Jindabyne’s main shopping centre, Nugget’s Crossing, is set to look a bit different soon. Image: Google Maps.
Nugget’s Crossing shopping centre in Jindabyne serves nearly one million customers each year, and now it’s going to get a $3 million upgrade to manage demand.
“It’s the major supermarket in Jindabyne, and we’re as busy as all hell [during the busy winter and holiday periods]. The store’s ability to cope with the amount of business is truly challenged,” centre director Bruce Marshall told Region.
“This is a significant increase in the size of the store that will allow for the betterment of all these problems.”
The centre has used the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct’s streamlined planning process, which cleared the way for an expansion of the Woolworths supermarket and BWS bottle shop.
SAPs are four focused areas across the state where the NSW Government is working to provide economic development and infrastructure.
Offices and staff spaces will move upstairs, while the expansion will see Woolworths take over some existing tenancies.
Mr Marshall said the Woolworths expansion will be done in stages because it requires a specialised fit-out.
“As we complete one part, we will allow Woolworths to access it.
“They’ll do their fit out while we’re moving on to another part to expand into, and then they’ll move into that area and do their fit out.
“It’s quite a complicated process of [going] step by step.”
The centre’s BWS store will also be moved towards the site’s east end.
Other elements of the works include increased car parking, improved access points to the shopping centre and expanded floor space.
He said that there wouldn’t be any loss of carparks, while people could also use nearby parking, pointing towards the south-west of the Nugget’s Crossing centre.
“We now have many extra spaces – convenient spaces – available [there] … potentially more on the site adjoining, which is the old school site that is going to be redeveloped.
“Spots will be lost during construction, but there will be no spaces lost as a result of the works.”
Mr Marshall says the expansion will mean the centre’s offerings will be “more and better”. Photo: Ampol.
Member for Monaro Steve Whan said the SAP was part of the state government’s investment in regional areas.
“Jindabyne is entering an exciting new chapter as a year-round destination, with major infrastructure works now underway to support its growing community and visitor base.
“Across the Precinct, we’re seeing transformative progress … These projects reflect the NSW Government’s commitment to building resilient, thriving regional communities.”
The Nugget’s Crossing expansion joins a series of other projects underway in the Snowy Mountains SAP, with work progressing on major upgrades to the Jindabyne Claypits, a sewer pump station and the new Jindabyne Education Campus.
Upgrades to the Jindabyne Sewerage Treatment Plant and Water Treatment Plant are also on track to start construction next year.
Mr Marshall said the SAP planning process was an alternative to seeking approval through the local council.
“Council have been hard-pressed with the amount of work they’ve had to deal with over the last 12 to 24 months … [This means they could] be able to move development applications that are part of the [SAP] forward more quickly.”
He said the works are expected to finish by June next year. Construction will pause over the Christmas period.
