2022 Shoalhaven Australia Day Award Winners Announced - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 

1 February 2022

Shoalhaven City Council celebrated their annual Shoalhaven Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony on Monday, 31 January 2022 at the Ulladulla Civic Centre.  

The awards celebrate local people and the diverse ways they contribute to our community across eight categories including sports, the environment, the arts and to building an inclusive Shoalhaven.  

Shoalhaven City Council, Mayor Amanda Findley said she was immensely proud to see so many wonderful community-minded people being acknowledged and celebrated. 

“I am thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of local people, often unsung heroes, doing amazing things in our community across a range of fields.” Mayor Amanda Findley said. 

“I would like to congratulate these inspirational award winners and the nominees in each category. You should be immensely proud of the positive impact your efforts make to our community. I would also like to thank those who took the time to nominate the deserving community members for the awards.” 

Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Shoalhaven Australia Day Awards: 

Citizen of the Year – Fran Mooney 

Fran Mooney has been a member of the Rural Fire Service (RFS), St Georges Basin since 2012. She has attended bushfires, motor vehicle accidents, back burning and more.  

Ms Mooney was instrumental in the redevelopment of the Sanctuary Point Skate Park. Her involvement in the project has seen a significant decrease in antisocial behaviour. She consistently promotes and encourages activities for young people to ensure parents and children know what they can access and build support around safe play for children. She is an inspirational role model for the community through her tireless work for Sanctuary Point youth. 

Ms Mooney has also been a member of the St Georges Basin State Emergency Services for almost three years.  

She is an honest, open, and passionate individual who leads by example and has proved that things can change, if you keep at it, to support youth to have more opportunities and a stronger sense of community. 

Young Citizen of the Year - Wade Cawley 

As a role model for young people, Wade Cawley demonstrates his passion for the environment by repurposing waste in meaningful ways. He took his passion from a hobby to starting a local e-Waste business to upcycle and keep recyclable material out of landfill. 

Mr Cawley networks with local businesses and LGA’s to ensure e-Waste is suitably recycled with his electric van enabling him to collect obsolete items directly from businesses and residents. 

Through Mr Cawley, his business educates clients on the intricacies of recycling and shows how small steps can create big solutions. His innovative approach to repurposing waste makes a major contribution to protecting the environment.  

He is also an organiser of Clean-up Australia Day in Berry. 

Mr Cawley’s love for helping others and making our environment cleaner for the next generation is incredible. This passionate young man is a role model and inspiration and deserves much recognition in the field of environmental excellence. 

Sports Person – Kelsey Bennett 

After 12 Years playing golf, Ms Bennett has achieved international status finishing equal second in the International Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship in Abu Dhabi. She is now recognised as a leading young amateur in Australia and Internationally.  

She is a true inspiration. While currently studying for her HSC, teaches golf to young children. She also assists PGA Professional Staff with Junior development at around 15 Junior Clinics at the local primary schools.  

In two years, she competed in 18 major amateur events across Australia where she had 13 top 10 finishes including two wins, second places and three third places. Kelsey's World Amateur Golf Ranking is an impressive 122. 

 Young Sports Person - Imogen Radburn 

In a short period of time, Imogen Radburn has gained respect and admiration from everyone in the karting community. Last year Imogen became the youngest ambassador for Karting NSW. She is an inspirational role model who is passionate about growing the sport.  

She is committed to making strong connections with younger karters so they know they are fully supported in every way. 

Apart from becoming an excellent karter, she is not afraid to get her hands dirty. Younger karters are often seen surrounding Imogen while she works on karts. After completing her HSC, Ms Radburn would like to become a diesel mechanic and one day drive V8 Supercars.  

Highly Commended Young Sports Person - Jackson Ingram 

Jackson Ingram has achieved outstanding junior sporting achievements in cricket and AFL. His achievements include representing under 15's Shoalhaven and under 15's Great Southern Marlins in cricket. 

Mr Ingram has won 11 cricket awards, including, under 15's representative player of the year, Shoalhaven and under 15's Sydney Thunder Country player of the year. Jackson has now made his first-grade debut with Bomaderry. 

As an inspirational and talented sportsperson, Mr Ingram also represented Shoalhaven in AFL at state championships. 

Outstanding Contribution to the Environment – Maureen and Norman Webb 

Maureen and Norman Webb have been extensively involved in voluntary efforts for over three decades, especially in the Bay and Basin District.  

