Mayor's message

This week we voted to apply to the independent pricing regulator for a Special Rate Variation (SRV). Early in the new year we will submit our application to IPART seeking an increase of 12 per cent, including the 3.8 per cent rate peg, from 1 July 2025.  

Our decision was not taken lightly. We carefully considered the individual responses from more than two thousand residents and strongly believe this rate increase strikes the right balance. While the proposal will assist Council to prioritise some of the backlog of maintenance across the city, it also recognises the financial pressures being felt by many in our community at this time. We also remain committed to our work finding savings and revenue internally.  

As I reflect on the year, indeed the past three months, it has certainly been one of big change and big decisions. After 12 years as a Councillor, I was elected Mayor and it’s a role I’m very much relishing, even with the challenges that come with any leadership position.  

Every decision I’ve made in this short time, I’ve had the wellbeing of the community and the future of the Shoalhaven in mind. Each day I’m reminded that we live in one of the most special places on earth, and I certainly plan to keep it that way.  

There is much to celebrate in 2024 – we saw major landslips completed, we fixed roads, launched walks and opened playgrounds, we put our Reconciliation Action Plan out for exhibition, we supported community events and even celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Bamarang Water Treatment Plant. And when it comes to honouring the people who have made outstanding contributions to the Shoalhaven, I’m certainly looking forward to meeting you at our Australia Day Awards on 26 January.  

I’m also filled with great optimism for 2025 and I’d like to thank the new cohort of Councillors for their efforts to work collaboratively for the greater good of the Shoalhaven and I look forward to continuing along this path.  

I’d particularly like to extend my gratitude to our Council staff who work tirelessly to deliver services to the community. For those who are working to keep services going over Christmas, I’m doubly grateful.  

As I write this message I’m post-surgery to remove a melanoma and I’m feeling grateful that it was caught in time. I’d like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year and look forward to seeing many of you at Friday's Open Office or at one of my sessions next year.  

Thank you for all your support in 2024 and see you in the new year.  

Mayor,  

Patricia White  

It’s just over a week until Christmas and there’s still a lot of work to be done before Council pauses briefly over the holiday break.  

Next week we will meet to decide whether to apply to IPART for a rate increase. During the consultation period from 7 November to 5 December, 1,966 people completed the survey and 168 submissions were made to Council. We’ve been reading your feedback and carefully considering what you’ve had to say ahead of our discussion at the meeting on Tuesday.  

On Thursday, the Nowra CBD will be lit up as part of the annual Shine Bright event. The Nowra CBD Business Chamber always does a fabulous job injecting Christmas cheer into our city and I’m sure this year will be no exception. Head down to Junction Court on opening night to enjoy live performances and an early visit from Santa.  

Lifeguards will also start their daily summer patrols at several of our local beaches from Thursday. Check the list of family-friendly locations before you head to the coast for a dip.  

Speaking of our natural environment - our Cadet Environmental Health Officer, Ariana Johnson, has received the Environmental Health Australia (EHA) Environmental Health Student Award 2024. Congratulations to Ariana on a wonderful achievement – a true testament to the ongoing hard work of our Council staff.  

And finally, the Shoalhaven’s golfing sensation Kelsey Bennett claimed victory at the 2025 Ford Women's NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event in Dubbo earlier this week. What a great way to wrap up the year for Kelsey and I wish her even more success for next year.  

Remember there’s still time to donate to the Mayor’s Giving Box and help make Christmas special for those in need, in our community. Take a look on our website to see which of the several drop off points is most convenient for you.  

Mayor,  

Patricia White  

I have some difficult personal news I’d like to share with you. This week I was diagnosed with melanoma. I’ve been informed I will need to undergo surgery later this month to have the cancer removed from my cheek. While it’s been a shock, I am pleased my doctor was able to detect it early, thanks to a regular skin check. I hope that my diagnosis will act as a timely reminder for you all to book in for a check and take care of yourself in the sun. Remember to ‘slip, slop, slap’ this summer.  

Unfortunately, the procedure means that I will have to cancel my next Open Office event on 14 December as well as some of my community engagements. I will provide you with future dates for my Open Office before the end of the year. I’d like to reassure you that while it’s important that I focus on my health right now, I remain committed to my role as Mayor and overseeing the progress of important Council matters.  

One of those matters is the proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV). Consultation closed this week, and I’m really pleased so many have taken the opportunity to have a say about the proposed options. Councillors will now consider submissions, comments and survey responses and make its decision about whether to proceed with an application to IPART at its meeting on 17 December.

It’s only four weeks until Christmas, which means school holidays are around the corner.  If you’re looking for ideas for a day out, I implore you to visit the Huskisson Mangrove Boardwalk. The 40-year-old structure has had an incredible refurbishment and was officially opened this week. 

