Minutes of the Shoalhaven Economic Growth & Advocacy Group

Meeting Date:     Wednesday, 15 March 2023

Location:            Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time:                   4.14pm

The following members were present:

Mr John Lamont – Manufacturing - Chairperson

Clr Patricia White (non-voting)

Clr Mark Kitchener - Voting Councillor ward 3

Ms Anna Finch - Human Resources

Ms Brenda Sambrook - Tourism – Joined 4:33pm

Ms Holly Pastor – Education (Remotely)

Ms Michelle Bishop - Tourism (Remotely) – Joined 4:14pm

Mr Robert Crow - Tourism

Ms Sandra Gray - Small Business Operator (Remotely)

Mr Iain Chalmers - Human Resources & Small Business (Remotely)

Others present

Mr Laurie Koster - Shoalhaven Defence Industry Group (Remotely)

Mr Danny Payne - Huskisson Business Chamber

Mr Paul Mitchell – Representative for Member of Gilmore (Remotely)

Mr Michael Phelan – National Parks and Wildlife Service (Remotely)

Ms Joanne Payne – Observer

Mr Stephen Bartlett – Observer

Mr Carey McIntyre – Director City Futures

Ms Coralie Bell - Tourism Manager

Mr Greg Winchester - Tourism Investments & Events Specialist

Ms Kristy Mayhew - Tourism Marketing Specialist

Mr Jim Fraser – Manager Corporate Performance & Reporting (Remotely) – Left meeting 4:18pm

Apologies / Leave of Absence

Apologies were received from Clr Evan Christen, Clr John Kotlash, Clr Tonia Gray, Ms Kaye Morris, Ms Bronwyn Hewson, Ms Lindy Pitt and Mr Peter Masterson.

Confirmation of the Minutes

Under General Business, Ms Brenda Sambrook requested that the following sentence be added as an amendment to her comment on Item EG22.1 in the previous minutes: ‘We can only go on input from those who attend meetings, respond to our emails or our Facebook posts and surveys’. This amendment was accepted by the Mover and Seconder.

RESOLVED (Anna Finch / Clr Kitchener)

That the Minutes of the Shoalhaven Economic Growth & Advocacy Group held on Wednesday 23 November 2022 be confirmed.

CARRIED

Declarations of Interest

Nil

Presentations

EG23.1       Update on City Futures

HPERM Ref: D23/61868

Carey McIntyre – Director City Futures – provided a verbal update on City Futures and advised the following: · The City Futures Directorate draft structure has been accepted by the CEO and the Consultative Committee. There are positions within the structure that currently remain unfunded, but opportunities will be sought to fund those positions where those funds exist. · Considerable thought and effort has been given to how Council can best deliver the economic development function within the City, and as such, are creating a greater and more specific emphasis around economic development, advocacy and events facilitation. · There will be a Council team called City Ventures which will be focusing specifically on developing Council land holdings into a commercial product. · The City Futures Directorate is looking to increase the number of Strategic Land-use Planners due to a significant amount of work around proponent led planning proposals, and the need of a full and comprehensive review of the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and the Development Control Plan (DCP).

EG23.2       Update on Nowra Riverfront Action Taskforce (NRAT)

HPERM Ref: D23/61918

Carey McIntyre – Director City Futures – provided a verbal update on the Nowra Riverfront Action Taskforce (NRAT) and advised the following: · Council is currently conducting multiple relevant studies which will leave Council with good strategic planning outcomes for developable land which can potentially be put to great use on the Nowra Riverfront. · Engagement with the community will be the next step for the purpose of gaining feedback for Council as to the aspirations and desires of stakeholders within the community (including landowners) for the Nowra Riverfront. · Council received around 300 written comments from the community during the Nowra Bridge opening event. · The greatest constraint on the Nowra Riverfront project will be flooding due to the significant shift taken to flooding by the NSW State Government and SES after the Lismore floods.

Reports

EG23.3       Community Led Strategic Plans	HPERM Ref: D23/1175
Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Shoalhaven Economic Growth and Advocacy Group note the update on community led strategic plans and how they are being utilised in Council’s integrated planning and reporting framework.
RESOLVED (By consent) That the Shoalhaven Economic Growth and Advocacy Group note the update on community led strategic plans and how they are being utilised in Council’s integrated planning and reporting framework. CARRIED

EG23.4       Advocacy and Growth - Staff Update	HPERM Ref: D23/48963
Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Shoalhaven Economic Growth and Advocacy Group receive this report for their information.
RESOLVED (By consent) That the Shoalhaven Economic Growth and Advocacy Group receive this report for their information. CARRIED

EG23.5       Defence Industry in the Shoalhaven - Update	HPERM Ref: D23/54306
Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Shoalhaven Economic Growth and Advocacy Group receive this report for their information.
RESOLVED (By consent) That the Shoalhaven Economic Growth and Advocacy Group receive this report for their information. CARRIED

EG23.6       Update on Advocacy	HPERM Ref: D23/61906
Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Shoalhaven Growth and Advocacy Group note the new updated Advocacy Document for information.
RESOLVED (By consent) That the Shoalhaven Growth and Advocacy Group note the new updated Advocacy Document for information. CARRIED

EG23.7       Action Update	HPERM Ref: D23/61850
Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That Shoalhaven Economic Growth & Advocacy Group note the update to the Action Table and remove Item EG22.3 – now complete.
RESOLVED (By consent) That Shoalhaven Economic Growth & Advocacy Group note the update to the Action Table and remove Item EG22.3 – now complete.  CARRIED

GENERAL BUSINESS

· Ms Michelle Bishop advised the Group that she has been working on a project through the Shoalhaven Heads Chamber of Commerce to have interpretive signage around Shoalhaven Heads to do with Aboriginal history specifically. Ms Bishop noted that this is something other towns and villages have shown interest in, and that the project could expand over time to become a broader trail for the entire region. As such, Ms Bishop advised she is seeking a mechanism by which Aboriginal stories could be told in signage throughout the region with focus on Shoalhaven heads, and requested that this become an on-going agenda item. It was further noted that this cultural signage project previously sat as an action with the now disbanded Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group and had in the past been referred to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee with no clear direction forward.

Mr John Lamont requested that Ms Bishop submit this as a report to the Group so that it could be referred to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee for their support and comment on the matter also.

EG23.8       Additional Item - Tourism Signage

Ms Sandra Gray noted that there is no signage in the village of Sussex Inlet pointing people to its tourism features, such as beaches, and believes there are many other small villages with the same issue. As such, Ms Gray suggested a project that looks at all the signage needs of smaller villages.

Ms Gray advised Council staff that the Sussex Inlet Chamber of Commerce have made a submission to Council’s City Services Directorate in the past regarding signage.

Action: Carey McIntyre - Director City Futures – agreed that Council staff will follow up this Item with the relevant section of Council to discuss the signage request of the Sussex Chamber and advise the Group of the outcome.

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 4:41pm.

Mr John Lamont

CHAIRPERSON