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

Council is pleased to share the Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake & Berrara Creek Coastal Management Program (CMP) Stage 3 – Identify and Evaluate Options Report.

The purpose of Stage 3 of the CMP development process was to identify and evaluate potential management actions to respond to the risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities determined through Stage 2 of the CMP. As part of Stage 3, a long list of potential management actions were developed and then assessed, ranked, and prioritised by the Project Team using a robust, decision-making framework in line with the NSW Coastal Management Framework. Stage 3 concluded with the identification of a short list of management actions to proceed to Stage 4. The Stage 3 Summary Report also outlines the community and stakeholder engagement completed as part of Stage 3.

The Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake & Berrara Creek CMP Stage 3 – Identify and Evaluate Options Stage 3 CMP Report is published in the 'Document Library' on this web page.

Did you provide feedback during Stage 3 of the CMP? See how your comments have been considered by the project team on the Stage 3 - Closing the Loop Report published in the 'Document Library' on this web page.

If you have questions about the Stage 3 Report, or the CMP development process, please contact the Coastal Management Unit at coastal.management@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au or call Council on 1300 293 111.

Council would like to thank the CMP subscribers and the community for providing input and contributing to the preparation of the Sussex Inlet, St George Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek CMP throughout 2023 and 2024.

Since the consultation held in mid-2023, the Project Team has been busy reviewing and evaluating the management actions proposed for Stage 3 using a robust, decision-making framework in line with the NSW Coastal Management Framework. Council has been discussing the proposed options with State Government Agencies and internal stakeholders to determine the feasibility and viability of the relevant actions for inclusion in the CMP, with consideration given to the amazing community ideas received throughout the CMP process. This process is nearing completion and Council is looking forward to sharing how the feedback received during the Stage 3 consultation has been considered in this process, as well as the Stage 3 Report for the CMP.

Following Stage 3, the project will move to Stage 4 which involves public exhibition of the draft CMP document. Council anticipates the public exhibition to occur in the second half of 2024.

If you have questions about the CMP development process, please contact the Coastal Management Unit at coastal.management@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au or by calling Council on 1300 293 111.

Council is pleased to share the final Stage 2 Reports for the Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Coastal Management Programs (CMPs).

The purpose of Stage 2 of the CMP development process is to determine risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities for the CMP study area. Stage 2 is a technical stage that requires gathering the background information, developing a conceptual model, defining the coastal hazards within the area, and modelling and mapping the region to create a risk assessment based on the hazard mapping models. Stage 2 requires the studies identified in the Shoalhaven CMP Scoping Study to be undertaken.

The following Stage 2 reports are published in the 'Document Library' on this web page:

• Stage 2 Synthesis Report
• Tidal and Coastal Inundation Study Report (main document) and Appendices
• Foreshore Erosion Assessment
• Water Quality and Estuary Health Study:
  • St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet
  • Berrara Creek
  • Swan Lake
• Stage 2 Detailed Risk Assessment
• Swan Lake and Berrara Creek Entrance Management Review

If you have questions about these reports or the CMP development process, you can contact Council via e-mail to the Coastal Management Unit – coastal.management@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au or by calling Council on 1300 293 111.

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.