The South Coast https://thesouthcoast.au/ News for the South Coast of New South Wales: Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley. We read the council business papers, the highway EIS chapters, the hospital pages and the water and forestry records end to end, and link the document behind every factual claim. en Batemans Bay's revised masterplan will not include the 100m height limit. The survey on what comes instead closes Sunday 11 October. https://thesouthcoast.au/councils/batemans-bay-masterplan-no-100m-limit/ https://thesouthcoast.au/councils/batemans-bay-masterplan-no-100m-limit/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:51:00 GMT Eurobodalla Shire Council is asking about three housing density options instead. A probity review found the 2025 draft's population projections were not supported by past experience. Councillors are due to see the revised plan in December. Shoalhaven had water restrictions nine times in 27 years. Its new drought plan keeps its dams full and counts river days instead. https://thesouthcoast.au/water-and-forests/shoalhaven-drought-plan-river-trigger/ https://thesouthcoast.au/water-and-forests/shoalhaven-drought-plan-river-trigger/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:57:00 GMT Council approved the changes in March: Danjera Dam stays full, Tallowa supplies first, and Level 2 comes after 90 low-flow days on the river. The survey closes 7 October. Six years after Black Summer: what the recovery money built, what stalled, and what the 2026 declarations unlocked https://thesouthcoast.au/recovery/black-summer-recovery-money-six-years-on/ https://thesouthcoast.au/recovery/black-summer-recovery-money-six-years-on/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 04:05:00 GMT About $108m of bushfire grants went to single-shire projects on this coast. Most are open, Cobargo's main street has no published opening, Ulladulla's berths were dropped. A quarter of Eurobodalla's homes empty on Census night, a third of its people over 65 https://thesouthcoast.au/economy-and-community/quarter-of-homes-empty-third-over-65/ https://thesouthcoast.au/economy-and-community/quarter-of-homes-empty-third-over-65/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 03:51:00 GMT ABS: 23 per cent of homes in Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley were empty on Census night, 29 per cent of residents are over 65, growth is half the NSW pace. Eurobodalla's $150m dam is about half full. Summer still rests on Deep Creek. https://thesouthcoast.au/water-and-forests/eurobodalla-southern-storage-half-full/ https://thesouthcoast.au/water-and-forests/eurobodalla-southern-storage-half-full/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 03:40:00 GMT Deep Creek Dam at 98 per cent, no restrictions. The Southern Storage is about half full, not expected full until mid-2027; the triggers still read Deep Creek. Shoalhaven's new hospital opens 28 October. Batemans Bay loses its ED in 2027. https://thesouthcoast.au/health/shoalhaven-opens-batemans-bay-ed-closes/ https://thesouthcoast.au/health/shoalhaven-opens-batemans-bay-ed-closes/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 03:25:00 GMT Nowra's $440m acute building takes patients from 28 October 2026. Moruya's $330m hospital is due in 2027 and replaces both Eurobodalla EDs. What the documents say. Bega Valley loses $3.8m, Shoalhaven $2.2m, Eurobodalla gains https://thesouthcoast.au/councils/financial-assistance-grants-redistribution/ https://thesouthcoast.au/councils/financial-assistance-grants-redistribution/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 02:55:00 GMT Grants Commission modelling cuts Bega Valley's grant by 38% and Shoalhaven's by $2.2m from 2027-28; Eurobodalla expects a rise. Submissions close 9 October. The $940m bypass clears the highway north of Milton. Burrill Lake still rates F. https://thesouthcoast.au/highway/milton-ulladulla-bypass-eis/ https://thesouthcoast.au/highway/milton-ulladulla-bypass-eis/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 02:50:00 GMT EIS tables: holiday trips up to 48 minutes faster by 2031, town traffic down 15 to 27 per cent, Burrill Lake roundabouts at F. Submissions close 19 October.