via the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.
Benefits offered by a Special Activation Precinct include streamlined planning, government-led development, and a business concierge service that will make it easier for new businesses to set up in the region.
The key points are:
• promote the development of year-round adventure and eco-tourism attractions and improve tourism amenity within the region,
• improve access within and to the region, to support increased visitation numbers,
• remove capacity constraints to enable growth in winter tourism, and
• grow the region into Australia’s national training base for high performance alpine athletes and para-athletes.
The survey audience was specifically asked for input on how you see the future of Jindabyne, Thredbo and Perisher, and what would enhance the whole project. Common traits were evident in the vision statement comments.
Most people agreed we need better pedestrian accessibility to the lake, more footpaths in all areas of Jindabyne. While mountain biking was well supported, the idea of a full lake mt bike route was dismissed as it would be only viable for elite riders. A dedicated mountain bike park in Jindabyne was favoured.
Transport was also prominent in discussion, with heated debate on a bypass around Jindabyne, but widening of roads or better access to the resorts was prominent. Public transport or lack off was raised.
For activities, suggestions were to have more in Jindabyne such as zip lining, which makes sense for bad weather days in the resorts. The heritage centre was supported and would be an extra attraction. A predominately outdoors community led discussions for better infrastructure such as bigger skate park and an indoor adventure hub.
It seems there are varied opinions on the national park. Perisher should have the head lease to bypass the NPWS inactivity, to developing Perisher more for summer.
Town planning will be key to the finish products as it is currently considered poor by many participants, and high density was not wanted as it would ruin the character. Not many agreed on a new Jindabyne airport.
The lake foreshore had plenty of comments, but this may have summed it up. There is room for a controlled and well-designed foreshore area but not at the detriment of the lovely natural flow. The whole Claypits area needs serious rethink, the free camping there needs to be banned.
We await the public exhibition stage planned for early 2021.
SAP Timeline
We are currently at stage 1.
Stage 1: Announcement, stakeholder engagement, and community visioning.
Stage 2: Site investigations and technical planning studies commence / community consultation continues.
Stage 3: Draft master plan prepared / community consultation continues.
Stage 4: Draft master plan on exhibition / community consultation continues.
Stage 5: Master plan finalised.
