Minnamurra Progress Association is calling for greater consideration from all levels of government surrounding the environmental impact from the development surrounding the new Shellharbour Hospital in Dunmore.

At last week’s MPA meeting, members aired their concerns regarding the new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy proposed by the NSW Government and the potential run-off from construction at the hospital site into the nearby Minnamurra River.

“The thing that really concerns us is the effect of the new development,” MPA assistant secretary Cliff Mason said.

“Hard surfaces, stormwater run-off and the build-up particularly in long-term rain events.

“There’ll be a lot of run-off into the nearby catchment area of the Rocklow Creek and the Minnamurra River - that is a major concern to our association.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure (DPHI) said that the department enforced conditions on the Shellharbour Hospital development as part of its approval “to safely manage and mitigate any environmental impacts during construction and operation”.

“Any additional development in the area will be required to consider potential water quality issues as part of the rezoning and development application process, prior to any approval being issued,” the spokesperson said.

Jacqui Forst, who is also a member of the MPA, told The Bugle that there were concerns not only about the potential housing development in the Dunmore area, but also the nearby sand mine.

“It needs to be assessed on all the things that are impacting the river to be future focused,” Forst said.

“The river catchment is under enormous ecological stress from the [Dunmore] Boral sand mine, but the new threats that will come from the sewage substation and the storm water run-off from the 450 new homes is significant.”

The MPA previously raised the issue of the environmental threats to the Minnamurra river to The Bugle in August during the Kiama electorate by-election where they also held a community forum for six of the 13 candidates - including Katelin McInerney, where candidates gave a speech and answered questions.  

Mason said the MPA was “strongly opposed” to the sand mining that is being undertaken beside Riverside Drive and over the back of Dunmore House.

The sand that is mined from this quarry and others in the Illawarra is predominantly used for construction purposes. 

“We’ve also expressed concern in the lead-up to the start of the construction of the new Shellharbour Hospital about stormwater,” Mason said.

Forst does not believe the MPA’s stance is that of a NIMBY (Not In Our BackYard) perspective and she is perplexed as to why there isn’t greater advocacy for the protection of the Minnamurra River from the three levels of government.

“Anyone who is a visitor to the Kiama area knows Minnamurra – it is put on the front of all the PR campaigns for Kiama Council and Tourism NSW,” Forst said.

“During any weekday you will see a myriad of tourists who come on the train and drive to witness this beautiful coastal ecosystem.

“It is also a place of urban respite as both our population grows in Shellharbour and Kiama the Minnamurra River is being used by families to swim, relax and to get away – it is free.

“The mangroves in the saltmarshes are under enormous threat of degradation.”   

It was announced at the end of October by the NSW Government that it is pursuing two major rezonings in Shellharbour which would build approximately 5700 new homes - 5000 in the Shellharbour City Centre (state-led) and 700 new homes in the New Shellharbour Hospital Precinct. 

The coastal erosion along the Minnamurra River. Photo: Supplied

It is expected the homes in the New Shellharbour Hospital Precinct will be put up for public exhibition in 2026.

The DPHI is preparing studies to inform the rezoning proposal for the surrounding precinct, which will deliver complementary housing and employment opportunities.

The Department is engaging with Shellharbour City Council and state agencies, including NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water prior to exhibition of the plans for the precinct.