Lower Shoalhaven flood plan backed in seven-to-one vote, with planning rules unchanged

Lower Shoalhaven River residents will see flood-risk planning advance towards Shoalhaven City Council adoption after the Land Use Planning & Development Advisory Committee endorsed Rhelm’s 2026 floodplain risk management study and plan in a seven-to-one vote.

Cr Casmiri, Cr Clancy, Cr Kemp, Cr Dunn, Cr Wilkins, Cr Boyd and Cr Steele voted for the recommendation on 11 August 2026. Cr Norris voted against it.

The Lower Shoalhaven River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan is intended to guide the management of flood risk into the future across the Lower Shoalhaven River catchment. Council will still need to consider formally adopting the plan, with no date specified for that decision.

The endorsement does not amend the Development Control Plan. Any changes to development controls must follow a separate legislated process that includes consultation and separate reporting as part of the new land use planning scheme.

That distinction means the flood study can progress without an immediate change to the planning rules affecting development in the catchment.

Luke Evans of Rhelm presented the updated Lower Shoalhaven River and St Georges Basin studies before the committee considered the recommendations.

The committee also endorsed the separate St Georges Basin Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for Council adoption. That recommendation passed seven votes to one, with Cr Norris again voting against it, and included the same clarification that endorsing the study would not change the Development Control Plan.

The committee received an update on the new land use planning scheme and noted that further updates will be reported as the project progresses. No immediate planning-rule change was adopted.

It also received a report and provided feedback on the planned Landowner Nomination Process for the Shoalhaven Housing Strategy. The process includes consideration of land at 100 Schofield Lane, Berry, and may influence future housing-site planning.

Council’s next steps are to consider adopting both floodplain plans, continue developing the housing strategy nomination process and provide further updates on the planning scheme. Councillors will also receive updates on future land lease developments, as suggested during the meeting.