Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake & Berrara Creek CMP

This page provides information for the St Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Swan Lake, and Berrara Creek Coastal Management Programs (CMPs). Please visit the Shoalhaven Coastal Management Program Get Involved page for information regarding Council’s broader CMP program.

With 165kms of breathtaking coastline in the Shoalhaven LGA, Council understands the immense environmental, social, cultural, and economic value that this coastline provides for our community.
Shoalhaven City Council is currently developing Coastal Management Programs (CMPs) across the Shoalhaven to plan for the future of our coastline and estuaries, in accordance with the Coastal Management Act (2016). It considers historic events, current conditions, and future trends including population growth, environmental conditions, and climate change. CMP’s identify coastal management issues and the actions required to address these issues in a strategic and integrated way. It will also detail how and when those actions are to be implemented, their costs, and funding mechanisms.

There are five stages to developing a CMP, which are outlined in the Coastal Management Manual.

Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Berrara and Swan Lake Background

Council’s adopted Citywide CMP Scoping Study (August 2020) (Stage 1) recommended that St Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Swan Lake, and Berrara Creek required CMPs. Council has applied for and successfully received a grant from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW, formerly DPE) to develop these CMPs.

Council has progressed through Stage 2 of the CMP process, where St Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Swan Lake, and Berrara Creek underwent detailed assessment studies to identify, analyse, and evaluate the risks for the estuaries.

Council is currently in Stage 3 of the CMP process. Stage 3 involves the confirmation of strategic direction, identification and evaluation of potential management actions. Stage 3 involves the confirmation of strategic direction, identification, and evaluation of potential management actions, community and stakeholder engagement and the development of a draft business plan.

Community Engagement

Council will be working closely with Coastal Management Advisory Committees, State Agency representatives, local Aboriginal Communities and Custodians, youth, and the St Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Swan Lake, and Berrara Creek communities as the project progresses.

Community members will have several opportunities to provide input into the development of the CMP and to provide feedback on the draft document.

Stay Informed

To receive updates and follow the progress of this project, we encourage you to subscribe via the 'Stay Informed' function on this page.