Lake Conjola - Coastal Management Program (CMP)

The Southern Coastal Management Program Advisory Committee, with the support of Council and Royal Haskoning DHV (RHDHV), refined the Vision and Purpose for the Lake Conjola Coastal Management Program (CMP).

It is very important to have a defined Vision and Purpose for the Lake Conjola CMP, as it reinforces the values of the community and establishes the direction for management of Lake Conjola and its surroundings into the future.

The refined Vision, Purpose and Strategic Objectives for the Lake Conjola Coastal Management Program is available for viewing in the 'Document Library' on this web page.

Stage 2 of the Lake Conjola Coastal Management Program (CMP) is near completion by RHDHV.

RHDHV are undertaking analysis of water quality data and have developed hydrodynamic, water quality and morpho-dynamic model of Lake Conjola that takes into account coastal (storm, tide and sea level rise) and fluvial (rainfall and catchment based) inundation, including potential water quality considerations.

Council and RHDHV are developing and modelling a range of measures to manage inundation/flooding and other impacts around Lake Conjola, which include options for management of the entrance to Lake Conjola, as well as other land-based actions that seek to reduce potential risks.

Council and RHDHV presented the initial findings of Stage 2 investigations and modelling to the Southern Coastal Management Program Advisory Committee meeting on 20 October 2021 to assess initial support for appropriate management actions, before progressing further in their investigations, in collaboration with Council and the NSW Government.

Stage 3 of the Lake Conjola CMP will continue throughout November 2021 and involves identifying and evaluating potential management actions such as entrance management options and catchment improvements, with consideration of economic, cultural, social, environmental and achievability factors. These progressed options will be presented to the Shoalhaven community for consideration and discussion.

Shoalhaven City Council is preparing Coastal Management Programs that aim to protect and preserve the future of the Shoalhaven’s coastline and estuaries.

Take a look at the Coastal Management Program Brochure (CMP) published in the ‘Document Library’ outlining the process of developing a CMP.

The Lake Conjola Coastal Management Program, currently in Stage 2, is being undertaken by Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV).

An initial community engagement drop-in session was held at the Lake Conjola Community Centre on 19 April 2021, with representatives from Council, DPIE and RHDHV in attendance. Information, including including copies of the NSW Coastal Management Manual, the Shoalhaven City Council Coastal Fact Sheet on the management of Lake Conjola were available. Historic photos showing the changing formation of the entrance to Lake Conjola at different periods of time including periods of closure and opening to the ocean were also available.

The event was widely advertised through social media, Council’s website and letter box drops across the local community. Approximately 25 people attended the drop-in session, including members of the Southern Coastal Management Program Advisory Committee. Feedback on the positive and negative aspects of current management of Lake Conjola was provided through written notes attached to suggested themes.

In addition, RHDHV are progressing with the analysis of water quality data and have been working towards development of a hydrodynamic, water quality and morpho-dynamic model of Lake Conjola to inform the hazard and risk assessment. This will lead to the development of options for management actions.

Following the water quality analysis, RHDHV will move to the development and modelling of options phase for entrance management for inundation, as well as potential water quality considerations.

Do you live, work, or play in Lake Conjola and surrounds?

If so, Council would like to invite you to a drop-in information session about the Lake Conjola Coastal Management Program (CMP) for the catchment area.

When: Monday, 19 April 2021

Where: Lake Conjola Community Centre

Drop-in time: Between 4:00pm - 7:00pm

For more information, subscribe to follow the project through 'Stay Informed' on this Get Involved Page.

9 March 2021

Lake Conjola Coastal Management Program
In the Strategy and Assets Committee meeting on 8 December 2020, Council resolved to accept the Tender from Royal HaskoningDHV for the Lake Conjola Coastal Management Program (CSA20.18). Royal HaskoningDHV was notified of the success of their Tender and contracts were exchanged in February following contract negotiations. The project began in February and Council will be working closely with the Coastal Committees, as well as the Lake Conjola Community as the project progresses.

Other Coastal Management Programs

Shoalhaven City Council has applied for grants through the NSW Government Coastal and Estuary Grants Program to prepare CMPs for other coastlines and estuaries in the Shoalhaven LGA. Grants to prepare individual CMPs for the Shoalhaven Coastline and Jervis Bay, and St. Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Berrara Creek and Swan Lake have been submitted. In preparation for the funding, Council has begun drafting the project brief for these CMPs based on Council’s Adopted Scoping Study. These will be made available for review by your CMP Advisory Committees once drafted.

Further consultation will take place with the broader community and stakeholders once a contractor is awarded and the preparation of the CMPs commence.

Coastal Committee Meetings in March 2021

The CMP Advisory Committees met in person for the first time in March 2021. The North and Central Area CMP Advisory Committee met on 15 March 2021, and the Southern Area CMP Advisory Committee met on 17 March 2021. The committee meeting minutes are published on Council's Agenda and Minutes webpage.