Since moving to St Georges Basin in 1990 Maureen and Norman established themselves in the community joining various groups committed to environmental conservation. They joined the Jervis Bay Regional Alliance and began a long association with the Australian Plant Society – Nowra, where Maureen is the current Conservation Officer.  

The breadth of their contributions to the environment is impressive. Maureen and Norman embrace bush care, park care and native animal rescue. They undertake conservation activism at various Shoalhaven sites and provide public education on environmental concerns. 

Highly Commended - Outstanding Contribution to the Environment - Julie Holstegge 

Julie Holstegge is actively involved in a range of land care and community activities. She encourages a passion for native gardening at the local primary schools and volunteers land care sites.  

She became a local champion educating and supporting landholders to undertake weed control. Ms Holstegge also volunteers on farms to support landholders to revegetate cleared farming landscapes.  

She established her own on-farm nursery, leading a team of volunteers to collect seed and growing 1000's of tube stock to put back into local projects. As a team leader, Julie has successfully turned her local farming community into an engaged, productive and sustainable farming community. 

Outstanding Contribution to an Inclusive Shoalhaven – Shirley Allison 

Shirley Allison has made an outstanding contribution to making Shoalhaven a more inclusive community for people of all abilities, ages and culture.  

Ms Allison has been a very diligent worker for Legacy, Coastal Controls, the War Widows, RSL Club and opportunity shop, Outreach and Ulladulla community transport for many years.  

Her tireless commitment to support and bring people together creates more opportunities for inclusiveness and a stronger sense of community. 

Outstanding Emerging Artist – Anya Mai Ellerington 

Anya Mai Ellerington has excelled in her academic achievement in writing. Ms Ellerington had her first piece of work published at the early age of 13. 

She has contributed to the field of Motor Neuron Disease, inspired by the loss of her grandmother. Her personal experience inspired her to use poetry to reflect the needs of others including the patient’s experience, a family’s journey and as a bystander.  

Ms Ellerington has been a writer since her early primary years and her ability to articulate feelings on paper has become her passion. 

Outstanding Contribution to Arts and Culture – Bonnie Porter-Greene 

Outstanding contribution Shoalhaven’s Arts and Culture. As a multi-disciplinary creative Bonnie Porter-Greene is a powerhouse of local Art.  

Ms Porter-Greene was born, resides and creates in the Shoalhaven. She explores her love of the landscape, both built and natural, through reflective studio practice and air excursions resulting in direct and honest painted memories of the landscape and connection to the environment. 

She is the Director at Collator, a place for artist-led art education, design and murals. For the past two decades she has worked tirelessly within the local community. 

Fran Mooney Shoalhaven Citizen of year 2022
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Election of Deputy Mayor of Shoalhaven - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

27 January 2022

Shoalhaven City Councillor Liza Butler has been elected Deputy Mayor of Shoalhaven at Council’s first Ordinary meeting on Tuesday, 25 January 2022.   

Shoalhaven Mayor, Amanda Findley said, “Councillor Liza Butler is a successful businesswoman who created two highly successful businesses on the South Coast.”    

 “Prior to being in business, Councillor Butler worked for the NSW and Federal Governments at the Department of Ageing Disability and Homecare and the Department of Human Services.   

 “Councillor Butler has also worked with remote Aboriginal Communities in the Northern Territory and the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet.  

 “I congratulate Councillor Butler on her appointment as Deputy Mayor and look forward to working closely with her,” Mayor Findley said.  

Councillor Butler will serve out her role of Deputy Mayor until September 2022. 

In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor may exercise any function of the Mayor, at the request of the Mayor or if the Mayor is prevented from exercising the function or if there is a casual vacancy in the office of the Mayor.   

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Plenary Post - Australian Catholic Bishops

 

Welcome to PlenaryPost One of the questions that we're seeing a lot these days relates to how the Plenary Council and the international "Synod on Synodality" align, or how they might differ. In reading some of the foundational documents for the Synod on Synodality, the Australian Plenary Council experience is cited often as something of a model for how the Synod invites the People of God into a shared journey of dialogue, of discernment and of prayer. Archbishop Mark Coleridge recently spoke about the two processes in this way: "So for us the process of the Plenary Council will interweave with the process of the global Synod, an interweaving of the local and the universal, each enriching the other. That’s how the Catholic Church works." Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, the president of the Plenary Council, said this when the fruits of the first Council assembly were published late last year: "The complementary nature of the Plenary Council and this Synod of Bishops process is quite clear, and I encourage people to be as engaged with the Synod as they have been in the Plenary Council." Read on for more information and updates, and news of related Church events. And please continue to pray for the Plenary Council.

