A document used by Council to help guide planning and management of local heritage projects and supports Council to apply for government funding, is now on public exhibition.
The draft Shoalhaven Heritage Strategy 2025 is a public policy that assists Council's applications to the NSW Government for funding opportunities to help deliver heritage projects and other heritage initiatives across the city.
The strategy is prepared with consideration for best practice advice from the NSW Government, including the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the Heritage Council of NSW.
Since its initial adoption, the strategy has been updated numerous times to align with Council's contemporary priorities for heritage management. As a matter of standard practice, public policies must also be reaffirmed within 12 months of the election of a new Council.
The draft Shoalhaven Heritage Strategy 2025 introduces specific recognition of the foundational importance of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and the need for this to be reflected in planning and development decisions.
There is also a raft of minor changes to the document, including the removal of references to certain projects or undertakings that are not currently Council priorities, such as the appointment of a heritage advisor within Council.
While no community engagement is legislatively required as part of the review process, due to community interest, Council resolved on 12 August to publicly exhibit the draft strategy.
The draft document will be publicly exhibited on Council's Documents of Exhibition webpage for 28 days from Wednesday 24 September until 5pm, Friday 24 October 2025.
