We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, work, and play. Sovereignty was never ceded and this always was, always will be Aboriginal Land. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future and their continuing connection to country.

Shoalhaven Greens

Shoalhaven Greens – NSW Greens Branch

Achievements of Shoalhaven Council 2016-21

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We take a look at what has been achieved by Shoalhaven City Council under the leadership of Mayor Amanda Findley. This is the positive direction of a forward thinking, progressive Mayor supported by Greens on Council. Imagine what can be achieved when we reelect Amanda Findley with a majority of progressive councillors on December 4.  

There’s still a lot to do, a lot of changes and betterment for environment and community – but to do this, we need more Greens on Council.

Bushfire response:
Shoalhaven an identified national leader in Black Summer Bushfire Recovery

  • Supported community to access State and Federal money: Shoalhaven Business and community received over $45million of State Government Stimulus Money
  • 1,000+ animal water and feed stations installed
  • Rejuvenate Shoalhaven Campaign successful
  • Spend Here This Year Campaign successful 
  • 93% of demolition waste from fire affected buildings recycled – Award winning result
  • Community Recovery into Resilience Program – multiple mental health supports. Community Wellbeing Program – research is underway

Response to Climate Change:
Energy

  • Renewable Energy Policy – award winning policy; read summary here.
  • Community Solar Garden
  • 2 staff persons now oversee energy management in Council seeking efficiency and reduction of use across all operations
  • Accelerated Street lighting upgrade completed: total annual savings of $245,000 or more
  • Council has signed long term renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
  • Revolving Energy Fund: returns energy savings to fund for more energy savings projects. 
  • Individual projects: SEC, Bomaderry Works, 95 kW Vincentia WWTP, Nowra library coming up
  • New Solar PV projects are underway at 4 Shoalhaven WWTPs; another 20 community facilities solar and battery funded under RiRP

Response to Climate Change:
Community Advocacy

  • Successfully implemented divestment policy for Council funds – SCC has $5M in Green Bonds
  • Successfully argued for recognition of School Students Strike for Climate
  • Introduced petition on Climate Change Emergency to Council
  • Reported regularly from Climate leadership, Renewable Energy and Australian Coastal Councils Conferences

Environment:
Vegetation and Biodiversity preservation

  • Brought NaturMapr to Council – now used to document fire recovery and baseline bio-diversity
  • Drove Vegetation Vandalism Policy to include education strategy and significant penalties
  • Collingwood Beach Trial rehabilitation study
  • Mayoral Minute to not sell Garside block, Mollymook; retain for environmental educational 
  • Saved old growth trees on Taylors Lane
  • Saved trees on Island Point Rd Community Reserve
  • Successfully protected Cudmirrah Beach – endangered Shorebirds’ nesting area – from dogs off leash
  • Millards Creek: improved pollution controls

Environment:
Food Security

  • Funded multiple community gardens including Refugee garden in Meroo Meadow
  • Ran multiple community composting, gardening and household waste reduction workshops
  • Affirmed value of Agricultural land in LEP and refused multiple rezonings for tourist developments

Waste Management:

  • Resource Recovery Facility West Nowra in construction, opening 2022 – Takes Red bin (currently landfill); produces high quality products eg metals for market; organic materials for brick making.
  • Materials Recycling Facility: yellow bin sorted, graded in Nowra for higher quality products to market especially glass
  • Glass recycling plant at West Nowra now operational; commissioned to make recovered glass sand etc
  • 18,000 tonnes of green waste processed into clean mulch in last 12 months 
  • Waste to energy: Energy BioGas plant to open in 2022

Housing:

  • SCC Affordable Housing Policy – led by Amanda Findley
  • Affordable Housing Project, Bomaderry – Council currently acquiring land 
  • Good quality Medium density encouraged in Nowra, Bomaderry and Ulladulla
  • Moss Vale Urban Release Area – supported; cleared land, good urban design, better environmental design
  • Nowra Heritage Area: Greens led Council action, DCP now exists
  • St Georges Basin: reduced height limit to 8m; supported community campaign against high rise; Greens led Council decision on court action
  • Established in conjunction with Salt Ministries the Homeless Shelter for Nowra

Advocacy:
Council advocated to State and or Federal government on the following

  • Federal Government for acceptance of Statement from the Heart and Voice to Parliament
  • Submission to community consultation on Voice to Parliament
  • NSW Government for end to single use plastics – partially implemented
  • Federal government for increase to Newstart – minor change has happened
  • State Government for opening of Lake Conjola to reduce nuisance flooding- successful
  • State Government for end to logging Native Forests, in particular Sth Coast and Brooman
  • State Government against long wall mining under water catchment
  • State Government reinforcing Councils position against balloon releases

Community Champions:

  • $8M for Artie Smith Oval development at Shoalhaven Community Recreational Precinct
  • Secured funding for new Sanctuary Point Library
  • Secured $3.8M funding for Vincentia Village Placemaking
  • Secured additional funds for Milton Library 
  • Continued operation of Shoalhaven Family Day Care
  • Introduced Change Places amenities to the Shoalhaven – now a state wide leader
  • Establishment of the Country University Centre at Ulladulla
  • Supported local children with donations for STEM events
  • Funded new park for the Elsie Young Reserve, Old Erowal Bay 
  • Sanctuary Point Primary school improved footpath from school to skate park
  • Ulladulla Skate Park – planning complete
  • Cullunghutti Plan of Management compliance, Cullunghutti Mountain
  • Supported the Wreck Bay Community in regards to PFAS Pollution
  • Financial support for the Katherine Outback Speak Up Tour
  • Baton Relay for the Commonwealth games
  • Successful Navy celebration 
  • Supported the GJ Gardner’s Variety Freedom House
  • Declared Shoalhaven City Council a Refugee Welcome Zone
  • Regularised Tomerong Quarry
  • Berry Small Farms Field Day
  • Shoalhaven Eisteddfod

Transport and  Traffic:

  • Support for Hyams Beach traffic control – a success story in tourism management 
  • Lobbied for funding for the Princes Highway
  • Called for a review of the city wide transport strategy
  • Public Policy for electric Vehicle Charging Points
  • New Pedestrian crossing Tallwood Ave, Mollymook 
  • Introduced “Going Live” Traffic Portal – live links to local road closures (award nomination for this project)
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