FacilitatorFocus: A new year, the same spirit of prayer and journeying together by Lana Turvey-Collins

Dear Friends,    In this first edition of PlenaryPost for the New Year, Marion, Peter, Olivia and I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all the best for the year ahead. We hope that the first few weeks of the year have been peaceful and, most of all, healthy. Many continue to struggle with the reality of COVID, new variants and changing rules. This state of constant uncertainty can be very draining, and we are cognisant of the very human, emotional and mental impact that this pandemic is having. Amidst all of this, over the last few months the members of the Drafting Committee, a number of the periti (expert advisors) and some others have been working in writing groups to continue the discernment of the Plenary Council. If you recall, the mandate the Members are challenged with on behalf of all the faithful’s discernment thus far is this: As children of God, disciples of Jesus Christ, and guided by the Holy Spirit, the Members of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia are called to develop concrete proposals to create a more missionary, Christ-centred Church in Australia at this time. The writing groups have taken the initial fruits of the first Assembly and, on behalf of the Members, are preparing something written for all of them to take into discernment in a particular way in March and April. The input from the Members’ discernment will be taken onboard by the writing groups for final drafting during April and May. The four years and hundreds of thousands of contributions from the People of God across Australia have helped to give voice to the workings of the Holy Spirit answering the 16 specific questions on the Agenda and are helping to guide the Members and all others writing, praying and discerning together. Everyone is working towards the final stages of discernment – which will take the form of proposals and propositions to be considered and decided upon at the second and final General Assembly, to be held in Sydney in July 2022.   In June, everyone will be invited to accompany your local members of the Plenary Council in conversation and prayer as they prepare for the final stages of their pilgrimage, travelling to Sydney physically, but carrying with them the hopes, questions, prayers and faith of all of the People of God, from thousands of communities, groups and organisations across Australia. Over the coming months, we invite you to continue to practise synodality – to talk together, to pray together, to seek the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit and to live the mission of Jesus in the way the Gospel shows us. We look forward to these final months of working together with you all. Please know you’re always in our prayers, we ask you to please keep us in yours.  Thanks and peace,  Lana, Marion, Peter and Olivia Plenary Council Facilitation Team

CuriosityCorner

We will address a new question in each e-newsletter. To catch up on previous editions, you can check out the Plenary Council FAQ page. If you have a question, email it to us and we will include it in future editions of PlenaryPost. The question for this edition is… Why are we having a Plenary Council?  There are many reasons for having a Plenary Council for the Catholic Church in Australia: Pope Francis has invited the local Church to dialogue; the contemporary society of Australia has changed significantly; and the Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse has been a significant and influential event that requires deep consideration and response. When the Australian Catholic Bishops announced the decision to hold a Plenary Council, Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge said that “the Church is not the presence in our society it once was. We need to take a measure of that and make decisions accordingly. The culture in which we have to proclaim the Gospel is very different to what it was even 20 or 30 years ago.” The journey is taking place over several years in order to give the Catholic community in Australia time to listen, dialogue and discern with one another and, guided by the Holy Spirit, about the future, the role and relevance of the Catholic Church in Australia.

TalkTheology

What does Pope Francis mean by synodality? In a nutshell, Pope Francis is leading us to rediscover a reality that has been at the heart of the Church’s life from the very beginning. Echoing both Scripture and ancient Christian writers, he speaks of synodality not as a recent innovation but rather as a constitutive part of the Church’s life. It goes to the heart of being “the Body of Christ” and “the People of God”. It’s at the core of the Church as a “communion” of believers, united to one another eucharistically, in Christ through the Holy Spirit. Synodality touches the essence of a diverse Church that is rooted in and manifests the unity of the distinct persons of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Synodality emerges from all these ways of looking at the Church, and it means that we participate in the faith, not as isolated individuals, nor as ideological factions, but rather as fellow believers united by “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5). Synodality requires us to build a “culture of encounter” in the grace of the Holy Spirit. It means creating an atmosphere of hospitality and welcome wherein we learn how to live our faith together, in patience and charity. Synodality means a deep respect and openness to our fellow Catholics coupled with a willingness to listen, dialogue, and discern with fellow believers . . . including those with whom we disagree, theologically, philosophically, and politically. True to form, Pope Francis does not want synodality to remain just an idea, but rather he wants us to learn how to put it into practice and to make it habit. It’s as if he’s saying to us, “To learn how to swim, you’ve got to jump into the water!” -- From a homily Baltimore Archbishop William Lori gave about synodality and Pope Francis' vision of synodality. Click here to read the full version.

