Shoalhaven Development Industry Reference Group

Background

• A report to the Senior Staff Contractual Meeting (December 2022) discussed the need to review development assessment timeframes and emphasized the importance of positive engagement with the development industry. 

• Proposed to create the Shoalhaven Development Industry Reference Group (SDIRG) to meet biannually, involving various stakeholders to improve development processes.

• The Group has no formal delegation from Council to undertake or enact decisions.

• First SDIRG meeting was held on 5 July 2023, with industry representatives and Council staff discussing streamlining processes, addressing issues, and improving application quality.

Objectives of SDIRG 

• The SDIRG is in place to enable two-way communication between industry representatives and council, facilitating and enabling discussions to assist in development process that will contribute to the future shape of our region. The Group provides non-binding advice to Council for consideration in its role as a statutory approval authority. Council provides non-binding advice to representatives for consideration in facilitating development in line with our Vision, Key Priorities, and this Terms of Reference.

• The Group will develop an evidence-based approach to facilitating strong development outcomes to nurture growth in a manner that defines the Shoalhaven, informed by strategic discussion on the pressures of growth, the delivery of built outcomes and the enhancement of our natural endowments.

Over the longer-term, the Group will provide Council with a formal platform to more broadly inform industry of changes, shifts, trends and impacts being (or likely to be) experienced in the planning and development.

Membership of SDIRG in accordance with the current Terms of Reference (ToR)

• Membership of the Group may be amended at the discretion of the Chair.  Membership of the Group includes:

Council staff

• Director, City Development (Chair)
• Chief Executive Officer (as available)
• Director, City Futures (or delegate)*
• Manager, Development Services
• Manager, Compliance and Certification
• Executive Principal, Development Projects*

* Positions subsequently disestablished through Council's restructure, Dec 2024.

Industry representatives

• High volume application Planning Consultants (x2) - Allen Price/Cowman Stoddart; SET Consultants
• Shoalhaven based Engineering Consultant (x1) - MI Engineering
• Shoalhaven based Environmental Consultant (x1) Harris Environmental 
• Shoalhaven based Private Certifiers (x2) AIS Certifiers; AMG Building Consultant
• Shoalhaven based Builders (x2) & Developers undertaking projects within the Shoalhaven at a: low density residential (x1), medium density residential (x1); and, commercial (x1) scale.
• • Hotondo Homes
  • Clarendon Homes
  • Jervis Bay Town Planning
  • GJ Gardener
  • Sealark Pty Ltd
• Urban Development Industry Association (UDIA) (x1) UDIA representative
• Property Council of Australia (PCA) (x1) PCA representative
• Housing Institute of Australia (HIA) (x1) No current representative
• Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW) (x1) No current representative