Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee

Do you want to help guide Council to make Nowra's CBD a vibrant, connected, people friendly place that is great for locals and welcoming to our visitors?

Shoalhaven City Council is calling for applications from community representatives to join the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee. This is a great opportunity to support business sustainability in Nowra and build the long-term value of the area.

Council is currently seeking applications to fill the following positions on the Committee:

• Two (2) retail/business operators (non CBD property owner)
• Two (2) members of the community
• One (1) strategic advisor (with experience as either as a Councillor, State or Federal Member or business person)

Shoalhaven City Council encourages applications from Aboriginal community members to apply and participate in our community advisory committees.

Steps to apply:

1. Complete the application form
2. Email your completed form to council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au

Applications close Wednesday 21 February, 2024 at 5:00pm

Thank you for your interest. This EOI has now closed.

Council is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for interested and committed people to fill the following positions:

• One (1) Retail/Business operator (non CBD Property owner)
• One (1) Member of the Community

Please review the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Expressions of interest can be submitted by completing the Expression of Interest Form and returning it to council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au.

For enquiries, please contact Claire Andriske – Governance Officer, Shoalhaven City Council on 44293361.

EOI closes 5.00pm Friday 26 August 2022.

Internationally renowned street artists Scott Nagy and Krimsone are set to paint an eye-catching mural on the external building wall of Ray White Nowra’s office at 11 Haigh Avenue.

The artists will begin work on Tuesday 28 June and weather depending, will complete the mural approximately two weeks later. Visitors are invited to watch the artists at work from 10:30am – 12:30pm on Thursday 7 July at a public viewing event. The event will include a sausage sizzle and visitors will be able to chat to the artists and gain insight into how a street mural is created.

The mural, titled ‘Dreamboat’, will creatively explore the interaction between humans and the surrounding natural environment and will include a nod to well-known local landscapes and wildlife. It is an exciting addition to the Nowra CBD Mural Trail, an initiative of the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee that was developed in collaboration with Shoalhaven City Council, the Shoalhaven Historical Society and local landowners. The murals are funded by the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee and have helped to add vibrance, start conversations and encourage visitors to explore the Nowra CBD.

Artist Biography

Scott Nagy

A multidisciplinary artist with an acute focus on painting, Scott Nagy explores surreal perspectives and environmental themes in towering, large-scale public artworks. Growing up in The Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Nagy developed his skills as a youth using aerosols and graffiti techniques to help inform his practice. Following high school he acquired a fine arts degree from Nepean Arts and Design Centre where he further developed his knowledge and perspective. Now an internationally recognised muralist, Scott Nagy focuses on site specific creations that aim to represent, engage and interact with the local community. www.scottnagyartist.com/

Krimsone

Krimsone is a multidisciplinary artist who focuses primarily on aerosol painting and public art. Blending constructive patterns with native flora and fauna, Krimsone creates surrealist landscapes (normally without a reference) directly from his imagination. Krimsone grew up in the Blue Mountains and first explored art through the medium of graffiti and spray paint. Following his teens he would go onto study at the National Art School in Darlinghurst, where he learnt the traditional techniques of fine art. Graduation with honours and majoring in printmaking, Krimsone created a large body of etchings while simultaneously blending his graffiti background with his fine art practice in some of his first murals. Now, Krimsone is an internationally recognised muralist, who has painted in cities across the globe. www.krimsone.com

Junction Court will closed to all vehicle traffic for one week whilst Council staff and contractors carry out the finishing touches to the Revitalisation project.

The period of closure to all vehicle traffic will be from Monday, 23 May to Friday 27 May 2022, however full pedestrian access will be maintained during that period.

The finishing touches will include:

• Installation of overhead festoon lighting
• Installation of two storage cabinets to house outdoor chess pieces and outdoor dining table and chairs
• Installation of an additional waste bin
• Placement of additional plant containers
• Adjustment to one of the cantilevered umbrellas
• Installation of LED lighting to both storage cabinets and both umbrellas.

Prior to the finishing touches at Junction Court, additional CBD revitalisation work will be carried out in nearby Jelly Bean Park.

Commencing Monday, 9 May until Tuesday, 17 May 2022, Jelly Bean Park will be closed to pedestrians whilst new festoon lighting is being installed.

The festoon lighting project in Jelly Bean Park will complement the festoon lighting and umbrella LED lighting proposed for Junction Court and enhance the nigh time beauty and ambiance of both localities

Both projects have been endorsed by the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee and funded by the NSW State Government’s Your High Street grant program.

Typical festoon lights proposed for Junction Court and Jelly Bean Park, Nowra CBD

The Junction Court Revitalisation Project is almost complete. The new bright and vibrant “shared area” look is now open to pedestrians and vehicle traffic and is already receiving very positive comments from visitors to the precinct.

The project improves the look and feel of the precinct, better pedestrian comfort and safety with new shade structures, lots of seating, water bubbler, and beautiful new plants. There is even a children's play and activity area incorporating wooden native animal carvings.

A couple of custom-designed storage cabinets are on their way for installation in March. When completed, the two large storage cabinets will house foldup bistro-style chairs and tables as well as large chess pieces. All of these items can be brought out during special events. The decorative storage cabinet LED lighting will complement the lighting on the new large umbrellas, making Junction Court a lovely place to visit at night.

