Mayor's message

In my last message for 2025, I’d like to thank everyone for their incredible support this past year. It’s certainly spurred me on to make meaningful change for the community.

The limp to the end of the year is a cliche but true for so many of us who have had a busy year. If you’re like me, your mind is also racing with thoughts of gift-giving, family meals, visitors, or tying up loose ends at work so you can enjoy your break. That’s indeed if you’re getting a break. Hats off to our emergency and front-line workers, as well as our tradies, retail, hospitality and all our local workers who make sure things keep ticking when most of us are on holiday.

We’ve got some great school holiday activities over summer including dive-in movies at Nowra Aquatic Centre, and the inflatable pool slide and obstacle course at the Sussex Inlet pool. The Shoalhaven Regional Art Gallery has a variety of arts and craft workshops, while the Ulladulla, Sanctuary Point and Nowra libraries always have a plethora of activities. From painting to robot coding!

If you’re heading to one of our glorious beaches over the break, I do implore you to take the family to patrolled beaches and swim between the red and yellow flags. From Monday 22 December to 26 January, the following beaches will have daily patrols.

• North Mollymook
• South Mollymook (daily patrols have already begun)
• Crookhaven
• Tilbury Cove
• Warrain
• Cudmirrah
• Narrawallee
• Shoalhaven Heads - Seven Mile Beach

A reminder that our Council offices will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period from 2pm Wednesday 24 December and reopening on Monday 5 January 2026. While I hope you have no urgent requests over the break, you can still call the after-hours helpline on 1300 293 111 for critical matters. Triple Zero is of course the best number to call in an emergency.

I'd like to thank Councillors and Council staff for all their hard work this year. It hasn’t been the easiest of years with plenty of challenges and change, but everyone has done a brilliant job to keep a smile on their face and to continue to deliver for the community.

Finally, I hope you and your loved ones have a joyful Christmas. Stay safe, wear a hat and enjoy the festivities. I look forward to achieving great things together next year.

Mayor,

Patricia White

A warm welcome to our newest Councillor, Brett Steele, who joins Council after this week’s countback election. I know that Brett is passionate about his local community and will positively contribute to the work we do as Councillors.

The upcoming holiday season can be an expensive time of year, so it’s great to know there’s plenty of free and affordable ways for families to celebrate the festive season. This weekend I know of two Community Christmas Carol concerts being held in the north and south of the Shoalhaven.

• Saturday 13 December sees Business Milton Ulladulla (BMU) host carols at the Ulladulla Civic Centre from 6pm – 8.30pm. The evening will be topped off by the official lighting of the Harbour Christmas Tree.
• Sunday 14 December at 6pm sees the Bomaderry Nowra Lions Club host carols in the park (Harry Sawkins Park) from 6pm – 9pm. The evening finishes with fireworks!

Families looking for free things to do over summer can also head to Council’s Facebook page where we’ve been featuring free walks, playgrounds and activities that are free and in our backyard.

To a less fun but very important topic, Shoalhaven is ranked number one in the state for illegal dumping cases. The majority of people in our community do the right thing, but there are people trashing our environment and causing damage to our beautiful bushland. We’re about to ramp up a campaign to help put a stop to this behaviour, but I do ask that if you see illegal dumping, please report it straight away to the EPA. They have a simple online form you can find here. It’s also a reminder that Council will move to weekly recycling from 22 December, so please take advantage of this service throughout January.

To current engagements, we’re seeking feedback on a proposed community garden at the Milton Showgrounds. In addition to the garden, the proposal includes using the land for workshops, community activities, plant propagation, and creating a family-friendly space. There is also potential for future fruit and vegetable sales. The proposal had been submitted by a local not-for-profit organisation who are seeking a licence agreement to use the land so head to Council's Get Involved page  and have your say by 31 January 2026.

An engagement starting in February next year is the opportunity for the community to provide feedback on a new review of environmental factors (REF) to the current dog access arrangements at Narrawallee Beach. Council has appointed engagement specialists, Becscomm to lead the community engagement program and environmental specialists, Biosis to prepare the new REF.  Project information is now live and we’ll be holding community sessions in February and March so locals can have their say. Stay tuned for more information closer to the date.

