Gerringong business owner Mark Blight’s five-year plan to expand his operations remains uncertain due to the lack of industrial land infrastructure in the Kiama local government area.

Blight’s business, South Coast Flat Packs, is situated on 144 square metres in the Gerringong Business Park.

Blight envisions his business remaining in the Kiama region but he may have to look elsewhere. 

He has thrown his support behind Derek McMahon’s push to have a three-hectare property at 5 Sims Road included in Kiama Council’s Employment Lands Strategy because the local area is sadly lacking for space for local businesses to expand.

“100% [it is possible] once Sims Road goes through, there will be a lot of land to do different sort of things on for sure,” Blight said.

“If we can’t stay local in the next few coming years, we’re going to have to move somewhere else.

“Another council area and not staying local. A lot of people like using local businesses.”

At the most recent Kiama Council meeting, the vacant block of land on Sims Road in Gerringong was excluded from the Employment and Lands Strategy by a 4-1 vote.

“I feel mostly let down by the four councillors who voted no,” McMahon said.

“I’m upset about that; I don’t want any favouritism when it comes to that or anything done improperly.”

McMahon felt that the process of Council’s community consultation with the Employment Lands Strategy was not as comprehensive as it could have been.

“When they brought the Employment Land Strategy out, they didn’t repeat any of the meetings,” he said.

“They just took a little information out of the Housing Strategy they had, sent it away and did an ‘electronic desktop study’.”

McMahon said that the potential loss of businesses from the area would have a flow-on effect to the circular economy.

“Mark runs a local business, employs locally, gets his vehicles serviced by the local mechanic,” McMahon said.

“When he picks that up and moves that to Bomaderry, all of that goes with it.”

Blight, who has been a Gerringong local for about 15 years, explained to The Bugle the sociological benefits industrial small businesses provide to their communities.

“We’ve got a team of five guys now and supporting the local community by having jobs created is a big thing for sure,” Blight said.

“I’ve had a few local guys come through, one guy’s changed direction now, but he’s going well.

“Another guy has another local business in town and he’s employing as well now.

“It’s good rapport when you get a phone call from your old apprentice who has a local business and says Mark I want you to build my Kitchen - I want to keep it local.”

When asked if he felt supported by governments, Blight could not give a definitive answer, but did provide suggestions about what they could do better. 

“Creating more opportunities like land is number one and a bit more support is number two,” Blight said.

“There is not enough support out there really.”