Shoal Bay Place Plan

Shoal Bay Place Plan

Following broad community engagement, Port Stephens Council unanimously agreed to adopt the Shoal Bay Place Plan at its ordinary meeting on Tuesday 23 April 2024.

The Shoal Bay Place Plan will guide how we manage the increasing demand of new residents – it will help support housing growth but also ensure we don’t lose the unique character and natural beauty of Shoal Bay while improving residents quality of life. Along with infrastructure improvements, the adoption of the Shoal Bay Place Plan will lead to improved economic outcomes for local businesses with upgrades to business areas, local events and improved shopfronts. It will also help to protect and celebrate Shoal Bay’s natural assets recognising a number of opportunities for projects including clean up days, beachfront stabilisation, environmental volunteering and education campaigns.

Liveability score

In August 2020, we teamed up with Place Score to complete our first-ever place census. Over 3,700 people across the LGA, including people who live, play and visit Shoal Bay, told us what they value and how they rate the suburb. The survey results helped us identify the priorities for the Shoal Bay community and plan accordingly.

Download the Liveability index for Shoal Bay to learn more about what the residents said they value most in this area.

Town teams event

In May 2023, Port Stephens Council joined forces with the Town Teams Movement, a non-profit company that enables local communities and governments to connect, organise and act to regenerate the fabric of their neighbourhoods and to create better places.

Port Stephens Council was the first Council in NSW to actively promote the Town Teams approach, and we're proud to be working with the local community to create vibrant places that support social wellbeing and enhance liveability.

A series of Town Team launch events will be held in Shoal Bay, where community members can learn more and discuss their ideas for community projects. Upcoming event dates and locations can be found below:

  • Thursday 16 May 2024 | 5:30pm to 7:30pm | Shoal Bay Country Club - Whitesands, Convention Centre –  Reserve a spot
  • Friday 17 May 2024 | 9:00am to 11:00am | Shoal Bay Country Club - Whitesands, Convention Centre – Reserve a spot 

Casual meetings will later be held in the community to progress some of these ideas. Should you wish to learn more on how to get involved please contact Dean Cracknell from Town Teams on 0468 38 1745 or email dean@townteammovement.com

Get involved

Contact our Senior Strategic Planner on 4988 0462 or via email to arrange a time to talk about your place planning idea, project or register your interest.