Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake & Berrara Creek CMP Stage 3 - Next Steps - Shoalhaven City Council

 

Council would like to thank the CMP subscribers and the community for providing input and contributing to the preparation of the Sussex Inlet, St George Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek CMP throughout 2023 and 2024. Since the consultation held in mid-2023, the Project Team has been busy reviewing and evaluating the management actions proposed for Stage 3 using a robust, decision-making framework in line with the NSW Coastal Management Framework. Council has been discussing the proposed options with State Government Agencies and internal stakeholders to determine the feasibility and viability of the relevant actions for inclusion in the CMP, with consideration given to the amazing community ideas received throughout the CMP process. This process is nearing completion and Council is looking forward to sharing how the feedback received during the Stage 3 consultation has been considered in this process, as well as the Stage 3 Report for the CMP. Following Stage 3, the project will move to Stage 4 which involves public exhibition of the draft CMP document. Council anticipates the public exhibition to occur in the second half of 2024. If you have questions about the CMP development process, please contact the Coastal Management Unit at coastal.management@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au or by calling Council on 1300 293 111. For more information about this project, please visit the Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake & Berrara Creek CMP Get Involved webpage. For more information about CMPs in general, please visit the Shoalhaven Coastal Management Programs Get Involved webpage. Kind regards, Community Engagement Team Shoalhaven City Council

Nowra Coaches Bus Stop Information Posters That Are on Bus Stops around The Bay & Basin

We are advising of  Nowra Coaches Bus Stop Stickers that were initially placed at Paradise Beach Road  (Opposite  Sanctuary Point Public School) Bus Stop Number 2540347.

The following Bus Stops have now been included:

Bus Stop Number        Description

2540124                      Grass Tree Reserve, Island Point Road,

St Georges Basin

2540126                      Opposite Pangari Road on Tasman Road

                                    St Georges Basin    

2540130                      St Georges Basin Public School,

Basin View

2540360                   Prentice Ave & MacDonald St, Old

Erowal Bay

2540406 Vincentia Shopping Village, The Wool                                        Road

2540495 Park Drive, Opposite Stephens Road,

                     Sanctuary Point

I will be heading to Tomerong, Hyams Beach, Huskisson, Erowal Bay & Vincentia to complete this task for Nowra Coaches and mainly for the bus commuters of Bay & Basin.

Ifyou see any of these bus stops

Click here for the previous post

Click here for the previous post on Nowra Coaches Bus Stop Information Poster

The Basin Walk,needs more Promotions from Shoalhaven Tourism

 What I call 'The Basin Walk' and others call 'Basin Walking Track', is a very popular walk for locals in Sanctuary Point/ St Georges Basin villages and for tourists that come down for a walk for the first time. When you talk to people walking for the first time, you get a feeling that we are all tourism ambassadors, making sure they get as much help and information as they need. This is so they enjoy their time in the Bay & Basin area while spending here.

I personally recommend local shops, so they can spend their pocket money in the area and create a small economic increase in our local economy. They have probably discovered  Sanctuary Point Shops, yet you still point them in that direction and then to surrounding villages. Highlight areas like Booderie National Park, Huskisson and even Mount Canbewarra Lookout. If we don't do this they just drive off, no money spent.

So, what better way to promote The Basin Walk to have Shoalhaven Tourism promote it. Are they doing it, No'. Could they do it, a strong 'Yes'. So, today I wrote to Shoalhaven South Coast NSW asking if they had any flyers promoting The Basin Walk. I was advised, 'No sorry, we haven't seen any flyers for The Basin Walk'.

They responded, 'That link has a printable map, hope it helps?.

The link was for Alltrails.

In their Shoalhaven 'Our Favourite Walk' information Book* The  Basin Walk is not mentioned or highlighted as a walk. Their website: Click here, when searching for The Basin Walk, cannot be found. It is not even on their map. So we need to ask for information flyers or be included in the Shoalhaven Our Favourite Walk information Book or separate flyrers, which I will lobby for.

click here for details from Alltrails

'Alltrails' shows a map they call, 'Basin and Sanctuary Point Foreshaw Walk'  and claim it is a 10.6 km walk taking 2 hours 17 minutes to complete. Although it says great for hiking, mountain biking and running. Well. for me 2 out 3 ain't bad: walking/hiking and running is fine but mountain biking - the pathy width doesn't suit it some sections, with people walking and running continuously. They mention that you may not even encounter many people on the walk, I tend to differ. I meet a lot: even walking with their dogs.