You can now also take our 100 Beach Challenge Quiz. The quiz will suggest which of our coastal gems you should visit based on your ‘beach personality.’ Head to the quiz now to find out if you’re a Salty Seal or Stunning Starfish.

My congratulations this week goes to Iszi Crawford. Iszi won the Nowra Show Society's Young Woman competition. I wish her all the best as she represents Nowra Show at the zone Young Woman event in February 2025. 

Mayor,  

Patricia White 

I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who contributed to our Special Rate Variation (SRV) discussions by attending a workshop or visiting a pop-up information stall over the past few weeks.  

We’ve now completed our in-person engagement activities but you’re still welcome to provide your feedback about the proposed options through our online survey until Thursday 5 December.  

Don’t forget you can also discuss this, or any other council matters with me, at my upcoming Open Office events. I’ll be at the Ulladulla Civic Centre today from 9:30am to 12:30pm at the Sussex Inlet Neighbourhood Centre 10am to 3pm Saturday 14 December and the Nowra Administration Building from 10am to 3pm Friday 20 December.

This week we marked an important anniversary. It’s been five years since lightning struck bushland at Currowan, sparking one of the most devastating fires in our city’s history. It's important that we acknowledge and rally around the members of our community who lost loved ones in the fire, and those residents who are continuing to rebuild and recover.  

The hot weather this week is a timely reminder to prepare our homes and families by making a bushfire survival plan. The Rural Fire Sevice has some great resources to get you started.   

This week I’d like to congratulate Shoalhaven Heads junior bowler, Karen Murphy AM on her induction to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and Kevin Marshall from Marine Rescue Ulladulla for receiving a Life Membership award from Marine Rescue NSW. Well done to both Karen and Kevin for their outstanding achievements.  

And finally, I note the passing of lifelong Shoalhaven resident, Peter Leedham who died on Wednesday 20 November. My condolences to Peter’s family and friends and all who knew him.

Mayor,  

Patricia White 

I’m delighted to announce that we have finalised the selection of our finance committee, known as the Finance Review Panel. Establishing this group has been a priority of mine as we continue working towards financial sustainability. 

The committee will be made up of three councillors and five residents. Each of those I selected have demonstrated financial experience and acumen, and I am confident they will do an excellent job advising us about how to address our deficit. You can read more about the committee in the media release.  

We have also continued engaging the community about the proposed Special Rate Variation options. We hosted two pop-up information stalls and held a sold-out participation workshop in UIladulla on Wednesday evening. We will be at both the Berry and Nowra markets this weekend, so make sure you head along and seize the opportunity to speak to our friendly staff.  

The Mayor’s Giving Box is back for another year, and I’ve created more donation points across the city. I really hope we can band together to help some of the most vulnerable families and individuals in our community this Christmas. To donate or find out more about where to drop a present, visit GiveNow.

If you’re looking for other ways to give back to your community in the coming weeks, I’d encourage you to support the Milton Heritage Bakery as it raises awareness about Cancer. The business is also raising funds for the Cancer Support Foundation of Milton Ulladulla. Congratulations to the bakery for driving such a heartfelt initiative.  

On Friday 29 November, I’ll be holding another Open Office. I invite you to come and speak to me about the issues that matter to you. You don’t need an appointment to take part. Come meet me at the Ulladulla Civic Centre from 9:30am – 12:30pm for a cuppa and a chat.

Mayor,  

Patricia White.  

I’d like to start this week by thanking our outgoing CEO, Robyn Stevens for the positive impact she has had on the culture of the organisation and the efficiencies that she has implemented in the short time in the role. Council accepted her resignation this week, and I’d like to extend a warm welcome to former Director of City Development, James Ruprai, who will act in the role of CEO while we consider recruitment for the position.  

This change in leadership hasn’t distracted us from the important work we’re doing to address our finances. We’ve already hit the ground running engaging with the community about the proposed Special Rate Variation options and hosted our first pop-up information stall at the Ulladulla Wharf Markets on Sunday. It was great to hear so many residents took the opportunity to speak with staff to learn more about the options and to share their diverse feedback.  

We also had a great turn-out at our first participation workshop at Nowra. More than 20 residents shared their thoughts about the proposal and put forward some efficiency ideas with staff in Nowra on Wednesday evening. I thank those who participated for their vital contribution.

There’s still plenty more opportunities for people to engage in-person at one of our upcoming stalls or workshops. You can also have your say by completing the online survey. You can see the questions and ask a question via the Get Involved Shoalhaven website.

I’d also like to encourage you to get along to the mini-expo on Emergency Management and Recovery being held at the Lake Conjola community hall at 5.30pm Tuesday 19 November. Supper will be supplied and you’ll have the chance to chat with representatives from the NSW Reconstruction Authority, and all our emergency services agencies.  