News&Notes

Pope highlights the importance of listening Throughout the Plenary Council journey, listening has been seen as critical to the work of considering how to discern what God is asking of us in Australia at this time. The listening was to take place in the context of Scripture and Tradition, but also in listening attentively to one another. In his message for World Communications Day 2022, entitled "Listening with the ear of the heart", Pope Francis says "we are losing the ability to listen to those in front of us, both in the normal course of everyday relationships and when debating the most important issues of civil life". Listening, he continues, is "the first indispensable ingredient of dialogue and good communication. Communication does not take place if listening has not taken place". In the context of the global Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis writes: "Let us pray that it will be a great opportunity to listen to one another. Communion, in fact, is not the result of strategies and programmes, but is built in mutual listening between brothers and sisters. "As in a choir, unity does not require uniformity, monotony, but the plurality and variety of voices, polyphony. At the same time, each voice in the choir sings while listening to the other voices and in relation to the harmony of the whole. This harmony is conceived by the composer, but its realization depends on the symphony of each and every voice." Click here to read the full message.

Fr Tim Norton SVD (left) and Bishop Daniel Meagher

New bishops -- and Plenary Council members All Australian bishops are members of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, and the number of bishops ebbs and flows with appointments Pope Francis makes and resignations he accepts. Late last year, two new bishops were appointed: Bishop Daniel Meagher, now Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney; and Fr Tim Norton SVD, who will be ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane next month. Both will be part of the ongoing preparation for the second assembly of the Plenary Council, scheduled for July 2022. Read more about Bishop Meagher here. Read more about Bishop-Elect Norton here.

What is it like being a Plenary Council member? The nine Members of the Plenary Council from the Parramatta Diocese have taken time to reflect on what the experience has been like for them, especially in their participation in the first assembly last October. Carol Teodori-Blahut says the Plenary Council has opened her eyes to the reality of the Church in Australia. “The Church for me had always been the local parishes in which I have served. The Plenary has opened my understanding of how complex the issues are and how many people have dedicated their lives to making the parishes continue to function,” she said. Fr Wim Hoekstra conceded the first assembly was tiring, in part due to the online format, “yet it was a spiritually enriching time as we shared the hopes, the dreams and the realities of where the Australian Church is at”. Wendy Goonan said the small group discussions, during which the agenda's 16 questions were explored, were enriching. “These sessions, with their sincerity and imagination, were constant reminders of the authenticity of the whole four-year endeavour”, she said. Click here to read more reflections from the Parramatta Diocese Members.

Catholics urged: strengthen support for First Peoples The peak body representing First Nations Catholics has invited fellow Catholics to make 2022 a year of action to “strengthen Australia’s foundations by supporting Australia’s First Peoples”. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council issued a statement for Australia Day, reflecting on this year’s theme: Reflect. Respect. Celebrate. The statement unpacks those three verbs and encourages people to consider a response as individuals and as Catholics. NATSICC also recommends the addition of a fourth verb to the Australia Day theme: Do. “Words are easy and limitless, but actions require time, effort and commitment,” the statement says. “We ask that you make 2022 the year of ‘Do’.” NATSICC offers some practical suggestions for how parishes, schools, organisations and individuals can take up that challenge. They include attending Mass at an Aboriginal and Islander Catholic Ministry, displaying acknowledgement plaques prominently in public places and supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Plenary Council Members have called for the Church in Australia to endorse the Uluru Statement; the Bishops Conference did so last November. Click here to access NATSICC's Australia Day statement.

February 6 a day to focus on the Word of God The Church in Australia celebrates Word of God Sunday on the first Sunday in February – February 6 in 2022. Pope Francis established the day, which is devoted to “the celebration, study and dissemination” of the Word of God, in 2019. Several resources have been developed to help commemorate the day and to offer suggestions on how to better engage with Sacred Scripture in various ways and settings. Click here to access the resources.

First Council Meeting 25 January 2022 - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

24 January 2022

Shoalhaven City Council’s first Ordinary Meeting for 2022 is on Tuesday, 25 January, starting at 5 pm in the Council Chambers Nowra.   

The newly elected Mayor and Councillors will take their Affirmations and Oaths of Office during a public outdoor ceremony to be held in the forecourt of the Nowra Administration Centre commencing at 3.30 pm on that day. A traditional smoking ceremony will form part of the event preceding the commencement of the first meeting.   