Amazing how they suggest the best time to visit is December to February. I would all year is a good time to come down and walk The Basin Walk. This tends to steer people away from the area outside of those times.

Another link that I located Pacer Click here, shows only one part of The Basin Walk named 'Sanctuary Point Bay & Basin' at 2.1 km from Palm Beach to approximately 1/3 of the way to Paradise Beach and another called 'St George's  Walk' at 2.6 km's with no map.

South Coast Nature Map Click here shows the map of The Basin Walk, along the shores but is not connected it to the Bherwerre  Wetland Boardwalk, which Google Maps in some way.

Jervis  Bay Wild Click here to name it 'Basin Foreshaw Walk' explains it is a 2.6km walk from Palm Beach to Paradise Beach taking 40 minutes to one hour as part of the '6 Great Walks Near Jervis Bay' promotion.

* provided by Jervis Bay Tourist Information, Sanctuary Point at 'Between The Flags'.

Bay & Basin Buses Quick Trip 5 - (102 Scenic) St Georges Basin Village to Sanctuary Point Village

 

So, have we got you interested in catching any local buses around the Bay & Basin area or even the Shoalhaven area?

Is there a slight chance you could be motivated to hop on any one of our bus services and use it towards your advantage

Or could you ask someone else to catch our Bay & Basin Buses with you, so you can both compare and enjoy the rides.

It is really a positive psychological mindset change required, to leave your expensive car at home and use the public transport buses to your advantage.

This video here is the Quick Trip number 5 - St Georges Basin Village to Sanctuary Point Village - This is really a rather short trip and is quite easily done using the timetables provided.

We seem to have the luxury of cars to take us around for the majority of our community, yet I feel if people would try our buses, they would understand we have reasonable fares of public transport to help us get to places.

So, please spend quality time watching the full video, so you see how easy it is to use our local buses. All feedback will be appreciated

*102 Scenic Bus from Nowra Coaches is my description of this bus service, signifying it is a slower bus service from Basin View to the Nowra/Bomaderry, compared to the 102X (Express from St Georges basin to Woollamia and the same as the 102 Nowra Coaches from Wollamia to Nowra/Bomaderry).

If you missed the first two videos click on the link for Quick 4 and you will be able to check them.

Click here for Quick Trip 5 St Georges Basin Village to Sanctuary Poin

Click here for Bay & Basin Buses Video 4

Click here for Nowra Coaches Timetables

Bay & Basin Buses - Quik Trip 3 - St George Basin to Basin View

If you have watched the first two videos of The Bay & Basin Buses, here is the third one. This trip is from St Georges Basin to Basin View using the *102 Scenic Bus from Nowra Coaches, which is here for you to see. 

which I also These trips are one-way journeys, so you must imagine the return journeys as the reverse of that trip you are watching. 

Remember these trips encourage you as a community to catch local buses to get to important local areas, for yourself.

General feedback on the last video has questioned when the Bus Service video will be shown going through Tomerong, here. My answer is 'shortly'. This has raised some issues for Tomerong commuters catching buses. Those issues have been referred to Shoal Bus and that person has been advised to provide feedback to them as well. Any resolution here, I will let you know here.

All bus drivers have provided their approval to film these trips, to help people in our community understand where our buses can take you. 

Click here for the Quick Trip 3 video - St Georges Basin to Basin View  

Click here for Quick Trip 2 video - HomeCo Vincentia to Huskisson

*102 Scenic Bus from Nowra Coaches is my description of this bus service, signifying it is a slower bus service from Basin View to the Nowra/Bomaderry, compared to the 102X (Express from St Georges basin to Woollamia and the same as the 102 Nowra Coaches from Wollamia to Nowra/Bomaderry).

If you missed the first two videos click on the link for Quick 2 and you will be able to check them.

Click here for Nowra Coaches Timetables

A Community Quick Guide to Local Buses in The Sanctuary Point & St Georges Basin Villages -

I have been working on a local bus project with Bruce Goldsmith from the Sanctuary Point & St Georges Basin Community Champions Inc.

