Kiama Council is calling for community feedback on the amended Draft Development Control Plan (DCP) for the proposed rezoning of the South Kiama Urban Release area for development. 

The area spanning approximately 40 hectares between Weir Street and Saddleback Mountain Road was proposed for development of 450 odd lots by White Constructions in 2021. Approval by the Minister for Planning in 2022 received community backlash, with concerns primarily around strategic merits, traffic and parking impacts and environmental factors. 

The council acknowledges financial implications linked with the development (Agenda of Ordinary Meeting, 18 June 2024, item 15.2), stating that the “... additional residential lots, when created, will increase the rating revenue for the council. In contrast, the additional assets will create a financial liability in terms of maintenance, depreciation, and renewal costs.”

The site-specific DCP has undergone revision to address various concerns. Council unanimously agreed to place the new draft DCP chapter (12.11) on public exhibition, issuing a statement on 20 June 2024. 

Council states that the new Draft DCP chapter includes objectives and controls to ensure the scale and operation of developments align with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021, Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2021, and Kiama Local Strategic Planning Statement 2020. 

Furthermore, “the draft DCP chapter also mitigates the financial impact on Council, by ensuring any planned infrastructure meets our technical specifications”. 

At Council’s Ordinary Meeting, Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang congratulated all involved in the draft DCP. “It inspired me to believe that what actually gets built on this site might be aligned with this DCP. I particularly like the section on the place principles … and the phrase that houses should be created that will be unique to coastal Kiama, creating a special vernacular,” she said.

“Originally, vernacular architecture did not use formally skilled architects, but relied on the design skills and tradition of local builders. Again, thank you to the director for planning. I would live in hope that we could tighten planning laws so that DCPs have more teeth.”

Councillor Imogen Draisma agreed the revised DCP indicated a step in the right direction. “I’m pleased to see the amount of time and effort that’s been put into recognising the importance of the beautiful place on the hill … It would be lovely to see a thriving community there, which meets current needs of the community and the future needs.”

View the new Draft DCP Chapter (12.11) and have your say via Council’s website: www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/yoursay. Feedback submissions close 19 July 2024 at 5pm.