Claypits Carpark, Jindabyne

Project Type: Construction

Project Location: Jindabyne

Funding: Australian Federal Government - LRCIP funding | NSW State Government RGDC - SAP Funding

Current update - June 2025

Work on the new carpark and pedestrian infrastructure at Jindabyne’s popular Claypits precinct is well underway since work commenced in May 2025, with contractors on-site completing both the initial site preparations and the required demolition and removal works over the past several weeks.

With progress through the early stages of this significant upgrade project for the foreshore proceeding to schedule, the new and improved Claypits is on-track to reopen as planned in early 2026.

Over the next two months into late August 2025, works will be concentrating on the completion of site earthworks, utility relocations, and establishing the required drainage and erosion controls for the new carpark and pathways.

Non-native trees requiring removal from the site are being recycled into the woodchip and mulch needed for the new precinct’s landscaping and garden beds.

The limited number of native trees to be removed as part of these works will be relocated within the Jindabyne area to serve as native wildlife habitat. The placement and timing of these felled tree relocations is being directed by the ecology team working with Council’s project contractors.

Work teams are currently addressing initial utility relocations required for the new accessible pathways at the site, which will connect the new carpark to the existing foreshore pedestrian and shared path network.

Council’s contractor has also been successful in sourcing fill material needed for site earthworks locally, helping to reduce the carbon footprint for the project.

The new carpark will be built above the high-water level of Lake Jindabyne to protect against the risk of future flooding and includes accessible pathways to make it easy for everyone in the community to visit the park or get down to the water. This project will significantly improve safety and accessibility for the growing number of residents and visitors accessing the foreshore year-round.

Claypits Phase 1 Project - Plan and Map(PDF, 2MB)

These works will impact public access to the Claypits and Lake Jindabyne foreshore.

The Claypits carpark is closed until work is complete in early 2026, weather permitting. A path detour is in place during this time.

Events booked at the Claypits stage during this period will be relocated to other venues, and holes one and two of the Jindabyne disc-golf course will be closed.

Access to some parts of the foreshore will be restricted while construction is underway, with alternative routes in-place for affected trails and shared pathways.

Tree planting and landscaping

A professional arborist report prepared for this project has identified trees that will need to be removed and replaced, either due to project impacts, the health of the trees in question, or a combination of these factors.

In total, 41 trees will be subject to a major encroachment as part of these upgrade works.

‘Major encroachment’ is a professional term used to describe the level of impact to a particular tree’s structural root system. Industry research shows that this level of impact increases the likelihood that affected trees will be dangerously destabilised if left in place. Trees affected to this degree of encroachment are also unlikely to survive.

These significantly impacted trees must be removed to help ensure that our community can continue to enjoy the Claypits and foreshore area safely into the future. Removals will begin Saturday 24 May 2025.

All trees removed will be replaced with high-quality mature trees once the current works are complete. Under the project plan for this stage of the Claypits upgrades, the total number of trees in the area will be increased, despite these required removals.

Out of the 177 trees in the wider project area, 136 will be retained and an additional 54 planted once these works are complete.