Your chance to nominate someone great
The Shoalhaven Australia Day Awards recognise individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to our community and now is the time to put forward someone special you know.
There's just one week left to nominate someone who inspires you in one of these categories: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year or Sports Achiever of the Year.
Everyone nominated is recognised and everyone who nominates someone has a chance to win a $500 Holiday Haven voucher. Nominations close 7 November.
| |  Have your say on disability inclusionPeople with a disability, their families and carers are being invited to help develop a plan that aims to improve access and inclusion in the Shoalhaven. The Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) is a four-year strategic plan which sets out Council’s commitments and priorities to ensure people of all ages with a disability have better access to services, facilities, activities, employment and information. | |
| |  New CEO sets vision for ShoalhavenCouncil CEO Andrew Constance has set out his vision to lead the organisation into its next chapter. Mr Constance said he was looking forward to leading the organisation into its next chapter and was focussed on improving Council’s financial sustainability and service delivery while maintaining the area’s natural beauty. His priority is to work with staff to ensure Council is meeting the needs of Shoalhaven residents. | |
| |  Splash safely into summerWith summer quickly approaching, the owners of tourism and visitor accommodation including caravan parks, hotels, motels and short-term rental properties in the Shoalhaven are being reminded to check their swimming pool meets legislated safety requirements. Under the NSW Swimming Pools Act 1992, all pool owners are required to register their pool on the NSW Swimming Pool register, and ensure it complies with the prescribed standards to mitigate the drowning deaths of young people. | |
| |  Soft plastic recycling now at depotsClean, soft plastic can now be dropped off at selected Council’s recycling and waste depots, diverting it from landfill and turning it into a clean, efficient fuel source. Soft plastic, commonly used for packaging and wrapping supermarket food items, will be sent to a recycling residuals program and turned into Processed Engineered Fuel (PEF) which can be used as a substitute for fossil fuels. Depots include West Nowra, Husky, Ulladulla, Berry, Callala and Sussex Inlet. | |
| |  Community Wellbeing Grants announcedThe 2025-26 Community Wellbeing Grant recipients have been confirmed, with 34 successful applicants receiving funding to support community wellbeing. Grant funds to the total of $177,388 to eligible not-for-profit groups for the development and delivery of community programs for the 2025/2026 financial year have now been awarded. Check out the recipients below. | |
| |  Give feedback on Broughton Creek studyResidents living in and around Berry and Shoalhaven Heads are invited to learn more about their flood risk and provide feedback that will inform how we manage that risk in the future. The technical study was undertaken to enhance our understanding of flood behaviour within the Broughton Creek catchment following changes to land use and infrastructure upgrades in the area. Share your thoughts by 9 November. | |
| |  Have your say on new Council meeting rulesOrdinary Meetings will be impacted by a new set of rules from next year and the community is invited to provide feedback on the proposed changes. The changes reflect the provisions and guidance for the new 2025 Model Code of Meeting Practice for NSW local councils which will come into effect from 1 January 2026. Be sure to check out the changes and have your say. | |
| |  Annual Children's Remembrance ServiceIf you have been touched by the loss of a child, we invite you to join us for the Annual Children's Remembrance Service at 6pm on Thursday 11 December. Held at the Shoalhaven Memorial Gardens and Lawn Cemetery Chapel in Worrigee, this service offers the opportunity for parents, family and friends who have experienced the loss of a child, to share a time of reflection. To RSVP please phone 4429 5788 or email smglc@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au | |
| |  Village pools opening in NovemberThe reopening of the region’s much-loved village pools for the 2025-26 swimming season will be welcome news for our water-loving community. Residents and visitors can once again enjoy the local pools as community spaces for recreation, relaxation and connection. Saturday 1 November will see Berry, Greenwell Point and Kangaroo Valley open. Saturday 29 November will see Milton and Shoalhaven Heads open. | |
| |  Thrive pop-up coming to UlladullaJoin us at the Thrive Together Pop-up at the Ulladulla Civic Centre on Wednesday 26 November, 10am – 1pm. Everyone is welcome at this free event. Find cost-of-living relief, financial counselling, housing and welfare support, mental health services, Aboriginal service providers and free legal advice. We'll have entertainment and activities for the whole family plus grocery care packages available. Don't miss the free BBQ lunch and mobile coffee van. | |
| |  Drive change - join our Youth CommitteePassionate young people in the Shoalhaven who are interested in driving change and being a voice for youth in the city, are encouraged to apply to join our Youth Advisory Committee. The committee welcomes residents aged 12 to 25 years who would like to represent the interests and views of local youth, and advocate for improved services, activities and facilities for young people. | |
| |  SEC shines light on breast cancerA bright pink glow enveloped the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre throughout October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the call for regular mammograms. As the sun went down, LED theatre lights were used to saturate the light-filled foyer, with a vibrant pink hue bouncing off the white interior walls. | |
| |  Savour the slow season in the southSip your way through award-winning cellar doors, witness the awe of humpback whales gliding through calm coastal waters, and follow a trail of paddock-to-plate eateries where regional produce takes centre stage. Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend, a group getaway or a solo recharge, this is the season to reconnect with nature, nourish the senses and uncover the best of the South Coast. | |
| |  New bridge improves fish habitatA new concrete bridge to improve water flow and access to fish habitat in Currowan is now complete thanks to a $650,000 grant from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The new bridge across Currowan Creek is positioned above water level and replaces a piped concrete culvert which ran under the road. The culvert was a barrier to the movement of native fish, preventing them from being able to access food and shelter, avoid predators and seek out mates. | |
| |  Keeping cats safe at homeCouncil is joining forces with the RSPCA and the NSW Government to encourage and enable cat owners to desex their pets and prevent them from roaming in local neighbourhoods. The RSPCA has launched the Keeping Cats Safe at Home project which urges cat-owners to keep their pets indoors to reduce their impact on the environment and improve their wellbeing. | |
| |  A Christmas Celebration with a star from The Ten TenorsMorning Melodies at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre conclude with festive favourites from JD Smith and special guest Shandelle Cooke on Tuesday 2 December. Don't miss this magical morning filled with musical brilliance. Plus, we're taking final bookings for the ever popular post-show Christmas lunch. | |
| |  HOME exhibition puts student talent on showArtworks by Falls Creek, Greenwell Point, Nowra, Sancturary Point and Tomerong public school students are now on exhibition at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery in Nowra. Mayor Patricia White was there to help launch the exhibition, and she's pictured alongside Lisa van den Dodler, Gallery NSW, artist Brayden, and Hannah Debus, Gallery NSW. The students have participated in a three- term program engaging with First Nations art through a series of workshops, virtual excursions and classroom programs culminating in this exhibition which runs until 15 November. | |
| |  Santa letters back at our librariesWith Christmas just around the corner, Santa’s elves have once again set up a magical mailbox at your local library. Starting Monday November 17, bring your holiday cheer and post a letter straight to Santa at the North Pole. Here’s how it works:
Make sure your letters are posted by 12 December so Santa has time to write back. | |
Get along to final workshop for 2025
Join us for our last compost workshop for the year on Saturday 15 November at the Illaroo Scout Hall in North Nowra.
Find out how easy it is to transform household waste into quality compost, a valuable plant food that improves all aspects of soil health.
