Historic Nowra Bridge repurposing - Community Survey - NSW Government

Well, for those of you who don't know around the Shoalhaven LGA, my community background: I was a former public transport within Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs (about 13 suburbs all up), which led to a huge group of community-minded people to receive back into the community two out of three bus serves that were important and removed from important parts of the community. I didn't win these back, the people of Mount Druitt did.

I then expanded to be an alone community supporter and advocate, starting with holes in the ground. I have had many achievements, small and large, interviews from local papers, including Sydney Radio interviews, lobbying with all Local, State and Federal politicians. Why am I stating this? Public Transport is my original passsion as a community advocate so, Nowra Historical Bridge would be a great way to start public transport improvements within the Shoalhaven LGA linking better public transport to people, in they are in need of it.

I've heard how our 'youth' have issues getting back at night from Bomaderry reaching Central Nowra and that Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention & Awareness Network provide taxi vouchers to help our youth reach their desired destinations Click here for further details

When public transport is raised with anyone in this area - it really creates a diverse topic of interest. People come up with wonderful ideas of how to improve bus services. It has been suggested to use Club's in the area Community shuttle buses to help people in the area get around.

So, here is your chance to complete a community survey that could change the Nowra Historical Bridge. I encourage everyone to have their say*.

Click here to complete the survey

* I would like to thank Bay and Basin Our Community Our Voice Facebook Page for sharing this information.

$8 Million Funding Secured for a Brand-new Artie Smith Oval - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 

7 September 2021

Shoalhaven City Council has secured $8 million to upgrade Artie Smith Oval in Bomaderry thanks to Stage 1 of the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments. The upgrade is part of Shoalhaven Community and Recreation Precinct (SCaRP) project in Bomaderry.

Council has allocated funding towards the delivery of this aspect of the project and to progress the planning and investigations for future stages of the broader SCaRP precinct.

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley said “Council is excited to be delivering an integrated community and recreational precinct for the Shoalhaven community. This project is part of a long-term plan for the next 40 years and is intended to meet the needs of a growing community now and into the future".

“The NSW Government funding will support the development of the southern section of the SCaRP Project being the Artie Smith Oval redevelopment, which will be upgraded to a state-level facility for AFL and cricket, with new croquet lawns and associated infrastructure,” Clr Findley said.

Council has been working with the user groups and state sporting bodies to develop the plans for this great facility.

Council expects plans will go out to tender in late August with works to get underway late 2021. The project is expected to be completed by first half of 2023.

The new Artie Smith Oval will provide a state-level standard facility:

• New AFL/Cricket with 5 turf pitches, lighting, irrigation drainage, picket fencing electronic scoreboard, sight screens, and spectator seating/mounding
• AFL/Cricket 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, landscaping, furniture, etc.)
• Perimeter security fencing

Visit Council’s Get Involved page for more information on the Shoalhaven Community and Recreational Precinct project.

Artist impression of the Shoalhaven Community and Recreational Precinct

NSW Government's Proposal for Milton Ulladulla Road Bypass

Well, being new in the South Coast area, I have noticed all the towns north of Bomaderry - have got Bypasses away from the inland and seaside towns. The Pro's and con's of Bypasses could be debated for hours on end.

Personally, this is supposed to provide an easier and quicker flow of traffic in the areas of Milton and Ulladulla, whilst travelling on both sides of the Princess Highway.  Although in the towns North of Bomaderry, they tend to get traffic to and from their towns as they provide historical places and/or interesting places for anyone to visit.

By providing the Bypass, it may reduce the business economic returns for the area, with less traffic flowing into the towns. What the community of these towns need to do once a Bypass is in place is entice people passing by to stop and pay a visit, using and promoting the historical and local beauty of its areas. This is so that further vital funds could be injected into those local business communities.

Now, on the other hand, as a former public transport advocate in Western Sydney, I would strongly look at a dramatic improvement with local public transport bus timetables. As when I have travelled on the buses around the area, there are a handful of commuters using the services. 

The Reasons behind this is the 'everyone wants a car' factor because there are virtually little or no services available to promote the use of public transport. The trains stop at Bomaderry and I've heard from a young lady today, that it is better for her to travel to Wollongong University campus in Wollongong from Bomaderry, rather than using bus service to the campus to in Shoalhaven. This is also supported with the 'Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Awareness Network' offering taxi vouchers to the young and needy, needing travel access across the Shoalhaven River.

On that point, why we expanding with a new bridge across the Shoalhaven River to cover excessive and increasing rotor vehicle traffic, when the Iron bridge that caters for this traffic could be converted to carry passenger and industrial Rail. Yes, that's right extend the Railway line from Bomaderry to a dual carriageway travelling alongside the Shoalhaven River to Nowra and Stopping at South Nowra. 

By providing rail services extended into Nowra and South Nowra, would definitely be a positive step to help our youth, who need to get to work from Bomaderry to Nowra or South Nowra or who need to study and complete their tertiary education at Uni Wollongong, Shoalhaven Campus.

click here for the NSW Government Bypas  proposal video

Council Announced as a Finalist in NSW Water Awards - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 

23 December 2020

Shoalhaven City Council has been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2021 Australian Water Association (AWA) NSW Water Awards for its Reclaimed Water Management Scheme (REMS) Stage 1B Works in the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional). 

The NSW Water Awards recognise the contribution of the Association's members for their inspiring leadership and innovative research, programs and infrastructure projects.  

Shoalhaven City Council’s Mayor Amanda Findley said she was delighted to hear the announcement.  

“I’m thrilled Shoalhaven Water has been recognised for the Stage 1B works of the Reclaimed Water Management Scheme which is one of the largest reclaimed water management schemes in Australia”, Clr Findley said.   

“Shoalhaven Water have recently completed major upgrades to our Nowra and Bomaderry sewage treatments plants, which has doubled the reclaimed water available to end users to approximately 12 million litres per day. This reclaimed water would otherwise be discharged to our local rivers and to the ocean.”  

“Our local dairy farming industry has been the greatest beneficiary of the scheme with the majority of the reclaimed water from six of our sewage treatment plants being beneficially re-used to irrigate dairy pasture. The reclaimed water is also used to keep our local sporting fields and golf courses healthy.” 

The 1B project included the construction of a network of reclaimed water transfer pipelines, including a transfer pipeline under the Shoalhaven River which allows high quality reclaimed water to be connected from Bomaderry and Nowra treatment plants to the existing REMS distribution network.  

“The REMS has been operating successfully for 18 years, providing about 6 million litres of high quality reclaimed water every day to the reuse scheme, from sewage treatment plants in St Georges Basin, Huskisson, Callala and Culburra, prior to the completion of Nowra and Bomaderry treatment plants,” Clr Findley said. 

“The Water Awards are the final awards to be announced in 2020 and Shoalhaven City Council has had a strong year of recognition from peer and industry groups.  

“I am immensely proud of the women and men of Shoalhaven City Council who in a year of drought, fire, flood and virus, have not only managed to do the day to day business of Council under challenging conditions, but have risen to the many challenges with such grace, dignity and good ideas. The accolades Council have received are well deserved acknowledgement of the tremendous work the organisation undertakes,” said Clr Findley. 

The NSW Water Awards will be presented at the end of February 2021. 

Bomaderry Bioreactor Tank.