Shoalhaven City Council's Environmental Services Department have made significant progress on the Coastal Management Programs (CMP) which will provide long-term strategies for the coordinated management of Shoalhaven's coastal zones and waterways.
Council has successfully obtained five State Government grant applications from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) Coastal and Estuary Planning Grants Program, to help plan for and manage the health of our unique coasts and estuaries while improving the resilience of coastal communities.
Council also obtained a grant from the DPIE in 2019 to support the preparation of the Lake Conjola CMP, and at Council's 8 December 2020 Strategy and Assets Committee meeting, resolved to accept the Tender from Royal Haskoning DHV for the Lake Conjola Coastal Management Program. The project commenced in February and Council continues to work closely with the Southern Coastal Management Advisory Committee, state agencies, our local Aboriginal community and the Lake Conjola community as the project progresses.
In April 2021, Council successfully obtained funding under DPIE's Coastal and Estuary Planning Grants Program funding of over $1.1million for our coastal areas.
Successful grants applications have been obtained for the Shoalhaven Coastal Management Program ($180,000), Jervis Bay Coastal Management Program ($120,000), St Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Coastal Management Program ($300,000), Lower Shoalhaven River Coastal Management Program ($326,666) and the South Mollymook Coastal Protection Design and Approvals ($210,000).
The grants will go towards the preparation of CMPs for each area with the exception of South Mollymook, with the funding going towards a detailed design and environmental assessments and approvals for the preferred seawall at the golf club and car park at the south end of Mollymook Beach.
Prior to the funding announcement, Council had begun drafting the project briefs for these CMPs based on Council's Adopted CMP Scoping Study.
Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley is delighted with the progress made by the Coastal Management Program to date.
"Ensuring integrated and sustainable management of our coastal zone is a high priority for Council. Our coast is an irreplaceable social, economic and environmental asset for future generations as well as a place of leisure, relaxation and play for our community," said Clr Findley.
"Three Coastal Management Advisory Committees for North, Central and South regions of Shoalhaven were formed late last year and have met twice to date. The Committees are currently assisting with the review of Draft Project Briefs for the Open Coast and Jervis Bay CMP, as well as the Sussex Inlet, Berrara Creek, Swan Lake and St Georges Basin CMP to follow soon," Clr Findley said.
"Further consultation will take place with the broader community and stakeholders once a consultant is awarded and the preparation of the CMPs commence," Clr Findley said.
Council is required by state legislation to prepare a Coastal Management Program (CMP) for the estuaries and sections of the Shoalhaven's 165km coastal zone. Shoalhaven City Council manages most of the region's beaches, bays and headlands, and some of the lakes and estuaries, often in partnership with state government agencies.
A drop-in Information Session for the Lake Conjola CMP will be held on Monday, 19 April 2021 at the Lake Conjola Community Centre from 4pm to 7pm. This session is to update the community with an overview of progress on the preparation of the Lake Conjola CMP, as well as what they can expect as the program progresses over the next 12 months.
