Armidale Regional Council (ARC) has announced parts of Dumaresq Dam Reserve will re-open on December 23 so residents and visitors can enjoy fishing, swimming, camping and other recreational pursuits at the popular site in the holidays.
New facilities at Dumaresq Dam Reserve will include a camp site area/unpowered motorhome parking area, a new contemporary amenities block, a new jetty for easier access to recreational fishing and swimming, picnic shelters and barbecue facilities, bitumen internal roads and parking areas, parking including long bay parking near the upgraded boat ramp, landscaping and new pathways, a new low beach wall along the dam foreshore, interpretive signage along the popular walking track and additional boardwalks.
The reserve was closed in February for the $3.9 million upgrade which was co-funded by the Australian and NSW Government's Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.
Contractor JNC has been working around the clock to put the finishing touches on the redevelopment project, which includes the jetty, artificial beach, security upgrades, 1608 plantings, interpretive signage, solar lighting and food grade water for the BBQ areas, water fountain and amenities.
Unfortunately, delivery of the nature playground and jetty have been delayed and will not be open until the new year.
"Whilst it is unfortunate that the entire reserve is not open, Council want to provide access to as many areas as we can during the school holidays and thankfully main contractor JNC have agreed," said Mayor Sam Coupland.
"We are very excited that residents and visitors to the Armidale area will get to experience the much-anticipated redevelopment of the Dumaresq Dam Reserve during school holidays. It has always been a favourite location for residents to go for a paddle or drop a line, and now with the new family-friendly upgrades to the reserve it will be even more popular.
"We thought it was the right decision to open the reserve so everyone could spend some time out there during the upcoming holiday period.
"We think the redevelopment of the Dumaresq Dam Reserve will be a big drawcard for people moving to the region and visitors. With its fabulous fishing, camping, swimming and bushwalking the redeveloped site adds to the many great outdoor spaces we have in the New England making the region a place where people want to live."
Gates to the reserve will be open on Saturday December 23.