The results are a quick, easy and simple guide of timetables to the bus commuters of Sanctuary Point & St Georges Basin, 7 days per week. The beauty of this is it is looking at it from a microscopic view of catching buses between 2 villages. This could be the format used with timetables, in the future, to help all bus commuters understand how to catch their buses.

At the end of the day, it should make new bus commuters understand how easy it is to catch the buses, within these villages and beyond you may refer to the Nowra Coaches Tomles tables for 102/102X buses.

Click here for the Quick Guide

 Editors Notes:

Well, if the shortfall is $25M to $35M, rather then cut staff, cut off some projects that haven't been started yet and are not essential and only work on them when the funds are available. cut

Bus Local - Shop Local - Get Local - Bay & Basin Bus Services Are Very Good For Travelling Locally - Travel Within Minutes

I have recently been involved with 'Community Champions as part of their Community LED Village Plan (CLVP) - I am hoping to provide my experience with public transport issues with bus services 102 (I call it the 'Scenic Drive') and 102X (The Express) around the area, to help the group construct a map of our local services and get community feedback on Local bus services.

I have therefore conducted my own personal case studies, to assist to promote more people catching buses around the area. I actually enjoy our bus trips around the area. And I also hope you do if and when you catch them!

I have only caught half a dozen bus services or so to and from Nowra/Bomaderry, since living here, I have arrived at some conclusions on what needs to be done. Yes, both bus services take you to Nowra and to beyond Bomaderry to connect to trains taking people to Sydney. 

Do we need further services? That will hopefully be judged on the real and latent demands on our community. At present, I don't see a demand or a trend to show demand for increased bus services. In saying that - maybe the services are not meeting community needs and the situation could change significantly if many more people decided to catch buses.

I thought hard, The 102 Scenic Drive and The 102 Express Service is not just a service taking commuters to Nowra and Bomaderry and from Bay & Basin only. It is an available bus service that takes people in between townships within the Bay & Basin area, as well as taking commuters along the longer route.

This is vital for people who have no access to vehicles or cannot sustain price rises or running costs of petrol price, maintenance, registration and insurance costs and not to mention other costs of living. This places pressure on our local communities on what to do and how to get to places, in a cost-effective way.

Bingo! Here come the buses.... Did you know for pensioners and Senior cardholders:

*The costs of bus trips in the area are similar to the Opal Card $2.50 for the day - great news!

*Adult travellers from Basin View travel to Nowra cost for the journey is approximately $8-9.00, return trip per day.

*From Basin View to Vincentia the return cost is around $5-$7.00. return trip per day.

*For the Adult Opal Card maximum to pay is $16.80 per day and $50.00 capped per week Click here for details

If you are looking at quick trips like Basin View View to HomeCo Vincentia - is that a fare price? - I'd say pretty reasonable but a lot of workers are casual and it might be difficult for them to pay every day. Compared to other modes of transport it is economical.

Case Study 1

I completed last week Sanctuary Point to Vincentia HomeCo. catching the Bus Service 102 (The Scenic Drive) and it was like a 10-minute service, although it was 10 minutes late. I found this bus service was quick and easy - before I knew I had reached my destination. The return trip was easier as well - if I add 3- 4 minutes for a walk home from the bus stop at SanctuaryPoint - within less than 15 minutes, I was back home.

Click here for the video waiting for the 102X Sanctuary Point

Case Study 2

Today, I trialled the Sanctuary Point to Basin View 102 (The Scenic Drive) Bus which converted to a 102X (The Express) Bus Service at Basin View. Funny enough, you catch the bus going in the same direction as heading into Nowra because it was heading into the back streets of Sanctuary Point through Kingsford-Smith Crescent, Warrego Drive, Sanctuary Point Road, Leumeah Street, Edmund Street, Frederick Street, Macleans Point Road - right through to Loralyn Avenue. Then right into Anson Street right into Island Point Road, right into Tasman Road St Georges Basin, which converts to the Wool Road, left into John Street, Basin View, Valda Avenue, Watersledge Avenue turns into Elanora Parade, Basin View Parade, Tallyan Point Road (St Georges Basin Public School). 

Roadworks in Cammeray Drive have added 8 minutes to the journey scheduled time as the bus has to drive around and follow diversion roads and return back. The same happened on the 102 Scenic Drive return trip.

