Shoalhaven Entrance Management Policy Review

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Council is undertaking a review of its entrance management policies for several key estuaries within the Shoalhaven Local Government Area (LGA). This process involves the development of an Entrance Management Policy (EMP) and the preparation of a supporting Review of Environmental Factors (REF), in line with legislative requirements.

What is an Entrance Management Policy (EMP)?

An Entrance Management Policy (EMP) identifies the trigger levels and procedures in which Council opens the entrances of waterways to the ocean, to assist with flood mitigation to low-lying properties.

The purpose of an EMP is to assist with flood mitigation to habitable floor areas. It is important to highlight that an EMP will not prevent flooding from occurring in flood prone areas (nor does it intend to) and that occupying flood prone land therefore comes at a risk.

All estuary entrances in the Shoalhaven are located on land owned by NSW Crown Lands. Council is only permitted to mechanically open entrances in accordance with the trigger levels and conditions contained within EMPs, and the relevant NSW Crown Lands licence.

The development of each EMP also involves the preparation of a supporting Review of Environmental Factors (REF).

What is a Review of Environmental Factors (REF)?

The purpose of an REF is to describe the proposed activity and assess the likely environmental impact(s) of that activity. It also identifies suitable mitigation measures to reduce the likely environmental impact(s), if any, of the proposal.

An REF is developed in line with the legislative requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). It also considers the relevant provisions of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and other relevant NSW environmental legislation and environmental planning instruments.

To receive updates on the upcoming Entrance Management Policy (EMP) reviews, subscribe for updates on this project please click the Stay Informed box in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

Council is undertaking a review of its entrance management policies for several key estuaries within the Shoalhaven Local Government Area (LGA). This process involves the development of an Entrance Management Policy (EMP) and the preparation of a supporting Review of Environmental Factors (REF), in line with legislative requirements.

What is an Entrance Management Policy (EMP)?

An Entrance Management Policy (EMP) identifies the trigger levels and procedures in which Council opens the entrances of waterways to the ocean, to assist with flood mitigation to low-lying properties.

The purpose of an EMP is to assist with flood mitigation to habitable floor areas. It is important to highlight that an EMP will not prevent flooding from occurring in flood prone areas (nor does it intend to) and that occupying flood prone land therefore comes at a risk.

All estuary entrances in the Shoalhaven are located on land owned by NSW Crown Lands. Council is only permitted to mechanically open entrances in accordance with the trigger levels and conditions contained within EMPs, and the relevant NSW Crown Lands licence.

The development of each EMP also involves the preparation of a supporting Review of Environmental Factors (REF).

What is a Review of Environmental Factors (REF)?

The purpose of an REF is to describe the proposed activity and assess the likely environmental impact(s) of that activity. It also identifies suitable mitigation measures to reduce the likely environmental impact(s), if any, of the proposal.

An REF is developed in line with the legislative requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). It also considers the relevant provisions of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and other relevant NSW environmental legislation and environmental planning instruments.

To receive updates on the upcoming Entrance Management Policy (EMP) reviews, subscribe for updates on this project please click the Stay Informed box in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

  • Lake Conjola Entrance Management Policy – Exhibition period extended

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    The exhibition period for the Lake Conjola Entrance Management Policy (EMP) has been extended.

    The draft document was placed on public exhibition in April after Council completed a series of technical studies.

    Residents now have until 1 June 2025 to view the updated EMP.

    View the draft Lake Conjola EMP here, via the Document Library on the right-hand side of this page or through Council’s Documents on Exhibition webpage. The document includes information about excavation procedures that have been amended to facilitate quicker and more effective entrance openings to the ocean, to assist with flood mitigation.

    The draft Lake Conjola Entrance Opening REF (2025) can be viewed here and in the Document Library on this webpage.

  • Shoalhaven River Entrance Management Policy – Exhibition period extended

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    The exhibition period for the Shoalhaven River Entrance Management Policy (EMP) has been extended.

    The draft document was placed on public exhibition in March after Council completed a series of technical studies.

    Residents now have until 26 May 2025 to view the updated EMP.

    View the draft Shoalhaven River EMP here, via the Document Library on the right-hand side of this page or through Council’s Documents on Exhibition webpage.

    The draft Shoalhaven River Entrance Opening Review of Environmental Factors (2025) can be viewed here and in the Document Library on this webpage.

  • Lake Conjola Entrance Management Policy - public exhibition

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    Council has recently completed a review of the entrance management arrangements for Lake Conjola. This involved the preparation of a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) to implement the draft Lake Conjola Entrance Management Policy (EMP).

    The draft Lake Conjola Entrance Opening REF (2025) is now on public exhibition until Sunday 11 May 2025 and can be viewed here and in the Document Library on this webpage.

    The EMP takes into consideration a range of environmental factors and includes the outcome of an evidence-based, technical review of the trigger levels to inform the entrance management options within the document.

    The REF and EMP have been developed in consultation with several NSW Government agencies.

    View the draft Lake Conjola EMP here, via the Document Library on the right-hand side of this page or through Council’s Documents on Exhibition webpage.

  • Shoalhaven River Entrance Management Policy - public exhibition

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    Council has recently completed a review of the entrance management arrangements for the Shoalhaven River at Shoalhaven Heads.

    The draft Shoalhaven River Entrance Management Policy (EMP) is now on public exhibition following the completion of a series of technical studies.

    The community is invited to provide submissions on the draft Shoalhaven River EMP until Sunday 23 March 2025, prior to the document being finalised.

    The EMP takes into consideration a range of environmental factors and includes the outcome of an evidence-based, technical review of the trigger levels to inform the entrance management options within the document. A short video has been prepared which summarises the outcomes of the technical review and can be viewed by clicking on the video link on the right-hand side of this page.

    The EMP has been developed in consultation with several NSW Government agencies.

    View the draft Shoalhaven River EMP here, via the Document Library on the right-hand side of this page or through Council’s Documents on Exhibition webpage.

    The Lower Shoalhaven River Entrance Management Policy Trigger Level Review (2024) memo has helped inform the draft Shoalhaven River EMP and can also be viewed here or in the Document Library on this webpage.

    The draft Shoalhaven River Entrance Opening Review of Environmental Factors (2025) can also be viewed here and in the Document Library on this webpage.

    To help explain the complexities of entrance management, Council have also prepared a brief, educational video, which can be viewed by clicking the video link on the right-hand side of this page.

    The video discusses how the entrance to the Shoalhaven River naturally behaves, how Council manages the river entrance and why the entrance is not opened outside of flood conditions. We encourage you to watch the video prior to providing your submission.

    To make a submission on the draft Shoalhaven River EMP, visit the Documents on Exhibition webpage.

Page last updated: 05 May 2025, 10:50 AM