The Shoalhaven region provides an awesome backdrop to stage a broad-spectrum of events. Located on the beautiful NSW south coast we are bordered by mountains, coastal plains and 100 magnificent beaches with 49 towns and villages.
We are the number one destination for overnight visitation in New South Wales outside of Sydney.
Travelling to this beautiful coastal destination is easy from:
- Sydney - a two hour drive south of 160 kilometres
- Canberra - a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of around 200 kilometres
- Wollongong - just over a one hour drive south of 78 kilometres
Our proximity to these huge domestic markets makes the Shoalhaven a popular event destination.
Our dedicated Events Team works closely with organisers to make sure events are safe and successful, and run smoothly across all our superb venues and facilities in the Shoalhaven.
Please note: Event applications must be returned to events@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au 90 days in advance of your event.
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We are here to help you stage a great event.
Our Events Team supports event organisers, including:
- corporate groups
- community groups
- sport and recreation groups
- individuals
We offer information, advice and access to a range of resources and services, including:
- information on how to book a venue, park or reserve
- event guidance to host your own activities, including assistance with temporary road closures, council approvals, risk plans, food safety and waste management
- introductions to local agencies and community organisations
- the tourism event support program
- free event listing on the Shoalhaven Tourism events page (conditions apply)
Our Events Team can also provide helpful information and assistance ahead of your event including:
- event planning
- booking venues, sports grounds and facilities
- how to promote your event
- how to gain sponsorship
- how to conduct post-event evaluation
- risk management
- crowd management
- traffic management
- food and alcohol requirements
- fundraising
- use of fireworks
- noise control
- other regulations and requirements
If you would like to discuss how we can support your event in more detail, please reach out to our Events team at events@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au.
An event may require a development application (DA) to be submitted and approved by Council.
If you are running a new event or your event is on private land, we suggest you contact Council's Duty Planner to see if a DA is required.
Your event may require several sections of Council, and external bodies to be involved in the approval process, so the DA must be prepared well ahead of time.
Please allow a minimum of three (3) months for Council approval, it is recommend to discuss your event with Council six (6) to twelve (12) months out from your event date.
For more details, please contact our Development Services Team.
If you would like to hold an event in the Shoalhaven, please complete an event application form and email it to our Events Team (events@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au).
Your completed event application form gives us the initial information we need to get the process started for you, for example, we forward relevant details to appropriate sections of Council for assessment.
The event organiser will be required to submit a NSW Police Notice and Request for Services form to the police. The event organiser can access the form via the Events Team (events@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au).
All traffic documents will also need to be submitted to police (scpderecords@police.nsw.gov.au) by the event organiser.
Any council approval is subject to police approval and will be made void if police issue an objection, or their conditions are not met.
Depending on your event and what it involves, you may need additional approvals from us or other authorities.
Traffic management approvals
For all road closures, traffic stoppages or changed traffic conditions, Shoalhaven City Council will require you to submit traffic management plans showing how you intend to manage this part of your event.
Your traffic plans must include:
- locations of road closures
- timings of road closures and re-openings
- how you will manage the road closures and openings
- impact on public transport operators and routes.
When submitting your traffic management plan, you will also be required to submit your event site plan, risk management plan, Certificate of Currency and appropriate traffic guidance schemes (traffic control plans).
Class 1 and 2 events will be referred to the Local Traffic Committee for assessment, which comprises representatives from Shoalhaven City Council, NSW Police, RMS, a local councillor and the local state member of Parliament.
Please ensure your traffic management plans are sent to council 90 days prior to your event to allow for meeting schedules of the committee, as well as the notification period for NSW Police.
All event organisers must refer to the Guide to Traffic and Transport Management for Special Events when considering traffic impacts. Created by the NSW Police, local government and Roads and Maritime Services, the guide points out statutory requirements where they exist and makes best-practice recommendations where they do not.
How to submit your traffic plans
Traffic management plans need to be submitted via a Section 138 (S138) application, this is required for events or works in the road reserve. A how-to guide has been listed in the related documents below to assist you in submitting your application.
Please submit the application and the following supporting documentation through the through the NSW Planning Portal:
- section 138 application
- $20 million public liability insurance
- traffic management plan
- traffic guidance schemes (traffic control plans) - prepared by a person holding the appropriate RMS accreditation
- event site plan
When entering the address, please use Lot/DP number. You must check the ‘and adjacent to selected lot’, ‘Lot/Section/Plan’ and ‘Primary address?’ buttons.
Please note: All event plans including traffic management documents also need to be submitted to the Events Team (events@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au).
