Nowra is growing and we’re taking steps to ensure that growth in this regionally significant centre is supported by new homes and employment opportunities to meet the needs of a diverse population now and into the future.

The Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 identifies actions and collaboration activities to help Nowra reach its potential as the gateway to the NSW South Coast:

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Action 2

Develop a strategic roadmap for Nowra City Centre to set a vision, identify actions, and guide inter-agency and inter-government collaboration.

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Action 3

Develop employment precinct profiles for regionally significant industrial precincts, including the South Nowra Industrial Precinct.

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Collaboration activity 5

Work with Shoalhaven City Council, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Transport for NSW, NSW Health, and other relevant stakeholders to drive the revitalisation of the Nowra Riverfront. This will assist in fast-tracking development of the precinct.

We've worked closely with Shoalhaven City Council and other stakeholders to progress work on these actions and collaboration activities to ensure we can support the community with new homes and employment opportunities for a region that is expected to welcome 43,000 new residents by 2041.

Nowra City Centre Strategic Roadmap

The Nowra City Centre Strategic Roadmap outlines a vision for the future of the city centre.

The roadmap is supported by expert analysis of market, planning, and investment conditions in Nowra City Centre and identifies 2 key actions for Shoalhaven City Council and the NSW Government to focus on to support the city centre to reach its growth potential. These actions include:

  • Assistance is needed to stimulate development and economic growth within the city centre as previous changes to planning controls and the delivery of major public infrastructure projects has not led to increased private investment.
  • A review of planning controls is required to confirm whether these controls remain fit for purpose following the introduction of new planning pathways such as the Housing Delivery Authority.

The Nowra City Centre Strategic Roadmap will help guide coordination between government, industry, and other local stakeholders to ensure that the vision for Nowra City Centre is achieved.

Related documents

Revitalising the riverfront

Two rezoning proposals for sites located along the Shoalhaven River were made available for public feedback between 19 November and 17 December 2025. They aim to deliver more social, affordable, and private market housing, while strengthening connections between the city centre and the riverfront.

We’d like to thank everyone who attended consultation sessions and provided valuable feedback on these proposals throughout the public exhibition period.

We’re now reviewing the feedback provided on the Nowra Riverfront and Mandalay Sub-Precinct rezoning proposals and will make changes where necessary to respond to this feedback.

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More information

Visit the NSW Planning Portal for further information on the Nowra Riverfront Precinct Rezoning and Mandalay Sub-Precinct Rezoning proposals.