Shoalhaven's Community Strategic Plan 2035

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The Community Strategic Plan 2035 (CSP) reflects the community’s vision for the city over the next 10 years.

The plan sets goals for the Shoalhaven, discusses how we will achieve them and identifies outcomes that will hold us to account.

While Council takes a lead role in developing and implementing the CSP, it is everyone's responsibility to help make our collective vision for the city a reality.

Council is required to review and update our CSP every four years under the NSW Government’s legislated, ‘Integrated planning and reporting (IP&R) framework.’

Your input during the process is invaluable and will ensure the plan reflects as closely as possible your needs and wishes for the city in which you live, work and play.

Building on findings from previous Community Strategic Plan engagements in 2017 and 2021, Council undertook further consultation with the community between November 2024 and March 2025. Consultation included workshops, drop-in sessions and an online survey on Council’s engagement platform, Get Involved. You can read the outcomes in the Engagement Report here or in the Documents section on this page.

Informed by this consultation, the updated Community Strategic Plan 2035 has been drafted and now it is time for the community to provide further feedback.

How to get involved:

  • Share your feedback via the online feedback form below.
  • Emailing: council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au and type ‘CSP Feedback’ in the subject line.
  • Mail to: Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 42, Nowra, NSW 2541.
  • If you would like assistance providing feedback over the phone, please call Council on 1300 293 111.

All feedback must be received by 5pm on Thursday, 29 May 2025 to be considered by Council.

Please note that feedback submitted to Council on this matter may be open for public inspection without notifying the correspondents.

Printed copies of the draft documents will also be available to view at one of Council's Libraries and the Nowra City Admin Centre and the Ulladulla Branch Office.

The Community Strategic Plan 2035 (CSP) reflects the community’s vision for the city over the next 10 years.

The plan sets goals for the Shoalhaven, discusses how we will achieve them and identifies outcomes that will hold us to account.

While Council takes a lead role in developing and implementing the CSP, it is everyone's responsibility to help make our collective vision for the city a reality.

Council is required to review and update our CSP every four years under the NSW Government’s legislated, ‘Integrated planning and reporting (IP&R) framework.’

Your input during the process is invaluable and will ensure the plan reflects as closely as possible your needs and wishes for the city in which you live, work and play.

Building on findings from previous Community Strategic Plan engagements in 2017 and 2021, Council undertook further consultation with the community between November 2024 and March 2025. Consultation included workshops, drop-in sessions and an online survey on Council’s engagement platform, Get Involved. You can read the outcomes in the Engagement Report here or in the Documents section on this page.

Informed by this consultation, the updated Community Strategic Plan 2035 has been drafted and now it is time for the community to provide further feedback.

How to get involved:

  • Share your feedback via the online feedback form below.
  • Emailing: council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au and type ‘CSP Feedback’ in the subject line.
  • Mail to: Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 42, Nowra, NSW 2541.
  • If you would like assistance providing feedback over the phone, please call Council on 1300 293 111.

All feedback must be received by 5pm on Thursday, 29 May 2025 to be considered by Council.

Please note that feedback submitted to Council on this matter may be open for public inspection without notifying the correspondents.

Printed copies of the draft documents will also be available to view at one of Council's Libraries and the Nowra City Admin Centre and the Ulladulla Branch Office.

  • Draft Community Strategic Plan 2035 on public exhibition

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    The draft Community Strategic Plan (CSP) 2035 is now on public exhibition, detailing the community’s aspirations for the Shoalhaven and the actions Council will take to work toward achieving these goals for the long term.

    The CSP has been built on findings from previous Community Strategic Plan engagements in 2017 and 2021 and Council undertook further consultation with the community between November 2024 and March 2025. Consultation included workshops, drop-in sessions and an online survey.

    A copy of the draft Community Strategic Plan (CSP) 2035 can be found here.

    All feedback must be received by 5pm on Thursday, 29 May 2025 to be considered by Council.

    Please note that feedback submitted to Council on this matter may be open for public inspection without notifying the correspondents.

    Printed copies of the draft documents will also be available to view at one of Council's Libraries and the Nowra City Admin Centre and the Ulladulla Branch Office.


  • Shoalhaven's Community Strategic Plan 2035 - Survey is now closed

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    Thank you to everyone who participated in our survey about the Community Strategic Plan 2035. We would also like to thank Council’s Inclusion & Access Advisory Committee and business representatives for providing their invaluable input to help review and update the plan.

    What we heard

    We had a total of 1200 visitors to the project page and received 383 survey responses from both the online Get Involved survey and paper surveys available in Council facilities and pop-up kiosks across the Shoalhaven.

    In addition, we had eight people submit photos capturing what they love most about the Shoalhaven. You can view them here.

    Some of the things you love about the Shoalhaven are:

    • Beaches
    • Environment
    • Bushland
    • Community


    Some of the things that would make the Shoalhaven a better place is:

    • Better planning and development
    • Improvement in our roads
    • Focus and consideration given to accessibility


    The top five things that are most important to you are:

    1. Roads, shared paths and drainage
    2. Access to health services
    3. Environment & biodiversity
    4. Green spaces
    5. Affordable housing options


    The top three biggest issues or challenges facing our community are:

    1. Cost of living
    2. Demand on health services
    3. Housing affordability


    Nearly 49% of respondents are either very happy or happy with the current vision statement.


    Key demographics from those who responded:

    • 60.6% female and 37.3% male respondents
    • 2.9% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
    • 10.4% are a person living with a disability


    Inclusion and Access Committee:

    • Improve accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.
      • This involves physical access, community education, infrastructure improvements, and inclusive practices across various public and private spaces.
    • Enhance employment opportunities
      • This includes promoting inclusive hiring practices, improving physical access to workplaces and businesses, and ensuring supportive infrastructure and transport to enable full economic participation.
    • Foster inclusive communities through education, accessible infrastructure, and diverse representation.
      • This includes improving communication about facilities, ensuring accessible public spaces and events, and integrating various voices and needs into community planning and activities.


    Next steps:

    1. Feedback will be reviewed and given consideration when developing the draft Community Strategic Plan (CSP) 2035.
    2. Draft CSP, Delivery Program, Operational Plan (DPOP) & Budget on public exhibition during May.
    3. Feedback considered in update of documents.
    4. CSP, DPOP & Budget adopted by Council by 30 June 2025.

  • Your city, your say

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    We're reviewing and updating our Community Strategic Plan (CSP), and we want to hear from you.

    Whether you want a thriving local economy, a safe community, more green space, greater recognition of Aboriginal culture or better facilities for young people – now is your time to tell us what matters most to you.

    The CSP sets out our vision for the Shoalhaven for the next 10 years. It establishes goals, discusses how we will achieve them and identifies outcomes to ensure our aspirations for this city become a reality.

    We’re now seeking your input to help review and update the plan. As part of this engagement, we will be inviting you to participate in a range of activities from completing a survey, to taking photographs and visiting us at pop-ups across the Shoalhaven.

    How to get involved:

    • Complete the survey

      • Hard copy surveys can be found at the Nowra Administration Building or Ulladulla Branch Office.

    • Visit a drop-in information session

      • Bay & Basin Leisure Centre, Wednesday 12 March from 10am to 12pm

      • Nowra Plaza Centre, Thursday 20 March from 5pm to 7pm

      • Ulladulla Library, Tuesday 25 March from 10am to 12pm

Page last updated: 29 May 2025, 11:55 PM