On the way back it pretty much return on the reverse same route as above but we struck a few issues with the 102X (Express) Bus Service. As an Express Service - you aren't allowed to pick up in between township bus stops. Great in the City of Sydney as you have scenic buses travelling regularly to cover all bus stops. Today, one commuter was at the  St Georges Basin Shops (Bus Stop Number 2540350), That was the Proper 102X combined 102 Scenic Bus Stop.  about 50 meters down the road (No Bus stop), another commuter was waiting to be picked up. Hence, I don't think this person knew it was the Express Service. 

Really the Driver should not have picked the commuter but he did - adding time to the journey. We reached Anson Street, 2 commuters were ready to come on board, no bus stop sign, 50 Metres from bus stop 2540958 (Opposite Cammeray Street) and then another commuter was at bus stop Number 25401040 (Opposite the road). As an Express Bus Service, again commuters should be picked up at the major towns shopping hub Agaian the bus driver picked them up.

The lesson learnt here and to be provided to our community is, to think of the bigger picture, travelling around your local community could be beneficial to you and your family.

Here are some examples of the quick times from the Nowra Coaches Time Tables from using the 102 Bus Service.  The only thing I notice is the 102 Express doesn't end up at Basin View, only St Georges Basin. Using the Weekday 9.05 am from Homeco Vincentia to Basin View only Bus Service 102: 38 minutes, Weekday 102 Express 7.21 am from HomeCo Vincentia to Sanctuary Point Shops/School 7 minutes, To St Georges Basin 15 minutes, Huskisson Shops Owen Street to HomeCo Vincentia leaves 7.09 am - 12 minutes arrive.

Ok, from this small improvements need to be made:

*Permanent Bus Stop Signs with Bus Stop Numbers

*Bus Stop Signs include details of Tripview, Nowra Coaches contact phone, Transport for NSW and Which Bus Service is servicing that Bus Stop

* Review distances for bus stops in the region - Australian Standards are as follows: An ideal spacing for bus stops is approximately 400m, although a closer spacing in town centres and residential areas may be necessary to meet passenger requirements.

* Bus Contractors to factor in road works and passenger time for pick up/ drop off as this increases the journey time

* Bus Contractors to include the cost of Bus Fares on their timetables

*Bus Shelters/ Bus Stops to include Time Tables

*Clearer Express Indicators on Bus 102X

I will report back to the Community LED Village Plan Working Group, with my feedback and it is great to see they will working with all our community groups to help get the best improvements we can in public transport within the area, over time.

In the meantime, you can help me....what I need from all of you is to try to catch some buses in the area and give me your feedback. Make it a fun thing to do. Visit daily and/or friends in another town, go shopping, go to and from work, go to watch movies, go to your favourite club for entertainment and/or take your families to the beaches within our area. Tell us what you want as well. 

Click here for Anytrip free application

Nowra Coaches Bus Time Tables

Click here for the previous post

The Man Walk - St Georges Basin Walk - Facebook Page Is Up & Running

We have got The Man Walk - St Georges Basin Facebook Page up and running. So any men that are within the St Georges Basin area who would like to share it with other men, please do so and join the group.

Click here for further website details

Click here for the Facebook Page Details

Why am I supporting 'The Man Walk', it is pretty simple! From statistics, 75% of men lose their lives through suicide, which is a higher percentage than women, in Australia*. That means men need more help to deal with life. So, men need to be given more opportunities to open up and talk. Men may be afraid to open up and talk either to their partners, family, and/or friends. Men may be living more isolated than women either through homelessness or being housed. So, my role is to spread the word about this important walk for men and make it easier to walk and talk in a positive environment.

 We thank our The Man Walk - St Georges Basin Donors/Funders:

1. Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention & Awareness Network for donating funds of $250 per event to supply the coffee

 Click here for details

2. Pough and Harrow Bakery Click here for Their Facebook Page and Joe's Brekky & Brunch Cafe  & Click here for the Facebook Page for offering their services to provide coffee to the men on alternate months.

