Revised Batemans Bay Masterplan

Step 1: Draft a revised masterplan

Prepare technical studies and engage with the community to get feedback on three housing density options in and around Batemans Bay. We will use this feedback to draft the revised masterplan.

Step 2: Council approves the revised masterplan

We will present the final revised masterplan to councillors for adoption at the Ordinary Meeting of Council in December 2026.

Step 3: Submit legal documents to change the planning rules (planning proposal)

Once Council adopts the masterplan, we will prepare the legal documents needed to amend the Local Environmental Plan (LEP). LEPs guide planning decisions in our area by setting rules for how land can be used and developed.

Step 4: Public exhibition

When Council adopts the masterplan, we will display it publicly for community feedback in early 2027.

Step 5: Prepare related documents

We will draft supporting documents such as a development control plan (DCP) and a contributions plan. We will prepare these alongside the masterplan and the planning proposal.

Step 6: New planning rules become law

The amended LEP is published and becomes law.

The plan aims to:

• set out a vision for Batemans Bay's future development
• plan for population growth
• offer more types of housing for different needs
• grow the local economy
• prepare for climate change
• make the town a desirable place to visit, live, and work.

The plan also outlines suitable building heights and density, responds to infrastructure needs, and ensures better design for high-density development.

The plan's main goal is to offer more types of housing to suit different needs.

Most homes in Eurobodalla are stand-alone houses. Our masterplan offers more affordable choices, like townhouses, apartments, and smaller blocks of land in some areas.

Higher density housing in and around the town centre, will:

• bring more life and activity to the town
• help local businesses and the economy
• reduce travel time to shops, entertainment and places of employment.

Community feedback showed people did not support the proposed 100m height limit in the first draft masterplan.

We are now preparing a range of lower height options for the community to consider.

We are preparing a few different options. One option would allow medium density buildings, such as five to eight storeys, across the whole study area.

Another option includes taller buildings in certain areas, but at a reduced height than proposed in phase one of the masterplan.

The plan looks at improving infrastructure, supporting new housing, boosting business areas, and upgrading community facilities. These changes aim to support a strong economy and a healthy, connected community.

The current supermarket locations cause a lot of traffic congestion. The plan suggests moving supermarkets closer to the suburbs, away from their current sites.

We are studying how floods and rising sea levels could affect Batemans Bay. This research will help guide the plan. So far, our ideas include:

• no underground parking
• building homes and shops above flood level
• a wall along the foreshore walkway to protect shops from waves
• more open green space
• more street trees for shade.

We are doing more infrastructure studies to find ways to prepare for, and respond to, sea level rise.

We have removed the Batemans Bay Bowling Club site from the revised masterplan at this time.

• At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 30 June 2026, councillors approved the project plan to guide the revised masterplan.
• On 16 June 2026, councillors took part in a workshop to learn more about the project plan for the Batemans Bay Masterplan. Council's Director of Planning, Housing and the Environment, and the Coordinator of Strategy and Place, ran the workshop.
  • View a video replay of the workshop (at 1:06:28).

• On 10 March 2026 Council held an Extraordinary Council Meeting and resolved to:
  • accept the final probity report (February 2026) and the Director of Planning and Environment's report
  • hold a councillor workshop where staff will:
    • explain the new work plan, covering how the project will be run, timed, funded, and shared with the community
    • outline housing affordability options for the masterplan
    • explain how Council will respond to the probity report's findings and recommendations
  • after the workshop, receive a report from the General Manager about the revised masterplan program and how it will be run, plus advice on affordable housing
  • plan for the masterplan to guide growth for the next 25 to 30 years
  • review the revised masterplan once it is ready
  • show the revised masterplan to the public and decide whether to approve it.
Read the full Council resolution:
• Minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting - 10 March 2026  (339.8 KB)

• Centium, an independent company, prepared a probity report for Council. The report looked at:
  • governance and decision-making processes underpinning the draft masterplan
  • alignment of the masterplan with Council’s existing strategic documents (eg, Climate Action Plan, Coastal Management Program, flood studies)
  • integrity and transparency of community and stakeholder engagement
  • rationale and justification for proposed building height increases and land-use changes
  • handling of potential conflicts of interest, especially given Council’s dual role as landowner and planning authority.
You can read the full probity report under the 'masterplan documents' section of this page.

• Council continues to hold meetings with the community to talk about submissions and concerns throughout December.

• Council presented a report at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 28 October 2025. The report outlined the community's submissions on the masterplan. Council will review the masterplan after engaging with the community and external groups. You can read the submissions under 'masterplan documents' on this page.

• The draft Batemans Bay Masterplan was on public exhibition from 14 April 2025 to 30 June 2025. During the exhibition period, we:
  • received 77 responses to a survey on what a beautiful coastal town looks like
  • welcomed over 1,500 members of the community through our pop-up shopfront at Batemans Bay where we displayed plans, 3D drawings, and a video fly-through of the masterplan concept
  • received 246 submissions from the community.
• We reviewed the community's feedback and updated the draft masterplan.

• Council held a pop-up shopfront in Batemans Bay from 14 April 2025 to 30 June 2025. The community could view draft plans, 3D drawings, and a video fly-through to picture our concept for the town.
• Council invited the community to take a short survey to share their views on what a beautiful coastal town and buildings look like. This helped shape the masterplan for Batemans Bay. The survey opened in April and closed on 30 June 2025.
• The draft Batemans Bay Masterplan was on public exhibition from 14 April 2025 to 30 June 2025 so the community could give direct feedback.

• Council shared the draft masterplan with councillors.
• Council presented the draft masterplan at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 25 March 2025 to place it on public exhibition, starting 14 April 2025.
• After the exhibition period, we will present a report to Council so it can consider the community's submissions and approve the final masterplan.

• Council prepared the draft masterplan.
• Council engaged consultants who finalised their research on economic growth, building heights, and landscape improvements.
• Council will consider placing the draft masterplan on public exhibition for community feedback. The feedback period will start in early 2025.

• Council sought quotes from technical specialists to prepare studies that will help inform the masterplan.