Jerberra Estate is known as a paper estate where land was sold to people without being zoned for dwellings.

Over the years landowners did build on their land and have spent decades campaigning to have their holdings zoned residential.

Earlier this year new planning controls were approved that provided council with a legal framework to assess the buildings and remove structures deemed inappropriate.

There are about 65 dwellings without council approval in the estate, which is made up of 152 lots.

Under the new controls 87 dwellings can potentially be approved.

Fifty-six lots are able to be developed as stand-alone blocks while the remaining 36 approvals require two or more lots to be amalgamated.

Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash recently announced Footprint Sustainable Engineering was hired by council to investigate, design and document the infrastructure needed for Jerberra Estate.

“Development of the estate can now be undertaken in accordance with the recently adopted Development Control Plan. The engagement of Footprint Sustainable Engineering is a welcome first step in the delivery of public infrastructure at the Estate,” Cr Gash said. 

The company will be on site over the next few weeks starting with land surveying and geotechnical investigations in the road reserves. 

Once the data is collected the design process will be undertaken for roads, stormwater and electrical infrastructure. 

The estate will not be provided with water or sewerage infrastructure as the Development Control Plan has adopted the approach where developments are self-sustaining for water and sewerage.

Cr Gash said the concept design including minimal street lighting, intersection upgrades and bus stops will be presented to landholders at a public meeting.

After consultation, the design will be developed and documentation prepared to allow the works to be tendered for construction.