Kiama’s local economy stands at a crossroads - its vibrancy hamstrung by the dual blow of major event cancellations and mounting cost-of-living pressures.

Over recent years, the hard work of our local entrepreneurs, leaders (both political and business) and our community have created and a robust and award-winning visitor economy - yet our fortunes are now increasingly fragile as disruptions ripple through every facet of life and business.

Nowhere is this precarity felt more acutely than in the void left by the cancellation of cornerstone celebrations - the iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks and the highly anticipated Changing Tides Festival.

Traditionally, these gatherings were more than entertainment—they were economic powerhouses and in some respect, The Changing Tides Festival alone was forecast to draw 10,000 visitors (having sold out last year), each expected to spend around $300 locally, representing a devastating $3 million shortfall for shops, restaurants and cafes, and accommodation providers.

These events were a vital tonic for local businesses and workers, from part-time youth employees to seasoned traders banking on the seasonal bump.

The New Year’s fireworks, historically a magnet for revellers and families from throughout the Illawarra and beyond, have also succumbed to financial reality.

In a much-publicised decision, the event, costing around $90,000, could not secure the required budget amid Council’s fiscal tightening.

Attempts to bridge the funding gap - from crowd-sourcing to business donations - fell woefully short.

The resultant loss stretches beyond the ephemeral thrill of fireworks: reduced foot traffic, fewer restaurant bookings, and diminished overnight stays all undercut the local economy.

With fewer visitors, local businesses face leaner margins and are forced to tighten belts.

This restraint percolates through wages, staffing hours and even the viability of small ventures.

For a region supporting nearly 6800 jobs and generating over $2.5 billion in annual output, the aggregate effect is a slow, cumulative drag that heaps even more pressure on households and families.

The lost economic stimulus further strains residents, especially as household costs - from groceries to fuel and rents - continue their inexorable climb.

With the likelihood of a Melbourne Cup Day interest rate cut all but extinguished, it looks like the cancellation of these major events will be a double whammy for our community.

Our leaders lament not just the lost dollars, but the missed opportunities to convene, celebrate, and reinforce Kiama’s reputation as a lively destination.

As Mayor Cameron McDonald put it, these events brought “colour, culture, and connection” - elements sorely missed as the town’s social and economic calendar thins.

Elected largely on the mantra of ‘community-first, business-focused’ the first year of this Council has undoubtedly been successful and positive.

But we must remember these successes were largely borne out of challenges that were created by historical economic and policy challenges – Blue Haven Bonaira, lifting of covenants for Glenbrook Drive and the ever-present performance improvement order from the State Government.

If the fate of Changing Tides is a signal of wider things to come, it looks like 2027 will be a genuine opportunity to see how business-focused our leaders really are.

In the end, our fortunes are less about fireworks or festivals themselves, and more about the fragile foundations that supports community-first prosperity - when those pillars wobble, tremors can reverberate throughout the town.

The Bugle’s View is that we may need a business-first Council to give confidence to local entrepreneurs and grow the economies of our town to ensure that these unexpected shocks are not terminal.