Shellharbour City Council has adopted a new Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS), a 20-year roadmap to guide the city's growth and development. This will help shape how we grow and ensure we have the infrastructure to support it.
The new plan reflects recent population growth, new state planning directions and emerging local priorities, making sure the city has the housing, infrastructure and services it needs as it evolves.
Caption: Resident reviewing the LSPS at Shellharbour City Library. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council.
The LSPS sets the vision for where homes, jobs, parks, shops, roads and other important services should go. It ensures growth is managed in a smart and sustainable way, so we can protect what we love about Shellharbour.
Shellharbour Mayor Chris Homer said adopting the LSPS marks an important milestone for the city.
"The LSPS gives us a clear roadmap for the future, making sure development happens in the right places, with the right infrastructure and in a way that supports our community and environment," Mayor Homer said.
"It's about setting a long-term vision that balances growth with sustainability, so Shellharbour continues to thrive as a connected, vibrant and liveable city."
The LSPS focuses on four key themes:
- Housing and growth
- Environment and sustainability
- Community and place
- Jobs and productivity
The draft LSPS was on public exhibition from 21 July to 18 August 2025, attracting strong interest from the community and stakeholders. Council received 18 written submissions from government agencies, major landholders, industry representatives and local residents.
Engagement included two community drop-in sessions, 122 document downloads and over 1,100 online views. Feedback was broadly supportive of the vision, with suggestions focused on improving mapping accuracy, strengthening environmental and heritage actions, and clarifying housing targets. These improvements have been incorporated into the final plan.
The LSPS will guide future updates to the Local Housing Strategy, Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan. Actions from the plan will also be built into Council's Delivery Program and Operational Plan, ensuring the priorities flow through to projects and day-to-day work.
To read the adopted LSPS, visit Shellharbour City Council's website here.
KEY MESSAGES:
- Shellharbour City Council has adopted a 20-year Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) to guide sustainable growth and development.
- The LSPS sets a clear vision for housing, jobs, infrastructure and environmental protection, ensuring Shellharbour remains vibrant and liveable.
- The LSPS will guide future updates to the Local Housing Strategy, Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan.
