West Culburra proposal sparks fears for oyster farmers' livelihood

Culburra Chamber of Commerce and Councillor Mitchell Pakes have been outspoken in their support for a West Culburra development proposal, but local oyster farmers fear it would be a death-knell for their industry.

Barry Allen, of Shoalhaven Oyster Service, is a fifth-generation oyster farmer, and said development was slowly killing the industry by degrading water quality.

"You've lost the Hawkesbury River, you've lost Georges River, and if this goes ahead we're next," he said.

"There's about 11 farmers here, they have young families and Australia Oyster Coast have bought in. Before COVID, people came from all over the world to get their oysters here.

"The NSW Government is our landlord, we lease off them and they have to provide adequate water quality for our farming practices."

Mr Allen said he understood the updated development plan included a storm water catchment system, but was not convinced it could manage the more extreme downpours that can strike the region.

Any overflow would enter the catchment, and could degrade water quality, meaning the leases would have to close until the water quality improved.

This could mean farmers would have to go without an income for a number of months each year.

He said a bond lodged by the developer might help make the proposal more acceptable.

"We've been in the industry since 1863; we've had leases here since the 1920s and moved down in the 1950s," he said.

"The developer should lodge a bond so if we have to leave the industry we can exit with a bit of dignity.

"We're not against it if everything is done right, but they have to work with us."

Mr Allen said local oyster farmers would lodge objections to the proposal, and he understood NSW Fisheries and the NSW Food Authority would also lodge objections.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries has been contacted for comment.