planning · Shoalhaven City Council
Shoalhaven puts draft contributions plan on exhibition
Shoalhaven City Council has approved public exhibition of its draft Contributions Plan 2026, with related parking, traffic and planning agreement changes open for comment for at least 28 days.
Shoalhaven City Council has put its draft Contributions Plan 2026 and related planning policy changes on public exhibition after its ordinary meeting in Nowra on 27 January 2026.
The council approved exhibition of the draft Shoalhaven Contributions Plan 2026, related DCP car parking and traffic changes, the Planning Agreement Policy, the Works in Kind Agreement Policy and a list of removed projects for at least 28 days.
The planning package sits alongside a night of decisions that also included adoption of budget settings for 2026/27, a new Low-Cost Rental Initiative Working Group, and support for a request to Transport for NSW to investigate a full light rail system linking Bomaderry, Nowra and South Nowra.
For residents, the exhibition opens the door to comment on changes that touch developer contributions, traffic and car parking settings, and the way future projects are funded. For developers and planners, it puts the draft rules and policies into the public arena before they return to council.
Council also adopted guiding budgeting strategies for the initial draft 2026/27 budget. Those settings include no unrestricted cash deficit, no new borrowing, priority for continuing services and asset renewal, and a focus on road network repairs.
The same meeting endorsed a $3,407,073 excluding GST tender from A1 Earthworx Mining and Civil t/a Cleary Bros for the Yalwal Rd and George Evans Rd intersection upgrade at Mundamia.
Elsewhere, councillors asked staff to work with Tomerong School of Arts Inc. on its centenary celebrations and directed the Chief Executive Officer to investigate amenity impacts from peacocks near Deane Street, St Georges Basin.
The council also established a Low-Cost Rental Initiative Working Group and asked the CEO to report back urgently with its terms of reference. The group will have the power to co-opt outside expertise and a core membership of four councillors.
Reference minutes
Based on Shoalhaven City Council Ordinary Meeting minutes, 27 January 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Shoalhaven City Council approved public exhibition of the draft Shoalhaven Contributions Plan 2026.
- The exhibition also covers related DCP car parking and traffic changes, the Planning Agreement Policy and the Works in Kind Agreement Policy.
- The exhibition period must run for at least 28 days.
- Council adopted guiding budget settings for preparation of the 2026/27 draft budget, including no unrestricted cash deficit and no new borrowing.
- Council endorsed a $3,407,073 excluding GST tender for the Yalwal Rd and George Evans Rd intersection upgrade at Mundamia.
- Council backed a request for Transport for NSW to investigate a full light rail system linking Bomaderry, Nowra and South Nowra.
- Council established a Low-Cost Rental Initiative Working Group and asked the CEO to urgently report back with terms of reference.
Why it matters
- The draft planning package could change what developers pay, how roads and parking are planned, and which projects council can help fund.