The ceremony will be live-streamed on Council’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/shoalhavencitycouncil 

Mayor Amanda Findley said “I look forward to working with the new Council team and want to thank the residents of the Shoalhaven for participating in the election of Council and delivering the elected Council we see today. This Council is more diverse than the previous one and will no doubt be faced with many challenges.”

” Thank you for trusting me to be your Mayor, I take my duties seriously and want to see our City continue to prosper, be a place that ignites optimism and opportunity, and remain a safe place to live, work and play,” Mayor Findley said.   

“Council has worked hard to deliver important projects to Shoalhaven that meet our community and visitors’ needs and will continue to do so over the coming years.”

“I look forward to working closely with the new and re-elected Councillors to continue this work now and into the future,” Mayor Findley said.   

The meeting agenda is available on the Council website at https://bit.ly/3o2NGB9  

Access to the Council Chambers for members of the public to view the Council meeting will be very limited due to COVID restrictions. A live webcast of the meeting proceedings will be available through Council’s website at https://bit.ly/3FzYPiv 

A video of the smoking ceremony will be uploaded to Council's website after the event for non-Facebook viewers.   

Service NSW is Coming to Your Community - Sussex Inlet/ Sanctuary Point

 

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COVID-19 Advice For Parents & Students - Service NSW

 

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Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park is officially open - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

22 January 2022

Shoalhaven City Council are excited to announce that the South Coast’s most anticipated playground, Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park and Learn to Ride official opening is Saturday 22 January 2022.

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley said this is Stage 1 of a far more ambitious play space and there is something here for everybody, both the young and the young at heart.

“There are slides, swings, climbing nets, and challenges for all ages. There is a flying fox, and we also have a wonderful learn to ride facility, for the youngsters to start learning to ride and improve their bike skills in a very safe environment,” Cr Findley said.

“We have over 30 parking spaces, with accessible parking for all abilities and lift and change facilities within the amenities building.”

“To date there has been a $6.5 million investment from Council, the Federal and State Government, along with Berry Rotary and the Berry community, who have provided fantastic help and support in getting the project to this stage,” said Cr Findley.

Future works include a new skate park and pump track, a dog park and improvements to the sporting facilities, including additional formal car parking for visitors in accordance with the Boongaree Master Plan.

In the meantime, visitors may need to utilise on street parking in the neighbouring streets or formal Council car parks in the Berry township.

Bring your picnic rug, enjoy the beautiful open spaces, we have BBQ facilities too so, head on down to Berry, the best playground on the South Coast – come, play and stay for the day.

To stay up to date on this project and for further information on Boongaree, including the Master Plan and Staging Plan, at www.getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/berry-district-park

 

Artie Smith Oval Bomaderry Project Redevelopment - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 

21 January 2022

Shoalhaven City Council is excited to start work on the redevelopment of Artie Smith Oval Bomaderry Project with work underway now.  

Shoalhaven City Council Director of City Lifestyles, Jane Lewis said the next stage of the Shoalhaven Community Recreation Precinct are about to start and we are one step closer to building a world class sporting precinct for the whole of the Shoalhaven.  

“Residents to Bomaderry may have already noticed the construction zone has been fenced off and further works will start in the coming days,” said Ms Lewis. 

“The construction will see new AFL pitches for footy fans and cricket pitches for our favourite summer sporting activity. As well as croquet courts, cricket practice facility (nets), a pavilion / clubhouse and landscaped open space for the community and visitors to enjoy.” 

“The redevelopment design will retain and embellish the current and significant stands of native trees. We are planting 77 new trees, 45 of which are of the same species as the significant trees on site (scribbly gum and Red Bloodwood) and all up an additional 30,465 of plantings (from trees to grasses) will be established on the site.” 

“The buildings and facilities design aims to sit comfortably amongst the semi-bushland setting of Bomaderry, allowing the current line of eucalypts to remain significant to the field and amenities.” 

“Maintaining the semi-bushland setting has been integral to the design considerations with a sympathetic tapering Pavilion Clubhouse building form to allow the line of eucalypts behind to remain significant in the sense of enclosure to the field and as an amenity to the overall streetscape.” 

“This next stage of the $20 million project has an $8 million investment to upgrade Artie Smith Oval from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, co-funded by the Federal and NSW State Government, with a further $12 million investment by Shoalhaven City Council.” 

This will create an outstanding regional sporting facility for our local sporting clubs which is also capable of hosting significant sporting events for our community and visitors to the Shoalhaven to enjoy,” said Ms Lewis. 

Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund is one part of the $4.5 billion overarching bushfire support program co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments for bushfire recovery, response and preparedness in NSW.

“Almost two years have passed since we cleared 3,600 properties across NSW that were damaged or destroyed by the Black Summer bushfires and we are continuing to deliver the support that our region needs to keep moving forward in recovery,” Ms Hancock said. 

“People are rebuilding their lives and through the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund we are backing projects that will bring communities together, support tourism, provide improved or new social amenity, and increase preparedness to future bushfires. All of these things play a part in recovery.”

Council will be working with the community to deliver a community facility for the new Artie Smith Oval which will include: 

• New AFL/Cricket with 5 turf wickets, floodlighting, irrigation drainage, picket fencing, electronic scoreboard, sight screens, and spectator seating/mounding  
• AFL/Cricket Pavilion Clubhouse and amenities  
• Cricket Practice facility (4 X Synthetic pitches, 4 X turf pitches, storage shed)  
• Four croquet courts  
• Croquet clubhouse and amenities  
• Onsite car parking  
• Open space embellishments (pathways, playgrounds, exercise equipment, landscaping, furniture, etc.)  
• Perimeter security fencing 

The construction will use low maintenance, durable and robust materials such as brick, steel, concrete and some hardwood. The completed project will provide accessible open space and sporting facilities for all ages and abilities, designed for the comfort of users and spectators. 

If you have any enquiries in relation to this project, please do not hesitate to contact Shoalhaven City Council on 1300 293 111 or stay up to date on this project by subscribing to the Shoalhaven Community and Recreation Precinct (SCaRP) Get Involved web page. 

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COVID affecting Council too - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

20 January 2022

Shoalhaven City Council, like many businesses in our region, is experiencing staff shortages due to the latest surge in COVID-19 cases.  

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley said the Council is no different to other businesses in the region dealing with the fall out of the current pandemic.  

“Our community and customers are at the centre of everything we do and while Council staff are experiencing shortages, we are aiming to have a continuity of service,” Cr Findley said.  

“What people may see in the community is the grass not being mowed on time, the Recycling & Waste Depots closed temporarily, your bin not picked up on the scheduled day, or perhaps your regular gym instructor isn’t available to take the class.”

“If a service is missed, we will get to it as soon as possible, we ask that the community be patient as staff do their best with the staff that they have available,” said Cr Findley. 

We encourage everyone to stay COVID safe by using Council’s online services: 

• Report a problem  
• Paying bills including rates and parking permits 

The health and safety of our staff and community are our priority, and we thank customers for their understanding during these challenging times.

If you have any enquiries in relation to impacted services, please do not hesitate to contact customer service on 1300 293 111 or email us at council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au  

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Swan Lake Artificially Opened Illegally - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 19 January 2022

 An artificial opening at Swan Lake was carried out by members of the public on 12 January 2022. NSW Department of Primary Industries - Fisheries were alerted and will be enacting their compliance functions. Council Rangers have also been in the area carrying out investigations as the artificial opening of the lake is an illegal activity as these works were not carried out in relation to the water trigger levels and Entrance Management Policy (EMP).

The intervention works created a 20-30-metre-wide channel, which poses a public safety risk. People need to be made aware of the danger this has created. The channel, when opened by natural means or by Council (under licensed conditions in accordance with the EMP), is located to the south adjoining the rock platform. This does not typically create a channel like the one that has formed from the recent artificial intervention.

Pending rainfall and tidal behaviours, it is expected that the sand bar will re-establish in four to eight weeks and return Swan Lake back to its natural form. The entrance cannot be closed using any further artificial intervention. In the meantime, signs have been posted by Council to alert the public to the swimming hazard. 

Shoalhaven City Council Manager of Environment Services, Dr Michael Roberts said, “This channel, between Swan Lake and the ocean, has resulted in the lake artificially opening at too low a water level and in unsuitable conditions. This may lead to significant adverse environmental impacts on Swan Lake, such as low oxygen levels, associated fish kills as well as a significant swimming hazard.”

 “It is an offence to open coastal lakes, or lagoons, using machinery or by hand, without a licence and could result in penalties of up to $220,000 per offence.” Dr Roberts stated. 

Council operates an Entrance Management Policy for Swan Lake, and other coastal lakes in the Shoalhaven region, with licenses from various State Government Agencies.   

This Policy allows Council to mechanically open Swan Lake to the ocean with an excavator to prevent flooding of low-lying properties surrounding the lake when the water level rises, typically following a large rainfall event, to a specific trigger level.