Nowra's $5m Veterans' Wellbeing Centre planning continues but no final delivery date yet

Nowra was one of six centres announced by the federal government at the last election with $30 million to be invested into a network Veterans' Wellbeing Centres in Darwin, Townsville, Perth, Adelaide and Wodonga.

NSW RSL is leading the development of the Nowra centre, with its board to assess the business case put forward by the working party on August 26.

And while a location of the Nowra centre is yet to be announced it is hoped to be known by the end of the year.

Former Royal Australian Navy Commodore, Lee Cordner AM, who is also president of the Central Southern RSL District Council, headed up the working party which has put forward the business case.

A RSL NSW spokesperson said while slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation was "absolutely committed to delivering this important centre for veterans and their families in the greater Shoalhaven region."

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"Lee Cordner has provided the draft business case for the Nowra Veterans and Wellbeing Centre, which is to be assessed by the project's steering committee before being considered by the RSL NSW board on August 26.

"The RSL NSW board has thanked Mr Cordner and the team of RSL volunteers who delivered the critical business case stage of the project.

"If the board supports the recommended proposal, RSL NSW will submit the business case to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to seek the award of a $5million grant towards the Centre."

The spokesperson said the awarding of the grant and the timing for this was a matter for DVA.

DVA said each of the six Veterans' Wellbeing Centres were at a different stage of development.

"The government is committed to delivering centres that meet the needs of the local veteran community," a DVA spokesperson said.

"The centres will put veterans and their families first by involving the organisations that currently provide them with services and support.

"DVA has worked with local groups, including the NSW Office for Veterans' Affairs, the Returned and Services League (RSL) and other ex-service organisations to understand the services currently available and the ongoing needs of veterans and their families in the Nowra region.

"NSW RSL is leading the development of the Nowra centre and its project team is looking at how the centre will operate and what services it will deliver.

"DVA understands a detailed business case is currently being developed by the project team, which will be finalised as soon as possible and will include responses received through the recent Expression of Interest process.

"All those involved are working together to deliver the centre as soon as possible for the benefit of veterans and their families."

However, at this stage a final delivery date for the Nowra Veterans' Wellbeing Centre has not been determined.