Imagine living in a town where you cannot get to the beach, the bathroom, or even a lookout without help.

That is the daily reality for many people in our community who use wheelchairs, mobility aids, or have access needs that are still being overlooked.

Kiama prides itself on being inclusive and welcoming.

But if we are honest, there is still a long way to go when it comes to making our public spaces accessible to everyone.

That means not just complying with technical codes but truly enabling people of all abilities to enjoy the same opportunities as everyone else.

Take the beach, for example.

If you have ever watched surfers glide through waves or kids building sandcastles, you know the joy our coastline brings.

But try getting a beach wheelchair across uneven rocks or soft sand, and that joy quickly turns to frustration.

Or try using the ambulant toilet at Kevin Walsh Oval in Jamberoo.

It requires a key only available from the pub or the IGA. That is if you even know where to look.

At Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club, newly built facilities promised access but delivered a maze of obstructions and poor drainage.

Eight weeks after council called for changes, the door still will not be accessible to everyone.

These are not one-off problems.

They are symptoms of a system that designs for people, not with them.

John Maclean OAM, an elite athlete who uses a wheelchair, recently spent time in our region.

After a career as rugby league player and following a training accident has adapted to life in a wheelchair by pushing extraordinary boundaries in sporting achievement as a wheelchair athlete.

He reminded us how powerful it is to ask the question: what would this place look like if it was truly accessible to all? Not just technically compliant, but joyfully, freely usable.

And he left us with a clear goal.

"Let’s make Kiama beaches accessible to all ages, all abilities, all the time."

Cr Stuart Larkins agrees that accessibility must be a priority.

Council has previously audited bathrooms and car parks, but he acknowledges that playgrounds and beaches have not yet been reviewed and should be next.

He supports a community-led audit with people who have lived experience to inform future upgrades and ensure we get it right.

The Bugle is calling for a local accessibility audit, and we believe it starts with listening.

Listening to people who live with access barriers every day, who can point out the uneven ramp, the missing signage, the blocked path or the unnecessary key.

This is not just about wheelchairs.

It is about prams, walking frames, neurodivergent needs, sensory-friendly spaces, ageing knees and broken ankles.

It is about ensuring that whether you are a child, a parent, a visitor or a lifelong local, you can enjoy the same Kiama as everyone else, not a limited version.

Access should not be something people have to fight for. It should be built in from the start.

So let us ask the question.

What would true access look like here?

Then let us work together across council, community and lived experience to make it real.