Christmas cheer to camping at Copeton

The new 440-metre concrete boat ramp is just one of the many new facilities available to campers, fishers and water sport enthusiasts following the completion of part of the $5.7 million tourism development in the state's Northern Tablelands.

Christmas campers will be among the first to experience the new viewing platforms, footpaths and amenities block, as work roars ahead on completing the development by early 2021.

Copeton Dam, 35 kilometres south-west of Inverell, is one of the largest inland dams in NSW with a capacity of 1,364,000 megalitres, nearly three times that of Sydney Harbour.

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Inverell Shire Council mayor Paul Harmon said the popular camping area was now officially back open to the public.

"Over the pandemic, the northern foreshore has been closed, allowing the myriad of contractors uninterrupted access to the various building sites," Cr Harmon said.

"This project has been a huge employer for the Inverell area, with between 50 and 55 people each day working on the different elements.

He said caretaker Tom Stapleton was now taking bookings and Inverell was really looking forward to welcoming back visitors and the economic benefit that would be deliver to local hospitality and retail operators.

Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said in the space of 12 months the area had been transformed from a comfortable camping getaway to a luxury outdoor escape.

"The new amenities block, which is twice the size of the original, is equipped with showers, toilets and disabled access and is now ready for visitors to enjoy," he said.

"In terms of recreational infrastructure, 2.4 kilometres of shared footpaths now snake their way around the park, connecting the camp ground to a number of new viewing platforms that overlook the dam.

"This week, the floating pontoon was installed beside the concrete boat ramp, enabling boaters to safely enter and exit boats from the water's edge.

"The new Uniplan caretaker's residence and kiosk looks fantastic and acts as a professional welcome mat as people drive through the front gate on the recently re-sealed road.

Mr Marshall said during the next two months the final stages of the redevelopment would be completed.

"Progress on the communal hall is going well, with the frame for the 100-person venue taking shape," he said.

"Children will be excited to know the next cab off the rank is the splash-pool, which will provide relief from Inverell's notoriously hot summers.

"The new playground is still cordoned off, but once soft-fall is put down it to will be open."

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