A more looming deadline is the cut off for Community-Led Projects for 2025. Community groups who are wanting to deliver projects on Council managed land need to get their submissions in by Sunday 21 December before the portal closes for six months. The portal will then move to a quarterly submission cycle. For more information and key dates, head to our webpage.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has donated to the Mayor’s Giving Box, so far. Each year we collect unwrapped presents to be delivered to families experiencing hardship at Christmas. You can still donate until 24 December at any of the collection points, and you can also donate online at the Give Now fundraising page.

Enjoy your weekend. 

Mayor,

Patricia White

Temperatures have soared this week and we’re heading into a scorcher on Saturday. NSW Ambulance recommends you stay indoors during a heatwave and use fans or air-conditioning, if possible. It’s also important to check on others, particularly elderly relatives or neighbours who might need extra help. Please take care with your families if you’re venturing out for a swim, find shady areas and remain hydrated. You can find more tips to stay cool here.  

Speaking of swimming, all our village pools have now re-opened, and daily summer patrols have commenced at Mollymook Beach. The patrol season will start at some of our other beaches from 22 December. Head to Council’s website to find a patrolled beach near you.

Back on dry land, the team at Shoalhaven Water has been busily working on the largest project its undertaken. Crews are investigating possible routes to carry water from Bamerang Dam to our Milton Water Treatment Plant or Milton Reservoir. It’s a $190 million project that will cater for growth in the southern part of our region. I received an update on the project this week. Watch the video to learn more.

Christmas holidays are quickly approaching, and we know it can be hard to come up with fun and free things to do with the family. That’s why we’re going to do the leg work for you. Give our Facebook or Instagram page a follow as we'll be sharing our ideas of great local adventures in daily posts throughout December.

I’m delighted to let you know that the Comerong Island Ferry is back in action after undergoing routine inspection and maintenance. I’d like to thank residents of the island for their patience while this important work was completed. Visit our website to view the Ferry’s operating hours.

This week we marked International Day of People with Disability, recognising the incredible achievements of people with disability in our community. We’re currently updating our Disability Inclusion Action Plan and there’s still a couple of days left to have your say about how we can improve accessibility and inclusion in the Shoalhaven. Head to our Get Involved website to complete the survey before Sunday 7 December.

I’d like to also remind you that the Mayor’s Giving Box appeal is accepting donations until 24 December. Each year we collect unwrapped presents to be delivered to families experiencing hardship at Christmas. We have several collection points, and you can also donate online at the Give Now fundraising page.

Speaking of donations, I’d like to give a shoutout to Council staff this week who donated an actual trailer load full of non-perishable foods, sanitary items and gifts to the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub to help make hampers for Christmas. The support for the cause was overwhelming and once again, highlights the generosity and community spirit of staff.

Enjoy your weekend.

Mayor,

Patricia White

Patricia White

Let me start this week by acknowledging the incredible work of firefighters who responded swiftly to our first significant fire of the season in the Sanctuary Point area on Sunday. It was a nervous day for many residents, and I’d like to applaud you all for heeding the advice of our emergency services personnel as the situation quickly escalated. While there was no damage to homes in the area, it again reminds us of the need to be prepared for bushfires. There are some handy tips on the Rural Fire Service website.  

It’s hard to believe Christmas is now less than five weeks away. While it is a special time for many in the community it can also be a challenging for others, particularly financially. That’s why I’ll be launching the Mayor’s Giving Box this weekend to help spread joy this festive season. All donations will be provided to local charities and preschools to distribute to local families who may be doing it tough. If you can, I’d really like to encourage you to donate to the appeal this year. Your kindness will bring hope and joy to those who need it most. You can donate an unwrapped gift at the below locations or donate online via the Give Now fundraising platform.

For community members who may be experiencing hardship beyond the demands of Christmas, we will have our Thrive Together Pop-up in Ulladulla next week. The free event provides a safe and welcoming environment for residents in the southern Shoalhaven to connect with welfare and support services. You can find more details here.  

This week the NSW Government released the details of its Nowra City Centre Strategic Roadmap and placed two important rezoning proposals within the Nowra Riverfront Precinct on public exhibition for community feedback. The roadmap sets out a blueprint for long-term growth in the city’s CBD while the rezoning proposals along the riverfront have the potential to unlock more than 900 new homes, including renewed social and affordable housing. Please have your say on these important proposals before 17 December. A drop-in information session will also be held on Thursday 27 November. You can register here to attend the free event.  

