However, council has only been successful in gaining funding for three projects, worth $9 million.

Two big-ticket items, funding for the East Nowra Sub-Arterial (ENSA), has applications still under assessment worth $12 million and $45 million.

At the sod turning for the new $342 million Nowra bridge, Kiama MP Gareth Ward said $23 million was available to Shoalhaven council under the scheme but council had been "indolent" and "lazy" and needed to "step up" and look at the Nowra road network.

Council says since mid-2018, it has lodged 11 applications totalling $87.75 million with the GLE for projects critically needed to support job and economic growth in the Shoalhaven.

"Only three applications having been approved and works are already underway on these projects at Woollamia, South Nowra (Flinders Estate) and Yerriyong (Albatross Aviation Technology Park)," a council spokesperson said.

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"ENSA, a project requested to be nominated by the Member for Kiama, is in the preliminary stages of detailed design and will require significant funding before it can move to a construction stage.

"Council has submitted two GLE applications for ENSA, the first being $12 million for preliminary works, and $45 million being the most recent preliminary estimate of total cost, noting that significant geotechnical work is still underway to determine the most cost-effective and deliverable route for the ENSA project."

ENSA is designed to alleviate the pressure off the Kalandar Street/Princes Highway intersection, will take traffic off the Princes Highway behind Stockland Nowra, across the floodplain to rejoin Greenwell Point Road, providing easier access for traffic travelling to the eastern villages.

"Given the urgency for council to secure the remaining funds under the Shoalhaven's GLE allocation, staff are continuing to work closely with the state government grants assessment officer to ensure the projects greatest chance of securing funding," the spokesperson said.

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The spokesperson said council's senior officers had a productive meeting with Gareth Ward last week in relation to future projects in the region.

"Council looks forward to continuing this productive dialogue with the Member for Kiama on projects that need state government support to be delivered and looks forward to favourable support from Gareth Ward on the outcome of these funding applications," the spokesperson said.

In a separate issue, questions have been asked why Shoalhaven City Council was not present at the sod-turning for the new $342 million Nowra bridge.

"Shoalhaven City Council staff were not invited to the sod turning for the Nowra Bridge," the spokesperson said.

"As we are not financial partners in the project it was not expected."