Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy

9.2 South Durras
9.2.1 Background
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Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy
The Village Landscape
South Durras is located in the most north easterly part of the shire. The village is divided
into two main regions, the area south of Durras Lake (an intermittently opening lagoon) and
the area behind the dunes, north-west of Mill Point headland. Urban development is
predominantly concentrated on the foreshores of the Tasman Sea. Access to the village is
from the Princes Highway through South Durras Road, see Figure 9-1 below.
Figure 9-1 South Durras Location
The area surrounding the village consists of sensitive wetlands, Murramarang National Park
and coastal dunes and lakes. These areas act as a natural barrier making it difficult to
expand the current footprint/boundary of the village. However, South Durras contains about
59 vacant lots, which once developed, will reach the maximum dwelling numbers. Council’s
current planning instruments only allow single dwelling developments and require the
development to blend with the natural landscape to minimise the impacts on land and water
management. It is the community expectation that this urban setting/characteristic will be
retained in the future. The village also has three caravan parks and a small commercial
area. South Durras has a population of 326 and 313 houses (ABS 2001). This population
almost doubles during the peak summer holiday season. The 1996 housing monitor
indicated that the vacant lots are being developed at an annual rate of 8. Based on this
figure all vacant lots will be developed by 2005.
Existing Water Management Systems
The village residents rely on rainwater tanks for their potable water needs. Some residents
also extract groundwater using private backyard bores to water their gardens. The caravan
parks use both the harvested roof rain runoff and private bores to meet their water needs.