I’m looking forward to attending the Local Government NSW conference in Penrith early next week. I’ll be taking the opportunity to again raise my concerns about cost shifting and call for more state and federal assistance to help Council’s like ours pay for infrastructure and asset renewal, including more funding to help fix our roads. We’ll also be lobbying for better rail infrastructure in the regions. Watch this space.  

Please be reminded to check the Mayor’s Open Office page for upcoming opportunities to meet with me in-person to discuss the issues that matter to you most. 

Finally, I’d like to extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends of William Earnest Welch following his passing this week. Better known as ‘Pat’, William was a long serving radio watchkeeper with Marine Rescue Shoalhaven, as well as an accomplished photographer and author. He will be dearly missed.  

Mayor, 

Patricia White.  

Everyone does their best when it comes to recycling, but let’s face it, it can be confusing at times. Even the humble paper takeaway coffee cup can have us second guessing, with the invisible plastic lining making us think it can be recycled when it actually has to go in the red lid bin. For National Recycling Week, I went and asked one of our senior managers at the West Nowra Recycling and Waste Depot, Peter Windley about which bin some of those tricky items should go into. You can watch the quick video here.

While I was there, Peter took me on a tour of our new recycling plant which is under construction and due to be finished early next year. The Materials Recovery Facility (known as the MRF) will take the comingled items from our yellow-lidded bins and sort them to be processed to make new products. The good news is we have capacity to process 25,000 tonnes per year, with plenty of scope to take mixed recyclable materials from neighbouring councils to raise revenue. 

Following the adoption of the new Lake Conjola Entrance Management Policy (EMP) at Tuesday’s Ordinary Meeting, we’ll now apply to NSW Crown Lands to obtain a new license to undertake these measures and best manage any potential entrance openings that could be required if the entrance were to close again. Read more here. 

As always, we’re seeking your feedback on a couple of important projects. Here’s some links for you to learn more and have your say:

• Draft Code of Meeting Practice/ Draft Public Forum Policy
• Disability Inclusion Action Plan – have your say

My next Open Office session is on Friday 21 November, 10:30am until 2:30pm, at the Nowra Administration Building. Come along, have a chat and raise any issues you’re concerned about.

I know that an important issue for Milton locals was the protection of trees at the site of IRT’s senior living community on the highway. Following community feedback, IRT has now refined its plans to further protect and celebrate the mature trees, including an expanded tree protection zone for the significant small-leafed fig.

Vale one of the world's greatest ever polo players who we’re proud to call our own, Sinclair Hill AM OBE. Sinclair represented Australia and the Commonwealth many times all over the world and played a critical role in polo for the best part of 70 years. He even coached King Charles when he was a young Prince. A Meroo Meadow local, he will be sadly missed by the Shoalhaven community.

And finally, I attended the Remembrance Day commemoration at the Sussex Inlet RSL on Tuesday. It was a wonderful event and a sobering reminder of the sacrifices made by service men and women who died or suffered in wars, conflicts, and peace operations. Lest We Forget.

Mayor,  

Patricia White 

I headed over to The Wool Road in Old Erowal Bay on Wednesday to get an update from the Manager Project Delivery, Beorn Hulme on how the rehab works are progressing. With several weeks of fine weather, the crews have been able to install two segments of reinforced concrete box culverts, with work on the remaining section of road under way. I’d like to thank the local community for their patience, putting up with a single-lane at this section. The good news is that it won’t be for much longer, with works due to be wrapped up by mid-December. 

Burrill Lake locals would have seen the heavy machinery in the lake this week. We’re doing beach scraping which involves mechanically moving sand from the lower part of the beach to the upper part to rebuild the foreshore. Next week, we’ll follow up with revegetation and fencing works to help protect the foreshore from storms and high tides. In relation to Lake Conjola, I continue to talk with the local community about dredging and ways we can put flood-mitigation measures in place. In particular, we’re keen to get clarity from the NSW Government about funding and the necessary approvals we need for dredging the ebb tide channel, and we’ll keep advocating to the relevant ministers.  

