Dear Beagle Editor, The East Coast of New South Wales particularly the Local Government area under the control of the Eurobodalla Shire Council has been identified as a growth area. That’s been the case of some time 20 or so years. Growth in aged living and tourism opportunities has been supported for many years. Employment and population growth needs to be seriously considered as well if the shire is to survive financially without Governments financial support in the future. Governments have for some time been advocating local councils need to raise more and more revenues from their own residents, that was the intention of Council Amalgamations and IPART approved hefty council rate rises.
If economic and population growth ( council fully self funding ) is to be successful over time as Governments are encouraging other public asset infrastructures need to be brought up to date and properly planned for.
The economic viability and growth in all aspects of the Eurobodalla Shire is fully dependent on access and transport.
Access to the shire is almost totally reliant on Vehicle access by two main arteries; Those being the Princes and Kings Highways. Both of the Highways are the responsibility of the NSW State Government 100%. The Kings Highway has been over time attracting attention and funding to do what’s really short term bandaid works. Some real long term planning needs for the future of the Kings Highway needs to be drafted and considered.
The Princes Highway as it services the Eurobodalla Shire in a length of around 140 kilometres passing though three major towns, Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma and smaller busy places like Mogo and Bodalla and accessing many other places closer to the coast like Broulee, The Moruya Airport, Tomakin, Malua Bay, Tuross Head, Potato Point, Dalmeny, Mystery Bay and others like Nerrigundah is far from adequate.
A mature long term plan needs to be developed to rebuild the Princes Highway including several town By- Passes in the Eurobodalla Shire stating at Batemans Bay including Mogo, Moruya, Bodalla and Narooma. That is necessary to accommodate transport efficiency’s for all forms of road transport, including emergency vehicles and private vehicles. It’s also necessary to accommodate self sustaining economic growth and aging population, decentralisation and access for all now and in the future.
Planning for a safer 40 + year Princes Highway needs to begin immediately.
Allan Brown Catalina