Mobile and temporary food stalls
Please note: The event organiser must ensure that the below information is submitted to the Environmental Services Team at least ten (10) working days prior to the event to enable sufficient time for assessment and administrative processing.
The event organiser must ensure that all mobile food or temporary food operators have obtained a Section 68 approval under the Local Government Act (1993) to operate in the Shoalhaven City Council Local Government Area.
To assist organisers with this, a blanket application where all food operators are captured under the one (1) Section 68 approval can be submitted.
Refer to the example excel spreadsheet (below) outlining the required information to be included as an attachment in the submission:
Lodge your submission through the NSW Planning Portal
Lodge online via NSW Planning Portal
Amusement devices (amusement rides)
Please note: The event organiser must ensure that the below information is submitted via the NSW Planning Portal to the Compliance Team at least ten (10) working days prior to the event to enable sufficient time for assessment and administrative processing.
The event organiser must obtain a Section 68 (part F) approval under the Local Government Act (1993) to operate amusement rides as part of an event in the Shoalhaven City Council Local Government Area.
The event organiser can submit one submission per event, which includes the Certificate of Registration and Public Liability Certificate of Currency per ride/amusement device.
Amusement devices that are not required to be registered under the Work, Health and Safety Regulation 2017 are not required to be included in this application.
Lodge your submission through the NSW Planning Portal
Lodge online via NSW Planning Portal
Fireworks
SafeWork NSW must approve fireworks events. For more information on how to gain approval, visit SafeWork NSW's page on Fireworks.
An event application or park booking will likely be required as part of your approval process from Council, please ensure you contact our events team (events@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au) to discuss your firework display.
Council encourages the consideration and implementation of sustainability measures that can reduce the environmental impact of your event.
Council has prepared a Sustainable Events Guide to assist you with this process. When holding even event on Council owned or managed land please prepare and attach a Sustainable Event Management Plan for your event.
Further information (including a template for a Sustainable Event Management Plan) is included in the Event Policy.
Consideration must be given to disability inclusion and accessibility, as per the NSW Family & Community Services Disability Inclusion Plan 2015.
In the case of a community event, a guest with accessibility needs (an 'accessibility guest') includes:
- a person with mobility needs (someone who uses a wheelchair or mobility aid)
- a person with sensory considerations (people affected by migraines, autistic people, etc.)
- older people
- a person with a temporary injury or illness
- parents with prams
To supplement the information shown on your site plan, please attach written evidence to show how you have addressed the following in the context of your event:
- various forms of accessible communication including up to date access information, signage and websites that comply with the International Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (minimum level 2.0)
- public and/or private transport options to and from your event (door to door accessibility)
- safety considerations/risk management for accessibility guests, including controlling of crowd numbers, security, evacuation procedures and guide dogs
- holistic sensory considerations (e.g. considerations for acoustics, lighting, crowd management, managing sources of strong smells, designated quiet spaces, etc.)
- staff/volunteer disability awareness training
Before you create a listing, it’s worth having a search on the Shoalhaven Tourism events page to check your event hasn’t been listed by someone else.
A listing takes about 20 minutes to create, and you will need:
- a description
- an image (not a logo or poster)
- ticketing or pricing information
- contact details
- website and social media profiles (if you have them)
You can choose one of two ways to get your event listed on our Shoalhaven Tourism website:
List your event on ATDW
The Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), also known as Get Connected, is a database we and other tourism organisations use to pull event listings from.
An ATDW listing is best if you want your event to be featured on multiple sites, for example:
ADTW listing advantages include:
- submitting your event information once for multiple website placements
- your event can be renewed and updated annually
An ATDW listing is also beneficial if your event is tourism focused and big enough to warrant a little extra time setting up the listing.
Listing your event on ATDW is free and takes around twenty minutes to create. If you are registering a new account, you will need general details of your organisation.
To create a listing, go to the ATDW website:
Add an event to ATDW
List your event with us directly
Your event must be approved by our tourism marketing team to feature on our site.
A Shoalhaven Tourism website listing is best when:
- you want your event to be listed only on our Shoalhaven Tourism website
- you prefer a slightly easier process and are not concerned it will have a smaller reach
- you are aware featured events must suit the tourism market and attract out-of-area visitors
To submit your event, go to the Shoalhaven Tourism website and complete the online form:
Add an event
For more details please contact Shoalhaven Tourism.
Shoalhaven City Council recognises the importance of events in growing the visitor economy and driving off-season visitation.
Through the tourism event support program, Council invites event organisers to apply for funding through a formal application process.
Find out more on the tourism event support program page.