If the entrance of the Shoalhaven River at Shoalhaven Heads were to remain closed during a flood, water levels would be significantly higher for longer in some parts of the river’s floodplain. This would result in greater impacts on the Shoalhaven community, especially at the village of Shoalhaven Heads, in terms of inundation of houses and other property, cutting of access roads and possibly through increased injury or loss of life. The Shoalhaven River entrance area is also of high environmental significance. The scenic and recreational values of the area are very important to residents and visitors of the region. The entrance area is one of the most important sites on the New South Wales coast for populations of migratory wading birds protected under international agreements and, at times, threatened species of other shorebirds may nest at the site.

The general objectives of the Shoalhaven River Entrance Management Plan are:

1. To attempt to control flood breakout in an effort to reduce flood levels and reduce chances of major morphological changes in the river channel and foreshores.
2. To ensure that the Shoalhaven River entrance is managed in an ecologically sustainable manner.
3. To ensure that speedy intervention is possible if local flooding is predicted.
4. To determine key responsibilities and to streamline the decision making process by quantifying the variables to be addressed by these decision makers.
5. To set out the entrance management strategy so that all participating managers can undertake responsibilities in sympathy with overall objectives.
6. To set out the entrance management strategy so that the broader community can understand, support and/or assist the process.