Snowy Mountains

Encompassing Jindabyne, the New South Wales (NSW) ski fields and Kosciuszko National Park, the Snowy Mountains are a favourite holiday destination for many people, due largely to its stunning scenery and unique adventure offering.

Location

New South Wales, Australia

With an economy largely driven by tourism, the region typically booms in the winter months and quietens during summer. Looking to establish a more year-round offering by embracing and improving the quality of visitor experiences, the Snowy Mountains are now the focal point of a NSW Government led initiative that aims to make itself known as Australia’s Adventure and Alpine capital.

“The Snowy Mountains provide the backdrop to some of the most stunning and pristine landscapes in the country. From nature lovers to adventure sports enthusiasts and tourists of all ages, the entire region offers something for everyone.

“In terms of development, the Special Activation Precinct in the Snowy Mountains presents the local community with sustainable investment opportunities that will help the region to thrive for years to come.

“For tourists, the SAP will provide greater access to the region’s amenities as well as new infrastructure to help the Snowy Mountains capitalise on its prestigious reputation as our capital for adventure!”

Graeme Steverson, Technical Director, Planning and Mobility

Special Activation Precincts

Special Activation Precincts (SAPs) are defined by the New South Wales (NSW) Government as areas with the potential to activate state or regional significant economic development.

An innovative place-based solution, the NSW government is drawing on the AUD4.2 billion from the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund towards making future ready regional communities. With the Parkes and Wagga Wagga SAPs already underway, the Snowy Mountains will be the third region to benefit both socially and economically from the windfalls of major public and private investment creating jobs and attracting businesses, investors and tourists.

The Snowy Mountains SAP

The project consists of four main objectives. They are:

To stimulate year-round economic activity
Provide year-round ecotourism opportunities
To enhance the region’s environmental resilience
And, to compete with other alpine regions in Australia and around the world.

To achieve this the region will look to capitalise and enhance on the region’s assets in adventure, sport, education, sustainability, design and culture and infrastructure connectivity.

Engaged across the masterplanning phase of the project, we will work closely with our client, the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) and the Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation to deliver a number of engineering and environmental services.

We utilised our collaborative nature to call on our international experts from New Zealand and Canada to understand some of their lessons learnt and key insights into delivering thriving alpine communities. We conducted workshops with our New Zealand colleagues to understand the key engineering lessons learnt from their involvement in Queenstown and will combine with our Canadian team to deliver a Salt Management Plan as part of the environmental package.

We will be reviewing the region’s current amenities and investigating opportunities to improve or build new infrastructure. This includes a review into the region’s ability to accommodate the swelling of visitors – especially during the winter months – and options to grow during summer. Our assessment of current infrastructure will include transport connectivity into Jindabyne and out to the ski fields including the ski tube, existing sports facilities, hiking trails and mountain bike tracks. In addition, the SAP will also provide opportunities to better keep and grow young talent in the region by providing education pathways that are closely paired to the region’s strengths in sports, environmental science, hospitality and tourism.

Growth efforts will also take a noticeably eco-friendly and sustainable approach due to the SAP’s boundaries that coincide within the Kosciusko National Park where investigations are underway to establish new renewable energy networks, sustainability guidelines for development and a circular economy to reduce waste.

Keep reading to find out how we’re helping.

To find out more about the SAPs, please click here.

Engineering Packages – Transport & Infrastructure, Renewable Energy Flooding & Groundwater Assessments

Transport & Infrastructure Assessment

As part of this project, we will provide an in-depth analysis of the region’s accessibility routes – in particular the transport networks to and from the ski fields including the ski tube. This will furnish an insight into the region’s ability to cope with high-levels of tourism as well as identify any potential shortfalls into the future. Our transport strategy will also look to improve access routes to some of the region’s renowned nature trails in summer. Feasibility assessments are also underway for an airport.

Further, our team will also be assessing the region’s current utilities infrastructure. This will include an in-depth review of the current sewerage and wastewater systems to identify potential investment opportunities with known flooding events through the river and dam systems. As the region becomes more sustainable, our emphasis will be on preserving and saving water for the hotter and drier summer periods.

Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies

Located in one of Australia’s most pristine national parks, developing a carbon negative precinct is a fundamental element to the design of the SAP. To achieve this, we are working with our clients to provide them with set of recommendations based on the feasibility of each renewable energy type.

With seasonal fluctuations in demand likely, we will investigate the potential for one or a mix of renewable energy types from bio-mass and geothermal through to wind and solar with emerging energy storage technologies such as hydrogen to contribute to achieving the SAP’s carbon negative aspirations. Our feasibility study will include the investigation innovative and emerging solutions like Virtual Power Plant networks to make the precinct sustainable and Future Ready.

Flooding and Groundwater Assessment

Lake Jindabyne acts as the gathering point for the whole Snowy Mountains region. It provides immense tourism opportunities through water sports and significant landscapes. It also represents one of Australia’s most well-known engineering feats through its dam and hydropower scheme.

However, given the seasonal fluctuations in the region, the Snowy Mountains is prone to flooding in winter, particularly as the snow melts and then in the summer, dry spells and bushfires can wreak havoc downstream.

To help prepare the region for more severe weather fluctuations, we are investigating the region’s water catchments and hydrogeological patterns in an effort to better utilise rainfall and natural resources.

Services: Roads and Highways, Civil Engineering, Transport Planning, Asset Management, Urban Planning and Masterplanning, Advisory Services, Geotechnical, Technical Advisory, Feasibility Studies, Resource Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement, Technology Evaluations, Sustainability Assessments, Network strategy, development and management

Environmental Assessment – Biodiversity, Bushfire & Heritage Assessments & National Park Carrying Capacity

A thorough Environmental Assessment will pave the way for the development of the precinct. By combining our multidisciplinary services across both the environmental and engineering packages, we will provide a holistic assessment of the region that caters for increased tourism, thriving natural habitats and protection of heritage values.

Biodiversity

The Snowy Mountains are home to unique flora and fauna. As part of our work, field surveys will be conducted to identify sensitive areas where protected alpine flora and fauna live. Given ecotourism is a key draw card in the overall growth of the region, we will develop a set of recommendations as how best to preserve the land while encouraging and welcoming tourists to enjoy the region’s stunning landscapes.

Heritage and Bushfire Assessments

An assessment of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage within the SAP area will be undertaken. This will include extensive consultation with local Aboriginal groups at all stages in the SAP development seeking opportunities to celebrate Indigenous heritage and history.

With the devastating effects of the 2019/20 summer period fresh in the minds of locals, a review of bushfire controls and management scenarios will be conducted so we can determine if improvements are needed for the development of the SAP.

National Park Carrying Capacity

As part of our environmental assessment, we will conduct a review of the carrying capacity of the Kosciuszko National Park, considering the balance between economic prosperity and nature preservation. As part of this, a Future Ready climate change assessment will also be undertaken to examine climate projections and their impacts on the National Park and region.

Further, by utilising our multidisciplinary services and international reach, we will leverage the experience of subject matter experts from Canada and apply their knowledge in delivering sustainable growth projects in sensitive regions like the Snowy Mountains.

Our Canadian team will be assisting us by completing a Salt Management Plan. Their experience and insights into specific considerations such as the impacts salt will have on the environment when used to melt ice on roadways will be invaluable.

Services: Ecology, Heritage, Environmental Planning and Management, Indigenous Specialist Services, Contaminated Land and Soil Remediation, Community and Social Infrastructure and Needs Assessment

To find out more about how we activate regional places, please click here.