The Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct (SAP) announcement of $196 million in funding will go to seven key projects, has left community members disappointed and unsure how to progress with the Lake Jindabyne Foreshore.

Set to commence within the next year, one of the key projects included the plan and design enhancements for the Lake Jindabyne Foreshore to improve amenity, community facilities and access for visitors.

The Government said the investment of $196 million has been allocated in consultation with the community and will boost future opportunities in the area while also improving services for current residents.

Jindabyne Sailing Club member Steve Osborne said the sailing club are disappointed and not just for themselves as a club but for the entire community.

“It’s been five years of work by local people to inform the planning bodies, hours of consultations, writing and meetings all during personal time to no avail,” Mr Osborne said.

“We’ve gone along to every meeting, supposedly to consult and we find that the fact that neither the town centre nor foreshore development are any part of future planning now and won’t be until at least the next election.

“In the past, Council have always said that the SAP money would go towards fixing the foreshore and now that seems to be off the agenda, and we feel that the past government and now the present government are in danger of beating out the community’s interest and involvement with the SAP.”

Another foreshore user for one of Jindabyne’s biggest attractions, the Lake Light Sculpture (LLS) announced late last year that the event would not be going ahead this year due to the damage of the foreshore and unsafe pathways.

LLS Committee member Steve Cooper said the committee find the lack of commitment to allocate this required and critical delivery funding very perplexing.

“The LLS Management Committee’s view on the recent SAP announcement would no doubt echo many other community groups and individuals in the Jindabyne and Snowy Mountains community,” said Mr Cooper.

“In that we welcome the Government’s investment on the necessary inground infrastructure projects that are a strategic requirement in all expanding regional towns.

“But it is impossible to mask our very significant disappointment that a key objective of SAP to improve amenity, community facilities and access for visitors only rises to the ‘plan and design’ stage with the Lake Foreshore precinct, with no allocated funding to deliver on those proposed future plans.”

Running for more than a decade, LLS is a favourite amongst locals and visitors and Mr Cooper said the decision to cancel this year's event was difficult but necessary.

“Allocation responsibility sits squarely on the shoulders of our elected State, Local and Federal politicians, and as such, some of the recent SAP announcement is challenging to absorb as it delivers no short to medium term solution to the current and real challenges of ensuring genuine access and amenity for many of our residents,” Mr Cooper said.

“The LLS Management Committee has patiently and respectfully been involved all of the way alongside multiple other community groups throughout the past 5 years of consultation and discussion as we collectively worked toward what we were led to believe would be something ‘special’ in respect to urban and economic renewal.

“We have watched as the available monies were effectively halved, and now the focus appears to be water treatment plants, sewerage treatment plants, enhanced electrical, water and sewer networks, and land acquisition.”

Whilst disappointed with the SAP announcement, The LLS Management Committee is committed to the return of Lake Light Sculpture to the Lake Foreshore during the 2025 Easter period and beyond.

“Together with many long-term Jindabyne residents, we question the slow repair and rejuvenation of the Lake Foreshore area,” Mr Cooper said.

“Jindabyne residents and land-holders pay some of the highest land rates in any Australian country town, and the township relies on return and year-round tourism with our Lake Foreshore area being one of the prime tourist destinations to view the magical combination of water and mountain views.

“We appreciate that our drinking water will improve, our waste water will be treated properly, and the lights will stay on as the State Government works to future-proof services to foster our growing Jindabyne Community.

“But the SAP announcement does little to inspire our volunteer community groups such as Lake Light Sculpture that future access and amenity experiences will be deliverable for that growing residential and tourist population.”

The Snowy Mountains Community Action Group (CAG) met on Wednesday April 10 to discuss the announcement and next steps now the funding has been allocated and projects identified.