Eurobodalla Shire councillors with former general manager Warwick Winn. Photo: ESC.
Carroll College’s request to trial pedestrian access for its students and progress of the new animal shelter were the subject of lengthy debate by Eurobodalla Shire councillors at a recent meeting.
Also on the agenda were the formation of a Creative Arts Advisory Committee, the acquisition of land at Wharf Road in North Batemans Bay, and a proposal to rezone land at Reservoir Road in Malua Bay for residential purposes.
In 1994 council passed a motion that blocked students at Carroll College in Broulee from walking or cycling to and from school.
Since then, the speed limit has been reduced from 100 to 80 km/h, or 40 km/h during school times, there is a new roundabout some 630 metres south of the college’s entrance with pedestrian refuges and footpaths for future connections, and Train Street has been connected to George Bass Drive.
Speaking at the public forum before the council meeting, Carroll College principal Andrew Kenneally said it would reduce pressure on public transport, encourage participation in extracurricular activities and give students more independence.
He said it was affecting the college’s enrolments because parents were considering pedestrian and bicycle access when deciding which school their children should attend, noting other schools in the area had pedestrian access.
Father Joshua Scott, a parish priest at Moruya, said it was an issue of equity.
Council has applied to the NSW Government to build another roundabout at the George Bass Drive/Train Street intersection which would further reduce the speed of traffic.
The motion was passed unanimously. The trial will commence in term two.
Plans for the new animal shelter. Photo: via ESC website.
Councillor Colleen Turner submitted questions on notice about progress on the new animal shelter and euthanasia rates at the animal shelter.
In 2020/21 and 2021/22 Eurobodalla’s euthanasia rates were lower than the NSW average but since then they have been higher. In 2024/25 Eurobodalla’s euthanasia rate was 23 per cent compared with the state average of 16 per cent. From 1 July 2025 to 31 January 2026 the rate was 14 per cent.
Council’s general manager Mark Ferguson said the architect’s amended plans for the shelter to reflect an endangered ecological community on the site were due in March. Because council is the proponent, an independent body will assess the development application after the plans have been publicly exhibited for 28 days. He hopes to have a report by the end of June.
He said the animal shelter was included in council’s draft 2026/27 budget. When asked about the timeframe for construction, Mr Ferguson said council would need to get a project plan from the architect.
During the public forum, Louise Webb and Peter Cormick again expressed their frustration and disappointment at the slow progress despite councillors agreeing it was a priority.
Location of all parcels at Wharf Road to be acquired by council, as marked in red. Photo: via ESC website.
In the public forum, five people spoke in support of a Creative Arts Advisory Committee for council. They talked about the shire’s talented and vibrant arts community and how the committee would benefit both council and the community.
Bernie O’Neil, public officer of the Arts Council of Eurobodalla, known as Art Central, said used smartly the committee could operate as a free consultancy service to council.
“The arts are an integral part of the social capital of our shire,” Ms O’Neil said. “Social capital has been increasingly understood as the glue that helps communities to function and thrive.”
The motion to establish the committee was passed unanimously. Councillor Amber Schutz will be chair and Clr Turner the alternate.
The motion for council to acquire land at Wharf Road in North Batemans Bay at no cost from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment was also passed unanimously. The acquisition will enable the return of beach areas and beach access to public ownership, including future rock wall works. None of them are residential blocks given beach erosion and coastal inundation.
Also on the agenda was a proposal to rezone land at Reservoir Road, Malua Bay, to R2 Low Density Residential. It is currently zoned RU1 Primary Production and C4 Environmental Living.
Mayor Mat Hatcher said he wanted to see more housing so he wanted to give new councillors more time to get all the information rather than see the proposal fall over. He said deferral would result in a better outcome and clear messaging to the developer community. His motion to defer the decision to April was carried.
