planning · Shoalhaven City Council
Shoalhaven public forum heard submissions on rail, Vincentia development and community projects before council meeting
Speakers addressed Shoalhaven councillors on a series of upcoming agenda items, including the Warden Head Lighthouse site, South Coast rail impacts, the Bay and Basin hub project and a development application at 2 Barnett Street, Vincentia.
Shoalhaven City Council’s public forum on Tuesday night heard submissions on a string of matters due to come before the next Ordinary Meeting, including the Warden Head Lighthouse site, South Coast rail impacts, the Bay and Basin Sports and Community Hub Project and a development application in Vincentia.
Public forum minutes from 21 April show speakers addressed councillors on notice of motion items and other reports listed for the upcoming agenda. The forum was held at The Studio in the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra.
Among the items raised was a notice of motion for Shoalhaven City Council to become Crown Land Manager for the Warden Head Lighthouse Site, which drew a public address in support. Another notice of motion on the South Coast Rail Line and its impacts on Shoalhaven residents was addressed by Patricia David on behalf of Unions Shoalhaven, listed as against, while one written submission from Janice Gregory supported the recommendation.
The Bay and Basin Sports and Community Hub Project also received a public address in support. On another community issue, councillors heard opposing addresses on the item titled Protecting Communities right to access Community Areas and Protect Our Logging Workers, with Kaye Gartner speaking against on behalf of the South Brooman Forest Conservation Group and Rob Davis speaking for.
For Vincentia residents, one of the clearer planning matters was Development Application CL26.86 for 2 Barnett Street, Vincentia, Lot 65 DP 526875. Carmen Rechbauer spoke in support of the recommendation, and one written submission from Sue Tolley also supported it. The minutes also record that another registered speaker, Nicola Mortimer, withdrew her application to address council before the meeting.
The forum was briefly interrupted when the chair adjourned proceedings at 6.51pm because of audio-visual difficulties. The meeting resumed at 7.01pm and concluded at 7.30pm.
The matters raised at the forum were not determined there. The next step is for councillors to consider the agenda items, along with the public addresses and written submissions, at the following Ordinary Meeting.
Reference minutes
Source: Shoalhaven City Council Public Forum minutes, 21 April 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Shoalhaven City Council held a public forum on 21 April 2026 at The Studio, Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra.
- Speakers addressed upcoming Ordinary Meeting items including the Warden Head Lighthouse site, South Coast Rail Line impacts, the Bay and Basin Sports and Community Hub Project and a development application at 2 Barnett Street, Vincentia.
- A speaker addressed council in support of a notice of motion for council to become Crown Land Manager for the Warden Head Lighthouse Site.
- Patricia David, on behalf of Unions Shoalhaven, spoke against the South Coast Rail Line notice of motion item, while one written submission supported the recommendation.
- A speaker addressed council in support of Development Application CL26.86 for 2 Barnett Street, Vincentia, and one written submission also supported the recommendation.
- The forum was adjourned at 6.51pm due to audio-visual difficulties and resumed at 7.01pm.
Why it matters
- The forum shows which planning, transport, land management and community facility issues were being actively pressed before councillors considered the formal agenda, including a Vincentia development application and broader issues affecting Shoalhaven residents.