If you’ve been thinking about nominating an inspirational friend, family member or colleague for an Australia Day Award, now is the time. Today is the last day to get your nominations in before the winners are announced in January next year. Don’t wait a minute longer – submit your nomination now.   

Mayor, Patricia White 

It’s crunch time for us to address our finances, and we want to hear from you.  

At an Extraordinary meeting of Council this week, we voted to seek your feedback on a proposed Special Rate Variation. The additional income would help us sustain our services, fix our roads and hopefully, get some money back in the bank.  

We’re proposing a slight increase of eight or 12 per cent including the NSW rate peg, which currently sits at 3.8 per cent. Both options equate to less than $3.50 per week for an average residential property.  

We know times are tough for the community, so it’s critical we hear from you before we make any decisions. Have your say by completing our online survey or attend one of our pop-up info sessions to learn more. You can also join one of our workshops to share ideas and contribute to the discussion.  

Our inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is now on public exhibition, too. I invite you all to have a read and see how Council plans to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community. 

I'm also delighted to announce today the completion of work to repair the last of 38 major landslips at Kangaroo Valley. This milestone heralds the end to more than two years of major reconstruction works in the Shoalhaven following severe weather and flooding in March 2022. The $59 million remediation package was jointly funded by the by the Australian and NSW governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. 

As we're quickly approaching Summer, it’s a perfect time for all of you who own a pool to check you have the appropriate barriers and signage in place. I’d particularly like to remind residents that inflatable pools also need to be surrounded by a barrier to keep our young people safe. A pool that complies, can save lives! 

And speaking of water – I’d like to give a huge shoutout to the Marine Rescue volunteers at Sussex Inlet who have been assisting the community for half a century! A big Happy 50^th Birthday to the unit and congratulations on an incredible achievement.  

Mayor, Patricia White 

Happy Halloween – if you celebrated the spooky occasion this week!

We had another robust meeting on Monday night where we updated the community about our financial position. We’ve managed to save around $3 million dollars during the June to September quarter through a range of measures.

There’s still plenty of work to be done to address our financial challenges and next week we’ll be holding an Extraordinary Meeting to discuss a Special Rate Variation. You’ll be invited to provide feedback before Council makes any decisions.

The 45 Degree Rule Exemption for tree removal has also been a priority on our agenda.  At our first meeting a fortnight ago, I proposed reverting the rule back to its previous version and changing the name of the policy to the Gordon Timbs 45 Degree Rule. I encourage you to make a submission before 29 November.

Later this month we’ll be hosting another Thrive Together Pop-Up. The free event connects residents with a range of providers who can assist with services like cost-of-living relief, mental health support, financial counselling and free legal advice. The next Pop-Up will be held at the Bomaderry Community Centre. You can find out more here.

We’ve had a beautiful, sunny week so I’m delighted the Kangaroo Valley Village Pool will reopen tomorrow. Make sure your grab your togs and take advantage of this warm weather.

Finally, I’d like to congratulate our Citizen of the Year, Chance Hanlon, for his advocacy in the role. I’m excited to see the inspirational residents who will be nominated for the upcoming Australia Day Awards. The countdown is on and there’s only two weeks left to get your nominations in!  

Mayor, Patricia White  

I’m thrilled to be writing to you as the Shoalhaven’s newly elected Mayor. Having started as a Councillor in 2012, I feel more than ready to take on the challenges that this new leadership role demands.

This week we held our first meeting of Council and welcomed some former councillors and some new, each bringing unique perspectives and ideas to the table. A countback process has been initiated by the Electoral Commission for Ward 3 after the resignation of Mitch Pakes, which could take a couple of months to complete.

I’m looking forward to working with both our new Deputy Mayor, Peter Wilkins, and our Assistant Deputy Mayor Matthew Norris to get the best outcomes for the city and the community. If you’re not sure who your local representatives are, you can find them here.

Decisions made at the meeting mean that we will soon be calling for community feedback about my proposed change to reinstate the 45 Degree Rule to reinstate it to what it originally was and renaming it the Gordon Timbs Rule. We will also soon be calling for expressions of interest for community members with financial expertise to join a Financial Review Panel. Anyone interested can subscribe to the Financial Review Committee Get Involved page for details.

I’m also really excited about next year’s Australia Day Awards and nominating some fantastic people who deserve to be recognised. The Shoalhaven has many inspirational role models who make a positive impact on people’s lives and this is a chance to honour them. You have until Friday 1 November to nominate, so please join me in putting forward someone who has gone ‘above and beyond’ this year. You can find the form here.

Thank you to everyone for their support and kind words since being elected Mayor, and I look forward to listening to you, serving you, and doing the Shoalhaven proud.

Mayor Patrica White