Eurobodalla Shire Council owns 2 Vesper Street in the Batemans Bay CBD. Photo: Kim Treasure.
A mayoral motion to remove the site of the former Batemans Bay Bowling Club from the boundaries of the Batemans Bay Master Plan (BBMP) has been passed unanimously by Eurobodalla Shire councillors.
The preamble to the motion said council had a conflict of roles as owner of the site at 2 Vesper Street and the planning authority.
According to the papers for the recent council meeting, “to build community confidence, councils need to demonstrate arm’s length ethical evaluation of planning proposals. Therefore, to create that delineation, the council-owned site should be reviewed independently of the master plan process”.
The motion calls for council to engage an independent consultant after the master plan decision. The consultant will assess the future potential and optimal use of the site and prepare any necessary planning proposal. Those independent findings and assessment will guide any future negotiations or decisions regarding the site.
In the meeting’s public forum, before councillors discussed the motion, Neil Gow welcomed the proposal to carve out the site from the BBMP so the two matters could be considered separately.
As convenor of the Eurobodalla Welcome Park Group he wants the site rezoned as community land, removing it from the possibility of sale. He also requested wide community consultation to develop a plan of management so the site could be established as the Eurobodalla Welcome Park to preserve its heritage and environmental merits.
Patricia Hellier of Batemans Bay gave a brief history of the site since Batemans Bay Bowling Club amalgamated with Club Catalina in 2009. She said council bought the land in 2016, reportedly for $2.7 million, compared with a rumoured valuation of $1.4 million.
Moruya Chamber of Commerce wants to make the town an attractive stopover for RVs. Photo: Sam Bailey.
Councillor Phil Constable asked if it was possible to move forward with the site before the BBMP decision was made. Council’s general manager Mark Ferguson said the BBMP would likely be back to council in May 2026.
Councillor Amber Schutz wanted community consultation on the site’s future and asked if that could be done ahead of the BBMP. That way the feedback could be incorporated into the BBMP given the site is part of the CBD.
Councillor Rob Pollock said the site deserved special attention as the motion proposed. He also wanted councillors to be fully briefed about the intentions of the “two proponents” who had expressed interest in the site in late 2022/early 2023.
Councillor Sharon Winslade said councillors needed to “restore trust and pick up the conversation with everyone’s eyes open”.
Another talking point was Moruya Chamber of Commerce’s push for Moruya to be officially recognised as a town friendly towards recreational vehicles (RVs) as favoured by ‘grey nomads’. The chamber has been working on the plan since 2018.
Speaking in the public forum, Moruya Chamber of Commerce president Rob Pollock said it was a two-year trial.
“They are cashed up travellers and will return if we make it best practice,” he said.
Eurobodalla Shire councillors with former general manager Warwick Winn. Photo: Eurobodalla Shire Council.
Mr Pollock said every day within a space of 15 minutes he saw 20 to 30 caravans and RVs going through Moruya . He said they did not stop because there was no suitable parking. He said he could imagine the impact on local businesses if every 15 minutes just two of those RVs stopped for a cuppa and to look at the shops.
With RV parking at a “particular price point” settled, the next step is to formally identify the town as an RV-friendly town through the provision of signage.
Mr Pollock also discussed the possibility of overspill parking at Riverside Park, overnight parking behind Adelaide Hotel and for RVs to stay at Moruya Bowling Club for a maximum of two or three nights.
Some councillors wanted to know about the potential impact on accommodation providers such as caravan parks and also asked questions about the potential for people to be sleeping in their cars.
Mayor Mat Hatcher said “there is a lot more to unpack”.
Councillors unanimously passed the motion to endorse the chamber’s proposal but on the basis no overnight parking is provided within Moruya town centre, only in approved caravan parks and camping grounds.
There was also debate on council’s $194,900 2025-26 Community Grants and Donations Program.
Clr Pollock wanted a more detailed analysis of the social and economic impact of council money spent on events and proposed an amendment to the motion to that effect.
Clr Constable said the best information was needed so that council’s funding could be better targeted. Clr Winslade said it was supposed to be about getting “bang for buck”.
The amended motion was passed unanimously.
