Councillor Bob Proudfoot wants Shoalhaven City Council to prepare a chronology about the last 10 years of Nowra bypass discussions.
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The chronology would include vital commentary and viewpoints of state and local government staff and is expected to be presented to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack with the aim of securing federal funding.
The councillor's motion, tabled at Tuesday night's meeting, was in response to the Coffs Harbour bypass project which is expected to cost $1.8 billion dollars and provide 2000 jobs.
Cr Proudfoot argued Nowra was due for a bypass as the northern end of Shoalhaven has 17 traffic flow impediments, including nine sets of traffic lights and eight roundabouts.
He said Coffs Harbour bypass received federal and state funding with a dozen sets of traffic lights.
Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips said she was "absolutely on Team Nowra Bypass", saying it was a no brainer.
"We know traffic in Nowra is out of control and something needs to be done to fix it. At the moment, it's taking an extra 20 minutes at least just to get across the bridge, and during school holidays or on long weekends, the traffic build-up is completely unacceptable," she said.
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Cr Proudfoot said, "It will probably cost a bit more than the Coffs Harbour one because of the terrain and the negotiation over the Shoalhaven River.
"But it's money well spent.
"Shoalhaven is a rapid growth area and rapid growth areas need better infrastructure, not just bits and pieces.
"We're competing for dollars all around the country and we believe we've got a very strong case."
He said the upgrades to the Princes Highway between Wollongong and Bomaderry were attracting record numbers of people to an already heavily visited Shoalhaven.
He said outside Sydney, Shoalhaven had the highest visitation rates in NSW.
"Just on that alone, we need more infrastructure to support that tourism.
"If our city is congested, as it always seems to be, then that's a major impediment to [new and existing] investment."
He believes far more people are thinking about moving to the regions because of the lifestyle they provide.
Cr Proudfoot said residents in North Nowra could jump on the bypass and head north with ease, avoiding congestion on the bridge and alleviating the traffic problem.
People who needed to head south could "hook onto the western bypass and bypass the centre of Nowra and off they go".
Cr Proudfoot said residents travelling from the northern end of the central part of Nowra may use the bridge if they chose.
Ms Phillips said a bypass wouldn't happen overnight but the conversation was needed now.
Both Ms Phillips and Cr Proudfoot welcomed any engagement on this issue from governments at all levels.
Cr Proudfoot wants the state government to start the pre-planning process now and spend the "$25 million or so that it will cost".
He said "you wouldn't expect a shovel in the ground before two years".
Even If a bypass was announced soon, Cr Proudfoot said it "probably wouldn't be finished until 2025, 2026 or 2027".
Cr Proudfoot said he expected some assistance from state member Shelley Hancock to get Mr McCormack to the table.