South Coast Regional Strategy
The South Coast features some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in NSW with unspoilt beaches interspersed with rugged headlands and more than half of the State's coastal lakes and lagoons.
Primary industries such as dairying, forestry and fisheries provide an important economic base for towns like Bega, Eden and Ulladulla. Tourism, particularly nature-based, is also booming in many coastal towns with the South Coast the fourth most visited holiday place for Australians.
By 2031, the region's population is expected to reach 226,000 - an increase of 36%. This strategy will guide sustainable growth, providing places to live and work while protecting valuable agricultural and natural assets.
The NSW Government's 25-year land use strategy:
- protects sensitive coastal areas, productive agricultural land and natural resources including water resources and threatened flora and fauna
- caters for 60,000 more people, 45,600 new dwellings and a variety of house styles to suit smaller households and an aging community
- locates new development in the right places by promoting growth of existing centres rather than any new towns or villages, and reviewing urban lands in sensitive locations
- supplies well-located employment lands to support an extra 25,800 jobs, particularly in the tourism and aged care sectors
- protects the unique character of the South Coast - its rural and coastal towns and villages and pristine natural landscapes.
The strategy will guide local planning in the three local government areas of Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley and will be reviewed every five years.
Settlement planning guidelines
Settlement planning guidelines: South Coast regional strategy 
(Department of Planning 2007) supports the regional strategy by providing guidance for local councils on the identification, delivery, management and monitoring of housing and employment land within the region over the next 25 years.
Enquiries: Phone 02 4224 9450 or email wollongong@planning.nsw.gov.au
Employment lands resources
Illawarra and South Coast employment lands update 2009 (Department of Planning 2009) is used to track the supply of employment land within the Illawarra and South Coast as well as the local government area of Wingecarribee. The document is used by the Illawarra Employment Lands Taskforce to ensure that sufficient employment land is available in the short and long term to encourage investment in the region. The document compliments the Employment Lands Guidelines for the Illawarra, released by the Department of Planning in February 2008.