Shoalhaven Entrance Management Policy Review

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.

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