Good news for people who aren’t great at paperwork - we’ve extended the deadline on nominations for the Shoalhaven Australia Day Awards. We all know someone special who has gone above and beyond this year and here's your chance to honour a friend, family member, colleague, teammate or fellow volunteer who deserves to be recognised. You now have until 23 November to nominate and go in the draw to win a $500 Holiday Haven voucher. Head to our website for all the details.   

Speaking of celebrating our wonderful community members, I had the pleasure of attending the Sashes and Saddles event last Saturday. It was a celebration of the 2026 Nowra Show Young Woman Program and the great work these women do to give back to our community. Congratulations to Paige Clark on being named the 2026 Nowra Show Young Woman. And on Sunday, I got along to the kayak ramp launch where the community celebrated the new kayak launching facility on Short Street at Lake Tabourie. It was great to see the locals paddling up to the bridge and back and following up with a lovely BBQ.  

For all our ‘boaty’ friends, expired marine flare collections start this weekend. Most marine flares have a use-by date of three years and they must be replaced before the expiry date. They can only be disposed of safely at Marine Flare Disposal collection points and never in your kerbside bins. The full list of locations and times are here, starting with the Ulladulla Harbour boat ramp on Saturday 8 November from 4pm until 5.30pm. 

While you’re putting dates in the calendar, I'm excited to announce that I’ll be launching the Mayor’s Giving Box on Saturday 22 November at Nowra Centre Plaza. For more than 20 years, the annual campaign has been donating presents and funds to local charities and preschools to make sure no one misses out at this special time. I’ll have more details on how and where people can donate closer to the date. 

As always, we’re seeking your feedback on a couple of important projects. Here’s some links for you to learn more and have your say: 

My next Open Office session is on Friday 21 November, 10:30am until 2:30pm, at the Nowra Administration Building. Come along, have a chat and raise any issues you’re concerned about. 

Have a great weekend. 

Mayor,  

Patricia White 

This week, we began community consultation on our Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). The DIAP is a four-year strategic plan that outlines Council’s commitments and priorities to overcome barriers and improve accessibility for people living with disability, their families and carers in the Shoalhaven. It's crucial people with lived experience contribute to the plan to ensure it reflects the services and infrastructure needed to live well in the Shoalhaven. I’m really passionate about this strategy so please head to our Get Involved page for the opportunity to provide your feedback.  

On Thursday I attended the Shoalhaven Art Gallery to officially launch HOME program with five local public schools; Falls Creek, Greenwell Point, Nowra, Sanctuary Point and Tomerong. This is a special exhibition showcasing student’s artworks which were inspired by the HOME workshops, and the artwork and cultural knowledge of Aunty Deirdre Martin and Aunty Cheryl Davison. I would also like to acknowledge the NSW Department of Education’s Arts Unit and the Art Gallery of NSW, teachers from the schools and Gallery Staff. The exhibition is on for the next two weeks, and I urge all residents and community members to go along to the Gallery, it is an exhibition that should not be missed.  

I'm pictured below with Lisa van den Dodler, Gallery NSW, artist Brayden, and Hannah Debus, Gallery NSW.

I’d also love your feedback on Council’s new Model Code of Meeting Practice which will come into effect from 1 January 2026. One of the proposed changes includes the introduction of a live-streamed public forum event before each meeting, so I’m keen for you to look at the changes and tell us if it gives residents a strong voice in local matters. The draft code is on exhibition from 31 October until 12 December 2025 and you can find it here.

In exciting news, soft plastics can now be dropped off at selected recycling and waste depots, diverting it from landfill and turning it into a clean, efficient fuel source. The plastic 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. You can take your clean, soft plastic to West Nowra, Husky, Ulladulla, Berry, Callala and Sussex Inlet depots.  

Have you ever taught someone to drive? I've got to say, it’s not something you forget in a hurry. We have a free online workshop to give you practical advice on supervising learner drivers on 12 November (I wish this had been around when I was teaching my kids). Book your spot and help learners become safer drivers. Sign up here. 

