Ordinary Meeting - 22/09/2026

Topics

• Shoalhaven puts paid parking plans on hold while it tests community demand
  Council will survey the community before considering a $150,000, currently unfunded investigation into paid parking for non-residents at four popular visitor locations.
  The proposal could eventually change parking costs for visitors and affect access to Huskisson, Berry, Hyams Beach and Mollymook.
• Selena Clancy elected Shoalhaven Deputy Mayor with $10,000 allocation
  Clr Selena Clancy secured the Deputy Mayor role for 12 months, with Council allocating $10,000 from the Mayoral Additional Fee.
  The result changes Council's leadership team and includes a disclosed public allowance allocation.
• Council adopts annual graffiti performance reporting
  Shoalhaven will require annual public reporting on graffiti hotspots, spending and compliance with 48-hour and 72-hour removal targets.
  Residents will have clearer information about graffiti levels, response times and the cost of managing vandalism.

Decisions

• Deputy Mayor elected
  Clr Selena Clancy was elected Deputy Mayor for a 12-month term ending 28 September 2027. Council also resolved to allocate $10,000 from the annual Mayoral Additional Fee to the Deputy Mayor.
  This establishes Council's deputy leadership and includes a specific public allowance allocation.
• Paid parking investigation progressed
  Council resolved to undertake a community survey about demand for a business case examining paid parking for non-residents at selected locations in Huskisson, Berry, Hyams Beach and Mollymook. The required studies and business case are estimated to cost $150,000 and are not funded in the 2026/27 budget. A further report must return with the survey results and later with the study, strategy and business-case findings before any implementation decision.
  Visitors and residents may be affected by future parking charges, but no paid parking scheme has yet been adopted.
• Revised Graffiti Management Policy adopted
  Council adopted the revised policy and requested annual reporting on graffiti incidents, hotspots, expenditure, removal performance against 48-hour and 72-hour targets, police liaison, photographic evidence and possible Youth Advisory Committee involvement.
  The decision sets reporting expectations for graffiti removal, public spending and service performance.
• Ordinary meeting time set
  Council resolved that Ordinary Meetings will commence at 5:30pm for the period from October 2026 to October 2027.
  Residents can attend or watch future regular meetings at the evening start time.
• Advisory committees and working groups continued
  Council continued a range of committees and reference groups through September 2027, including the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee, Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Affordable Housing Action Taskforce, Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel, Inclusion and Access Advisory Committee, Land Use Planning and Development Committee, Low-Cost Rental Initiative Working Group, Natural Area Volunteers Group, Rural Fire Service Strategic Planning Committee, Mayor's Relief Fund Committee, Motor Sports Working Group and Youth Advisory Committee.
  These groups will continue providing advice on finance, housing, inclusion, Aboriginal affairs, planning, fire management, environmental volunteering, youth issues and community programs.
• Interment-rights accounting transferred to ARIC
  Council resolved that the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee take responsibility for accounting for interment rights.
  The change places oversight of this financial reporting matter with Council's independent risk and audit committee.
• Councillors' conduct agreement adopted
  Council adopted the Councillors' Above and Below the Line Agreement as a statement of shared behavioural expectations, complementing legal, conduct and work health and safety obligations.
  The agreement is intended to support safer and more effective interactions in Council work.

Discussion

• Huskisson pedestrian crossings
  A tender item for construction of pedestrian crossings at Owen Street, Currambene Street and Hawke Street was resolved without debate, but the supplied extract does not identify the successful tenderer, value or construction timetable.
  The project may improve pedestrian safety in Huskisson; further procurement details are needed to assess timing and cost.
• Water supply easements
  Council resolved acquisition of water-supply easements affecting Part Lot 81 DP 1206578 on Naval College Road, Vincentia, and Part Lot 1 DP 625153 on St George Avenue, Worrowing Heights.
  The easements support water infrastructure and affect the specified properties and nearby service networks.
• Future planning matter at East Street, Nowra
  A notice of motion calling in development application DA2026/1972 for 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 East Street, Nowra, is scheduled for consideration at the Ordinary Meeting on 27 October 2026.
  The development application remains unresolved in the supplied minutes, with a future public Council consideration scheduled.
• Financial oversight and major projects
  The Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel and Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee terms emphasise financial sustainability, budget reporting, major projects over $10 million, service-delivery information and risk oversight.
  These oversight arrangements may influence how Council evaluates major spending and long-term affordability.

Impacts

• No paid parking has been introduced; Council will first survey the community and consider further reports.
• Potential future parking charges could affect non-residents visiting Huskisson, Berry, Hyams Beach and Mollymook, but the $150,000 investigation is currently unfunded.
• Graffiti management will be subject to annual reporting, including removal-time performance and expenditure.
• Future Ordinary Meetings will start at 5:30pm through September 2027.
• Water infrastructure easements will affect the specified properties in Vincentia and Worrowing Heights.

Places

• Huskisson (town)
  Potential non-resident paid parking investigation and pedestrian-crossing works.
• Berry (town)
  Potential non-resident paid parking investigation.
• Hyams Beach (locality)
  Potential non-resident paid parking investigation.
• Mollymook (suburb)
  Potential non-resident paid parking investigation.
• Owen Street, Currambene Street and Hawke Street, Huskisson (roads/project area)
  Pedestrian-crossing tender item.
• Naval College Road, Vincentia (road/property area)
  Water-supply easement acquisition.
• St George Avenue, Worrowing Heights (road/property area)
  Water-supply easement acquisition.
• East Street, Nowra (road/development area)
  Future call-in consideration for DA2026/1972.

Next

• Conduct a community survey on demand for a paid-parking business case.
  Before any decision to proceed with the study or paid parking.
• Prepare a further report on the community survey results.
  Before Council decides whether to commission the paid-parking study and business case.
• Undertake the parking study, strategy and business case if Council subsequently proceeds.
  Future; estimated cost $150,000 and currently unfunded in 2026/27.
• Return annual graffiti-management information covering incidents, spending, removal targets, police liaison and youth input.
  Annually.
• Consider the call-in notice for DA2026/1972.
  Ordinary Meeting on 27 October 2026 at 5:30pm.

Extract

Minutes Confirmed Tuesday 27 October 2026 – Chairperson ............................................................................ Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING Meeting Date: Tuesday, 22 September 2026 Location: Council Chambers, City Administrative Building, Bridge Road, Nowra Time: 5:30 PM The following members were present: Mayor Patricia White - Chairperson Clr Peter Wilkins Clr Debbie Killian Clr Gillian Boyd (Remotely) Clr Jemma Tribe Clr Ben Krikstolaitis (Remotely) Clr Matthew Norris Clr Karlee Dunn Clr Bob Proudfoot Clr Luciano Casmiri Clr Selena Clancy Clr Brett Steele Clr Denise Kemp (Remotely) A statement was played advising those present that the proceedings...