Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Coastal Management Program

Council would like to thank the CMP subscribers and the community for providing inputs and contributing to the preparation of our CMPs throughout 2022.

The Project Team is still busy reviewing and finalising the Stage 2 studies for the Sussex Inlet, St George Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek CMP, and Council is optimistic to have them all completed by early 2023. Council held a successful workshop with state agencies to consult and discuss potential management actions for Stage 3 of the CMP, which are now refined by the Project Team. Once this process is completed, an online platform will be used to present and consult the proposed management actions from February 2023 with the community.

The CMP Project Team is wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Council looks forward to continue working with the community on the Sussex Inlet, St George Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek CMP in 2023.

You may have noticed Council's environmental experts on the water, at Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek, undertaking consultation and assessing the conditions of the foreshore.

The Coastal Management Program (CMP) Stage 2 studies that are nearing completion involved several investigations, including:

• bank erosion survey and analysis
• coastal and tidal Inundation modelling for various future climate scenarios
• boating and navigation study to determine the main concerns, issues and threats for our community and its visitors
• water quality and estuary health analysis
• community consultation and surveys to further understands any gaps in the categories above that may have missed previously

Using this information, as well as your valuable input, Council's environmental experts, and environmental consultants, are undertaking the final review stages to start preparing a summary report for Stage 2 of the CMP. The report will provide new knowledge on risks for the Sussex Inlet, St.Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek area resulting from not only coastal and tidal inundation, sea level rise, bank erosion, entrance management and water quality studies but also integrated with the communities knowledge and concerns.

The Stage 2 summary report will be used for Stage 3 to inform and develop management actions to mitigate risks and prepare our coastal use areas along the Sussex Inlet, St.Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek area.

What to expect next...

Once the range of management actions have been prepared, the opportunity for community feedback on Stage 3 will be provided to share your thoughts on the range of drafted management actions for your local area.

Thank you to the community members for their attendance and participation in the workshops for the Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Coastal Management Programs on the 15 and 16 March 2022.

Our community raised important issues and concerns for the local area as well as put forward several ideas for possible solutions and management actions, creating a very positive, constructive and inclusive workshop.

The information captured will help inform and shape the development of these Coastal Management Programs which will provide a strategic frameworks for the next 10 years.

If you were unable to attend a session, you can still have your say through our Interactive Map.

Input through the mapping tool closes on Tuesday, 5 April 2022.

Thank you for your feedback. please register for one of the workshops being held on 15 and 16 March 2022 through the online registration form published on this web page.

Stage 2 Community Workshops for the Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek CMP are being held in March 2022.

Please register your Expression of Interest (EOI) to attend the workshop by completing the Online Workshop EOI Form by 23 February 2022.

As part of Stage 2, Council would like to hear from the community about key issues and concerns impacting these areas and to obtain ideas on how best to manage them.

One of the ways that you can provide your insight is to visit the Interactive Map and use the categorised marker pins provided to make a comment about:

• issues, problems or concerns that you are aware of in the St. Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Coastal area
• ideas you have that could address the issue.

Your input will help shape and inform the development of possible management options that you will be invited to review and comment on in the coming stages.

Take a look at our short video explaining what you need to know about the Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Coastal Management Program (CMP).

The video outlines:

• what the CMP aims to achieve
• how it will be developed, and
• how and when you can Get Involved in its preparation.

Council is thankful for the vast input from the community for the Stage 2 Boating survey that is currently active.

If you haven’t already provided your feedback, please complete the Online Survey to have your say.

The survey closes on Friday, 4 February 2022.

The opportunity for further engagement to gain insight into other key issues and risks impacting our estuaries, and how best to manage them, will be available in the coming weeks.

A study focusing on boating facilities within Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek is required to be undertaken as part of Stage 2 of the Coastal Management Program (CMP) for the area.

The study will assess a variety of issues, including:

• whether there is sufficient capacity for vessels
• a need to improve existing facilities
• an ability to reduce conflict between water users, or
• opportunities to reduce the impact of boating on the surrounding environment.

Survey and Drop-in Sessions

As part of this study, Shoalhaven City Council is seeking input from the community through a survey and community drop-in sessions.

You are invited to complete the Online Survey by 4 February 2022.

Alternatively, to complete the survey in person, our consultants Advisian, will be hosting a session for the community where you can drop by, meet the team, find out more about the study and fill out the survey.

Two community drop-in sessions will be held on Saturday 27 November at:

• 9.00 - 11.00am, Saturday 27 November at Lions Park Boat Ramp
• 1.00 - 3.00pm, Saturday 27 November at St Georges Basin Boat Ramp

If you have any questions or would like to request a hardcopy of the survey, please contact Council's Coastal Management Program Coordinator, Nigel Smith - email nigel.smith@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au or phone 0437 761 473.

In September 2021, Council commissioned the consultancy team of Advisian Pty Ltd to undertake Stages 2 to 4 of this Coastal Management Program (CMP).

It is anticipated that it will take approximately 15 months to progress through Stages 2 to 4. The development of the program will include extensive engagement with the local community, business owners, community groups, indigenous groups, and relevant government agencies.

What happens in Stage 2?

The project is now commencing Stage 2. The purpose of this stage is to understand the issues that affect the environmental, social, cultural, and economic values of St. Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Berrara Creek, and Swan Lake. Stage 2 will consider historical events, current conditions, and future trends (including population growth, and climate change).

Stage 2 will define the coastal hazards within the area, modelling and mapping of the region and create a risk assessment based on the hazard mapping models. This will help 'complete the picture' of the various kinds of hazards that affect our coastline.

This stage will take place across late 2021 through to early 2022. The next stage, Stage 3, will then develop potential management actions that can address key risks, and preserve what we love about St. Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Berrara Creek, and Swan Lake.

How can I be involved?

We’d like anybody who is interested in, values, or lives near the coast to have a say in its management.

Council has developed this Get Involved page for the project, which will provide relevant information on the CMP, regular progress updates, and provide a number of ways for the community to have their say. Please forward any questions you have on this project through the 'Questions' tab on this Get Involved web page.

Council is excited to work alongside a highly experienced and professional team at Advisian to develop this CMP. Council will be working closely with the Central Coastal Management Program Advisory Committee and wider community as the project progresses.