Don’t forget to head over to our Get Involved website to see the latest projects we have on exhibition. We’re currently seeking your thoughts on the Economic Development and Tourism Strategy 2035 and Broughton Creek Flood Study  

There’s only one week left to nominate someone great for a Shoalhaven Australia Day Award. We all know someone special who has gone above and beyond this year and here's your chance to honour a friend, family member, colleague, teammate or fellow volunteer who deserves to be recognised and celebrated. Head to our website for all the details.  

And finally, on Monday I will be attending a Local Government NSW forum on key changes to NSW employment laws. They’ll be discussing the most significant workplace and industrial relations reforms in 30 years, and I’m keen to better understand the practical impact of new laws on councils and how to ensure we are compliant and safe. 

Have a great weekend.  

Mayor,  

Patricia White 

It’s been a busy week for our emergency services personnel with soaring temperatures, strong winds and thunderstorms, and an extreme fire danger rating declared on Wednesday. I’d like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service in keeping our community safe during these challenging weather events. While there were no significant incidents or damage, it’s been an important reminder for all of us to prepare our homes and properties ahead of Summer. You can find some great tips on the NSW RFS website.    

We’ll begin community consultation from Monday to update our Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). The DIAP is a four-year strategic plan that outlines Council’s commitments and priorities to overcome barriers and improve accessibility for people living with disability, their families and carers in the Shoalhaven. Keep an eye on our Get Involved web page for the opportunity to provide your feedback.  

I’d also like to take a moment this week to say a massive ‘thank you’ to Manildra Group who provided a $10,000 community grant to support the Mayor’s Christmas Giving Appeal for 2025 and 2026. For more than 20 years, the annual campaign has been donating presents and funds to local charities and preschools to make sure no one misses out at this special time. It was great to go out to Shoalhaven Starches with CEO, Andrew Constance and Salt Ministries’ Peter Dover to meet with the Shoalhaven Starches Site Manager, Tertius Jones to receive the community grant.   

Finally, I encourage you to head over to our Get Involved website to view the latest projects we have on exhibition. We’re currently seeking your thoughts and feedback on the following document. 

Mayor,  

Patricia White  

It’s impossible to live in the Shoalhaven and not appreciate our abundant birdlife. My backyard is full of birds, and while I can’t identify them all, I'll certainly be taking part in the Aussie Bird Count which starts on Monday. From complete beginners to certified birds-nerds, the Aussie Bird Count app can help you identify birds based on their size, colour and features. Head to the BirdLife Australia website and help take a national snapshot of the birds in our backyards all next week. 

Council is seeking passionate young people who are interested in driving change and being a voice for youth in the city to apply to join our Youth Advisory Committee. Congratulations to the wonderful Chloe Turner on her appointment to the committee, but we still need two more residents aged 12 to 25 years to represent the views of our local youth. Visit our Youth Advisory Committee web page for more information. 

Last Saturday, our new CEO, Andrew Constance and I headed down to the South Street car park in Ulladulla to launch the two EV charging stations. They are the first of its generation 300kW Evie ultra-fast charger, capable of charging an EV in around 15 minutes. It was great to see these chargers in action, and know that they will help to boost tourism and support diversity of vehicle options in our region.  

On Saturday afternoon I then had the pleasure of attending Australian Volleyball Super League matches between the NSW Phoenix and the Adelaide Storm at the Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Complex in Bomaderry. Women's and men's matches were played, with the women's game featuring Shoalhaven locals Lacey Bruce and Mireille Smith in the NSW Phoenix team. Congratulations to both the Phoenix Women who won 3-2 and the men’s team who won 5-0.  

Our staff dress-up comp as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month shone the light on the importance of regular self-checks and breast screening. There were lots of pink tutus, pink cupcakes, bucket hats (to match my pink top) and fundraising as our people got behind this important cause. Head to BreastScreen NSW for more info and to book an appointment.

Residents in the township of Berry and its surrounds are invited to view a recent flood study of the area to learn more about their flood risk and inform how it will be managed in the future. View the Broughton Creek Flood Study and to complete the survey, head to Council’s Broughton Creek Flood Study Get Involved webpage.   

We covered a lot of issues at Tuesday night’s Council meeting and if you’re curious about topics such as the voluntary house raising scheme at Lake Conjola or our upcoming Waste Strategy, you’ll find more information on Council’s Latest News section. Always worth a look to see what’s happening across our busy organisation. 

Have a great weekend. 

Mayor,

Patricia White