The works were managed by Council staff with many streetscape elements installed by Council’s own work crews. Special painting contractors also did a great job with the pavement mural, even when hampered by damp weather. It all came together to totally transform the public space.

The project was endorsed by the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee and funded by the NSW State Government’s Your High Street grant program.

Next time in Nowra, be sure to visit and experience the vibrant shared area in Junction Court.

Shoalhaven City Council have announced that work on the Nowra, Junction Court Revitalisation Project has paused for several weeks to allow the precinct to come alive with Christmas decorations, activities and a visit from Santa.

The project will improve the look and feel of the precinct, improve pedestrian comfort and safety and incorporate children play and activity areas.

The work on this important project is not complete due to several factors outside of Council’s control, including the pavement mural could not be applied on rainy days or until the pavement had dried adequately. There have also been long delays in sourcing materials and some contractors due to the nationwide shortages because of COVID and lockdowns.

As a result, when the lockdowns were lifted, some manufacturers were inundated with work and unable to meet customer orders within the ideal timeframes.

Despite these setbacks, the work is around 80 percent complete. Most of the new street furniture and a water fountain are now in place and more than half of the bright pavement mural is completed.

The work will resume mid-January as contractors and suppliers return from the Christmas shutdown. The expected completion date is now mid to late February, subject to favourable weather. In the meantime, the safety barriers will remain in place to prevent traffic entering Junction Court during the Christmas activities and while work is completed in the new year.

The project has been endorsed by the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee and funded by the NSW State Government’s Your High Street grant program.

Shoalhaven City Council commences improvement works on Monday 11 October 2021 to make the Junction Court area more pedestrian-oriented. The works have been funded by the NSW State Government’s Your High Street grant program.

Council’s Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee endorsed the project following several months of design development.

The concept for the upgrade, which features a ground mural over the paths and street, was prepared by landscape consultant Place Score, in consultation with Council’s staff and the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee and input from local business owners.

Key elements of the project include improving the look and feel of the precinct, improving pedestrian comfort and safety along with shading and seating installation and children play and activity areas.

On Monday 11 October Junction Court will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow construction safety fence to be installed prior to work commencing.

Most of the construction work will be undertaken by Council’s own construction crews, supplemented by specialist sub-contractors as required. The area will remain closed to traffic until the work is completed by Friday 10 December 2021.

Whilst pedestrian access will be maintained though the duration of construction, pedestrian will still need to take care in the vicinity of the works and abide by signage and the instruction of construction staff.

Take a look at the Pedestrian Management Plan published in the Document Library on this web page.

To find out more about the benefits of this project and how it fits into the CBD Revitalisation Strategy, please contact Councils’ Coordinator- Local Planning Team, Mr Ryan Jameson on 4429 3139.

To find out more about the current and upcoming improvement works being undertaken in Junction Court, please contact Council Senior Infrastructure Engineering, Mr Dominic Lucas on 4429 3296.

Read the full Media Release here.

Open full article to view the plans.

The future direction of the revitalisation of Nowra CBD was resolved at Council's Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday 27 July 2021.

It was resolved at the meeting that Council:

1. Receive the report for information.

2. Endorse the ‘Revitalising Nowra Action Plan 2021-23’ as the basis for the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee’s activities for the period 2021-2023.

3. Maintain the annual budget allocation of $500,000 to support the implementation of the Action plan over the next three years and the principle that any unspent funds from the yearly allocation is rolled over to the next financial year to enable the Committee to strategically plan, respond flexibly and also undertake other relevant activities.

4. Commend the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Committee on the initiative of preparing the Action Plan.

The Action Plan will now guide the revitalisation activities for the Nowra CBD for the next three years.

Over the last 7 months the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee and Shoalhaven City Council have been working on several significant projects to support local business sustainability and growth.

These projects include:

• The successful application for the State Government Summer Fund Grant which led to the very popular ‘Nowra at Night’ event on 16 April 2021.
• The endorsement of a three-year Revitalisation Action Plan for the CBD.
• The successful application to the State Government for a $935,000 Grant for the revitalisation of Junction Court - Read the full media release.

These are big wins which lay a strong foundation for the continuing development and future success of Nowra CBD.

The Draft Concept Plan Version 1 was submitted with the grant application. A revised Concept Plan Version 2 is now available for viewing.

Following finalisation of the Concept Plan the project will move to detailed design and documentation phase, ready for onsite works to commence in mid-October 2021.

The design focuses on enhancing the existing space, whilst reducing the need for large scale, high impact construction. A copy of the detailed design will be published once it is finalised.

The intention is for the majority of the construction works to be undertaken between mid-October and the end of November 2021, with completion onsite by early December, to minimise any disruption to the summer trading period.

Please register to subscribe for updates on this exciting project and others via the 'Stay Informed' tool on this web page.

Four directories have been installed around the CBD to ensure you can always find your way.

The maps direct individuals to the closest toilet, taxi ranks, bus terminal, shopping centre, Nowra Administration Building and many more.

The new directories are a joint project between Shoalhaven City Council and the Revitalisation Committee.

Each panel on the sign has the ability to be removed and updated, this will allow our directories to grow with our city.

You can find the signs in Berry Street, Junction Street, Stewart Place and Egans Lane.