Nowra Riverfront Activation (NRAT)

On 4 March 2025, the Minns Government, in partnership with Shoalhaven City Council, announced that two major housing projects in the Nowra Riverfront Precinct will be fast tracked for development.

Nowra’s Riverfront Precinct has been identified for major urban rejuvenation as 3.4 hectares of waterfront land will be rezoned for increased residential density under the State Significant Rezoning Policy. Building Height variations are proposed across the Nowra Riverfront Precinct which will allow for an estimated 270 new homes to be built. This development supports the strategic goals set out in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 to stimulate the area’s reactivation and economic growth.

The NSW Government will now progress the project through a streamlined State Rezoning Pathway. This will allow the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to finalise the project’s technical studies in collaboration with Shoalhaven City Council, to inform the Planning Proposal. The Department will play a central coordinating role with stakeholders and enable the acceleration of this significant Precinct.

At the same time, Homes NSW is progressing with a proposal to rezone the Mandalay Precinct, to develop up to 380 new homes on the site, delivering a mix of social, affordable and private housing.

This activation will leverage recent NSW Government investment in the Shoalhaven Hospital redevelopment, upgrade of the Princes Highway and delivery of the new Shoalhaven River Bridge, as well as Shoalhaven City Council’s proposal for public improvements along the foreshore.

These are exciting announcements for the Nowra Riverfront Precinct and will be progressed alongside the planning for the activation of the Nowra Riverfront Precinct and development of a Masterplan for the Precinct’s Activation.

Vie the Media Release here: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/news/650-new-homes-shoalhaven-part-plans-nowra-riverfront-precinct

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On 14 January 2025, the Albanese Government awarded Council $5 million in funding, under the Federal Government’s Regional Precinct and Partnership’s Program. The funding will enable Council, in collaboration with the NSW State Government, to continue work on planning for the activation of the Nowra Riverfront Precinct and develop a Master Plan for the Precinct’s Activation.

The Nowra Riverfront Precinct Activation project will realise a long-held community aspiration to reconnect Nowra’s city centre with the Shoalhaven River while elevating Nowra as the region’s civic, community, tourism and recreational hub. 

Thoughtful urban renewal and public realm improvements will create an activated and connected place for residents, workers and visitors. The Precinct’s vision features a central flagship park and leisure facilities, restored natural areas, improved accessibility, affordable housing and repurposing of the historic Nowra Bridge. First Nations knowledge and culture will be embedded in the Precinct design. Early delivery of public realm improvements will stimulate investment and renewal of surrounding built form.  

The funding will enable the completion of remaining planning investigations, the finalisation of the Precinct masterplan and the preparation of designs for key enabling infrastructure (new central open space/park, new road access and required drainage infrastructure). This work will build upon the Nowra Riverfront Activation Plan, which was developed with direct input from the local community.  

View the Media Release here: The Albanese Government delivering $5 million for Nowra Riverfront Precinct | Prime Minister of Australia

Stay Informed

To follow this project and receive updates, subscribe through the ‘Stay Informed’ tool on this webpage.

In close collaboration with the local Aboriginal community, the Designing with Country Framework Report has developed Aboriginal design narratives and principles to support the future design and activation of the Precinct. This approach seeks to meaningfully embed Aboriginal knowledge and culture into the revised Nowra Riverfront masterplan from early on, following the Connecting with Country Framework (Government Architect of NSW) principles.

Through a series of co-design sessions with local Aboriginal community members, the Designing with Country Framework developed three overarching design principles – Cultural Landscapes, Accessibility and Water – with associated design elements and opportunities for interpretation allowing all users of the Precinct to interact with and appreciate local Aboriginal culture and heritage.

The Designing with Country Framework will inform the design of the central public open space, including further co-design with the Aboriginal community. The Nowra Riverfront Designing with Country Framework was developed by 100% Aboriginal owned design consultancy, Yerrabingin.

The Designing with Country Framework for the Nowra Riverfront has not been formally adopted by Council but will be considered by the Council at the appropriate point as part of a package of studies/investigations supporting future updates to the Nowra Riverfront Precinct masterplan and land use planning controls.

The Nowra Riverfront Designing with Country Framework Report is published in the ‘Document Library’ on this webpage.

The Nowra Riverfront Integrated Transport Plan, prepared by consultant Crossley Transport Planning, provides guidance and recommendations on the future transport requirements to support the vision for the Precinct. It analyses the Precinct using the Transport for NSW Movement and Place Framework to identify issues/challenges and opportunities to improve access to the Precinct for the local community and visitors. The Integrated Trasport Plan focuses on opportunities to support active and public transport, sustainable development, better connections within the Precinct (in particular, east-west across the Princes Highway) and better connections across the River and to the Nowra CBD.

The Integrated Transport Plan provides the framework for the development of a detailed traffic and transport plan which will follow shortly. It has not been formally adopted by Council but will be considered by the Council at the appropriate point as part of a package of studies/investigations supporting future updates to the Nowra Riverfront Precinct masterplan and land use planning controls.

The Nowra Riverfront Integrated Transport Plan is published in the ‘Document Library’ on this webpage.

Drawing on feedback from more than 700 people from a range of community engagement activities, urban consultancy arki­­_lab have prepared an Activation Plan for the Nowra Riverfront Precinct, showing how the precinct could look in the future and the strategic actions that would help achieve the vision.

You are invited to attend the Presentation of the Nowra Riverfront Activation Plan, to be held in The Gallery of the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre on Tuesday 15 August from 4-6pm.

The Nowra Riverfront Precinct Flood Impact and Risk Assessment (FIRA) has been prepared for Council and with assistance from the NSW Government’s Nowra Riverfront Advisory Taskforce to define the existing flood behaviour and to assess, and recommend measures to address, the potential impacts from the possible future development/activation of the Nowra Riverfront Precinct.

The FIRA considers how the Precinct as a whole, or component parts, could potentially be activated/developed in a manner that is compatible with its flood constraints and whether any resulting impacts are localised and/or able to be readily managed. It will support and inform land use planning processes, including potential changes to planning controls (e.g. zoning, building height) and future site-specific development controls to guide future development in the Precinct. It will address issues such as safe occupation and evacuation in flood events and identify further work that may be required.

The FIRA has been prepared in accordance with the NSW Floodplain Development Manual (2005) and the draft Flood Risk Management Guideline LU01 – Flood Impact and Risk Assessment, of the NSW Flood Risk Management Manual: the policy and manual for flood liable land (2023). The FIRA has not been formally adopted by the Council, but will be considered by the Council at the appropriate point as part of a package of studies/investigations supporting future updates to the Nowra Riverfront Precinct masterplan and land use planning controls.

The FIRA is available for the information of interested parties/stakeholders and the community.

The following information can be viewed in the Document Library on this web page:

• Nowra Riverfront FIRA: Executive Summary
• Nowra Riverfront FIRA: Full Report
• Nowra Riverfront FIRA: Map Compendium

We want to know if your ideas have been accurately reflected in this preliminary draft of the Nowra Riverfront Precinct Activation plan.

Council staff and representatives from urban consultancy arki_­lab want to hear your thoughts and feedback on the draft plan for the future activation of the Nowra Riverfront Precinct.

Where: Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre
When: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Time: 4pm to 6pm

Urban consultancy arki_lab has been engaged to facilitate a range of community engagement opportunities with key stakeholders and the broader community to inform the future Masterplan for the Nowra Riverfront precinct.