3. Sanctuary Point Community Pride Inc.Click here for the Facebook Page to auspice funds received from Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention & Awareness network

4. Anytime Fitness Gym, Vincentia  for a donation of 10 free one-month memberships to any man that attends The Man Walk - St Georges Basin

Event details: The launch of The Man Walk - St Georges Basin will be at 6am, Saturday 22nd October 2022, at Plough & Harrow Bakery and alternatively at Joe's Brekky and brunch as of Saturday,19th November 2022, same time. Free coffee will be provided at the beginning of the walk.

Click here for the previous post 

*Click here for details from Lifeline

Have your say on the Sussex Inlet, St. Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Coastal Management Program - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 8 March 2022

As part of Stage 2 studies for the Sussex Inlet, St. Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Coastal Management Programs (CMPs), Council is inviting community members to take part in the following upcoming Community Workshops and Information drop-in sessions: 

• Tuesday 15 March - Erowal Bay Public Hall, 19 King George St, Erowal Bay Community workshop 4:30-6pm (registration essential) 
• Community information drop-in session 6:30-7:30pm (registration not required) 
• Wednesday 16 March - Sussex Inlet Community Centre, 21 Thomson Street, Sussex Inlet 
• Community workshop 4:30-6pm (registration essential) 
• Community information drop-in session 6:30-7:30pm (registration not required) 

The community workshops will gather additional insights into key coastal management issues and concerns impacting these areas, including ideas and opportunities on how best to manage them.

Council encourages the community to be involved and help to shape and inform the development of these CMPs. The community will also be invited to review and comment on the draft CMPs that will be put on public exhibition following further development. 

Places are limited, if you would like to attend the Community Workshops on the 15 or 16 March 2022, please complete the online Workshop Form. Additional workshops may be scheduled if required. Please note that all are welcome at the information drop-in sessions and no registration is required.  

You can also provide insight via the Interactive Map by using the categorised marker pins to make a comment and highlight your areas of concerns specific to Coastal Management in the area. 

For more information about this project, visit the St. Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Coastal Management Program Get Involved web page. 

Click here for the previous post

Evacuation AT Sanactuary Point BY ST Geerges Basin SES

 

I reached Scepulchre Island....

Each day that I have been taking my Kayak down the Basin, I wanted to reach this island. It was a challenge to do so, within myself. It was a personal challenge. It was paddle after paddle and then 'Oh no, the weather is changing' or 'I'm too afraid to get there' in previous kayak trips.....

And so today was like discovering a piece of Australia but it was only my discovery of Scepulchre Island. This was the first time I had ever been on an island by myself and there was no one on the same land. Amazing!

Services NSW Is coming to Bay & Basin area: 30th-31st March 2021 at The Country Club St Georges Basin, Sanctuary Point

 

*

Please note concessions available from Services NSW: There are lots of money saving concessions that you may be eligible for. To find out more go to their website

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/cost-living

The website will ask 6 questions to match the concessions with your situation.

If you need assistance with digital services, their mobile van will be at the Country Club, Links Avenue, Sanctuary Point on Tuesday 30/3/21 from 10 am to 2.30 pm and on Wednesday 31/3/21 from 10 am to 2pm.

They can also help with your application for the Dine and Discover Vouchers.

Click here for Dine and Discover Vouchers details post

* This information has been supplied by a local community member

Notice of Proposed Hazard Fire Reduction - NSW Rural Fire Service St Georges Basin

 Thank you to Fran Mooney for sharing and updating our community and post details from the NSW Rural Fire Service- St Georges Basin

Crews still in the process of completing 2 burns on Island point road. Smoke will still be visible throughout the evening. Crews will continue to patrol and mop up for a few more hours

The Country Club St Georges Basin/ Vincentia Is Open....

So there are 300 patrons allowed at the St Georges Basin Country Club in Sanctuary Point and Vincentia at any time now, as the Club re-opens their doors now. This is great as the Club staff have been thoroughly cleaning the premises so that it is so spotlessly clean. Also great is that it retains the jobs that the club employs.

Just read the Clubs COVID-19 Rules here before you go in.

We seem like we are getting back into living like normal society. I remember one quote that came out of a FaceBook group that stated that eventually the COVID-19 will be treated like normal flu - in time.

When we think about it, social distancing is new but cleaning hands thoroughly is something we have all let go of, especially in public amenities. I have seen so many men rushing into a men's amenity and after they had entered they were out either without washing hands or just a quick drip of water on hands with no soap. In fact, I used to think I was alow as I went out of the men's amenity after them.