The by-election has now happened and I wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate our new NSW Government Member for Kiama, Katelin McInerney and to thank the many candidates who have spent time listening to our community and visiting our towns and villages.

Politics often brings plenty of noise, but for our community the issues are clear.

For too long Kiama has been overlooked when it comes to the big investments that neighbouring areas have secured, from hospitals to transport infrastructure.

That needs to change.

Council has done the work to set out what our community needs through our State Government Advocacy Plan.

The projects are well-defined

• upgrading the Kiama Sports Complex,
• fixing the Bombo Water Resource Recovery Facility
• unlocking Spring Creek for jobs and housing,
• ensuring safe connections on Jamberoo Mountain Road, and
• planning for future growth.

These are not “nice to haves”, they are essential investments that will shape our community’s future.

Over the past year we’ve shown what can be achieved when all levels of government work together.

We have made strong inroads in the past 12 months, and we intend to keep that momentum going.

Kiama Council extends a warm welcome to Katelin McInerney as our new representative – you will find a council that is willing to partner and ready to deliver.

We’re asking for fair investment in the projects that will underpin Kiama’s future, and we are prepared to play our part in making them happen.

I also want to acknowledge those politicians and candidates who have listened to date.

Genuine engagement matters, and our community notices when leaders take the time to understand our priorities.

I look forward to working with Ms McInerney and to ongoing collaboration with the NSW Labor Government.

My commitment is to keep pushing for Kiama’s fair share, not for the sake of politics, but for the good of our whole community.

That is what the people of our municipality rightly deserve.

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