Work has commenced on earthworks to remove around 25,000m3 of fill from the site of the new development on Collins St, with a cavalcade of trucks taking the material out through the CBD.

The earthworks process is expected to take 16 weeks.

When finished in 18 months, the Fresh Hope Care development will offer 56 retirement apartments, spread over three and four storey buildings.

Trucks heading out of Terralong Street

Some business owners in Collins Street are taking the beginning of work philosophically.

“It will be inconvenient for a while but the soil has to be moved,” says Des Howley, owner of nearby Kiama Cycles and Sports

“Like any building development there will be disruptions but at the moment there hasn’t been any problems with it for my business.”

Linda Boulding, owner of Maci Collections and Beauty in the Terrace shops, says, “The parking aspect is bad with less parks now in this area, but the noise or the trucks haven’t been a problem as of yet.

“Maybe once the building starts there will be more of a problem with it.”

However, the initial noise and disruption has led Kate Dezarnaulds to move her WorkLife co-working offices from immediately adjacent to the site to the relative quiet of Terralong St.

“It became very apparent to us that were going to be unable to operate in that location for the duration of the construction,” she says.

“I think it is going to be incredibly disruptive to the small businesses in Collins St, and with all the distractions of last year most have not got their heads around the likely impact to their operations.

“One of the most challenging things about trying to operate a business in Kiama at the moment is that every single major thoroughfare is immediately adjacent to a pending mega construction.

“It has been a very expensive and serious learning curve for us that it is very risky to operate a business in areas like this that are subject to such an incredible pace of redevelopment.

“We were just lucky to find this beautiful office that we could convert into a co-working space over the course of a weekend.”

Prior to COVID, WorkLife had 30 small businesses utilising its space and it has since rebuilt to 22 members. Ms Dezarnaulds expects to see a further increase in the demand for co-working space.

“COVID was an enormous disruption, but now there is a much broader group of people who know that they are just as productive, and much happier, if they get to work closer to home.”

Graham Collinson-Smith, owner of Terrace Collectables. is looking to the future, “There’s no major noise at the moment apart from the trucks turning out.

“At least it’s day time and not night time noise, plus it gives everyone something to look at and talk about.

“It’ll eventually bring more residents and visitors to Kiama and these businesses.”

Lynn Bailey, Executive General Manager of Fresh Hope Care, says they are doing everything possible to minimise the impact.

“Our building contractors, Ganellan Holdings Pty Ltd, are working closely with our new neighbours to minimise disruption to the local community.

“Kiama Leagues Club have kindly given access to enter the site via their carpark, which has aided the flow of construction traffic.

“The builders are also communicating with our neighbours via a regular newsletter and through informal conversations conducted by the Project Manager, who has moved into the area.

“As per the DA approved by the Council, works are permitted to take place between 7am-6pm Monday to Friday and 8am-1pm on Saturdays, with no construction to be scheduled on Sundays or Public Holidays.”