Plans of Management Review

Nowra Showground and Milton Showground Plans of Management Exhibition

Council is now seeking community feedback on revised draft Plans of Management (PoMs) for Nowra Showground and Milton Showground. These revisions respond directly to feedback received during the previous public exhibition undertaken in 2025.

About Plans of Management (PoMs)

A Plan of Management is a statutory document required under the Local Government Act 1993 and the Crown Land Management Act 2016. It sets out:

How community and Crown land can be used
What activities and events are permitted
How the land will be managed, protected, and improved over time
How leasing and licensing arrangements are authorised

An adopted PoM ensures that public land is used lawfully, transparently, and in a way that reflects community needs now and into the future.

What Is Happening Now?

Nowra and Milton showgrounds are important, multi‑use community assets that support events, sport, recreation, community activities and, at times, camping and commercial uses.

The PoMs were publicly exhibited in 2025 and attracted strong community interest and feedback. As a result of this feedback, Council has identified the need for amendments to both documents before they can be adopted.

The key reason for revising the PoMs is to review and update land categorisation, ensuring it better reflects how the showgrounds are currently used and how they are intended to operate in the future.

What You’ve Told Us So Far

During the previous exhibition, the community shared a wide range of views about how the Showgrounds are used and managed. Council has reviewed all submissions and considered what changes can be made.

The revised Plans have been updated to address key concerns, including:

Land categorisation has been reviewed and updated to better reflect the multifunctional, long‑standing and contemporary use of both Showgrounds.
The role of Showground user groups, including Show Societies, is more clearly acknowledged, recognising their historic role and ongoing involvement.
Permitted uses and development provisions have been clarified, helping ensure the Plans support existing activities, community events and future needs while remaining compliant with legislation.

Council also heard diverse views on a range of matters that are outside scope of a Plan of Management or are governed by other Council policies, plans, or approval processes. These include:

Operational matters such as toilet opening hours, maintenance, enforcement of dog waste rules, and day‑to‑day management practices
Detailed infrastructure proposals (such as new buildings, play equipment, or grandstands), which may be addressed through future master planning, capital works programs, or development approvals
Dog off‑leash arrangements, camping management, noise controls, and event operations, which are managed through separate plans, policies, and assessment processes
Requests related to access points, tree management, biodiversity outcomes, and natural areas, where other Plans of Management or adopted Master Plans apply

While these matters cannot be resolved through the PoMs themselves, Council has documented the feedback and, where appropriate, referred it to relevant teams or acknowledged how it will be considered through other processes.

During the public exhibition period, Council will welcome your feedback on the final revised drafts before moving toward adoption.

Crown Land and Council Land

Nowra Showground and Milton Showground are made up of a combination of:

Council‑owned land, and
Crown land, for which Council is the appointed Crown Land Manager

Because of this, the Plans of Management must meet the requirements of both the Local Government Act 1993, and the Crown Land Management Act 2016

Council works with Crown Lands to ensure the PoMs meet all statutory and policy requirements.

Balancing Community Feedback and Legal Responsibilities

Plans of Management are legal documents. Council must ensure they:

Comply with State legislation
Clearly define permitted uses of the land
Provide a practical framework for current and future community use

The revised Plans aim to balance community feedback with Council’s legal responsibilities, while providing certainty about how the Showgrounds can be used and managed into the future.