Last Thursday was an opportunity for our local businesses and businesspeople to shine under the spotlight of the inaugural Kiama Business Network Awards.

After all, local business is the backbone of the economy and is the main contributor to our community winning the gong for the NSW Top Tourism Town in back-to-back years.

While it is only in its first year running, the awards are a testament to the fact that our community is always punching above its weight.

Our ability to leverage natural amenity and landscapes with local expertise and artisanal creativity is a reason that we continue to attract significant visitation across the entire year – rain, hail or shine.

However, the revelry of the Awards was somewhat undone when Kiama Council announced it would not be funding the annual Kiama New Year’s Eve Sky Show fireworks display – one of the country’s largest regional fireworks events.

NYE Sky Show brings in approximately $1.7m into the local economy and can be one of the biggest trading days for our local businesses.

The decision has been justified as “fiscal responsibility” with Council still under the NSW Government Performance Improvement Order (thank you to the previous Council(s) for this truly unforgettable memento).

While there is no specific reference to the NYE Sky Show (trust us, we’ve looked) in the Performance Improvement Order, Council is required to “ensure (it) can move to surplus operating budgets and ensure its long-term financial security”.

Translation: Spend less and earn more.

However, the Sky Show is more than just dollars and cents. As The Bugle reported last weekend, the generosity from attendees provides critical funding for community organisations such as South Coast Surf Life Saving and local branches of the Rural Fire Service.

It is estimated that around $15,000 is raised every year for vital community and local services.

At a time when the cost-of-living crisis is still biting and we should be rallying around our community, it does seem a little off kilter that boffins and politicians in Sydney should dictate how Council spends (a relatively small amount of) money.

To put things into context, Kiama Council advises that the fireworks cost upwards of $95,000 to put on.

The Sky Show attracts visitors from all around the region, the state and beyond, and last year the event generated an economic impact for the town to the tune of $1.75m.

That is a benefit cost ratio of 18:1 which is on par with the Sydney Harbour Fireworks.

For those playing at home, a benefit cost ratio that is 1:1 means that for every $1 you spend, there is $1 of economic benefit.

So the higher the ratio is, the more that investment is making money, and is therefore a good investment decision.

Some public sector investments have a BCR that is negative – so at 18:1 the Sky Show is the definition of a no-brainer.

So why are we risking this sound economic decision and why is our local community having to rely on a benefactor or sponsor to ensure the Sky Show happens this year.

In our last edition of “The View”, we lamented the fact that the NSW Government had dolled out not a penny, specifically for our community.

Surely Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has a spare $95,000 in his $127 billion budget?

Or perhaps the Transport Asset Manager (the new rebrand of the old Transport Asset Holding Entity) might want to sponsor the event and hold the fireworks at Bombo Quarry.

What a great opportunity to showcase what the future of the quarry could be as a great public place.

Either way, The Bugle’s View is that NYE Sky Show 2025 must happen and if a generous sponsor cannot be found, Council or the State Government must come to (fund) the party.