"The Shoalhaven River entrance at Shoalhaven Heads is often closed to tidal flows when beach sands form a barrier across the river mouth. During those periods the river exchanges tidal flow with the ocean through Crookhaven Heads and Berrys Canal. Occasionally, floods breach and scour the Shoalhaven Heads entrance and for a time the river has two entrances to the sea.

The community at Shoalhaven Heads favours a tidal entrance at The Heads to provide constant flushing by ocean water and the enhancement of the environment that this creates. Following major flood scour in 1978, the entrance gradually deteriorated until it closed in 1981. Over the following six years flood events have been minimal and the entrance has remained closed.

Considerable public dissatisfaction with this situation resulted in the Public Works Department in 1984 recommending the maintenance of a low track (or 'notch') through the beach barrier to facilitate flood breakout and to prevent permanent closure. However, the absence of floods has meant the notch has not come into action, and in response to local concern for water quality at Shoalhaven Heads, the Department carried out a review of the options for management of the river entrance. The study, undertaken by The University of New South Wales Water Research Laboratory, is documented in this report."