She didn’t get to show her slides on the night, but if you asked Jacqui Forst what Kiama should be doing differently, she’d answer with one word: partnerships.At last week’s housing forum, Jacqui - a social worker and service innovator with experience across NSW Health, aged care and the not-for-profit sector - proposed something bold to flip Kiama’s housing narrative from stuck to strategic.Her slide deck, titled “Innovate Kiama”, points to global and local models that are already delivering housing solutions with social, environmental and economic impact.Among them:Nightingale Housing, a not-for-profit group delivering architect-designed, low-energy apartments for low to middle-income residents, underpinned by values of affordability, transparency and community.Havilah Place, right here in Kiama, was named as a potential Nightingale-style demonstration site.International examples like Birmingham Dreaming City, Dark Matter Labs, and Glasgow’s Our Town initiative, all of which use strategic partnerships to drive regeneration and social infrastructure.Jacqui’s key proposal was to activate Draft Housing Strategy V2 Recommendation 26 of the Draft Housing Strategy, the final action line most readers skipped over, and turn it into something real.She wants KIama Council to help convene a housing reference group of local residents, funders, venture capitalists, urban futurists and strategic risk holders such as insurers and superannuation funds.The goal? To co-design and support a portfolio of real world, system-led demonstrations that tackle the housing crisis through local innovation.She also proposed a Kiama Hackathon, where residents, planners, architects and builders could prototype new ideas and break through regulatory constraints together.“This doesn’t have to be a pipe dream,” Jacqui said. “We’ve got the land, the knowledge and the urgency. What we need now is structure, trust and investment.”

Opinion A motion to protect the Minnamurra River is testing whether Kiama Municipal Council’s governance reforms have real bite, or just better branding. At first glance, the Strategic Finance and Governance Improvement Plan (SFGIP), adopted in response to a state-imposed Performance Improvement Order, is full of promises, better systems, improved accountability and streamlined decision-making.It is the kind of plan that comes with charts, timelines, and a digital dashboard called Pulse. But at the last Council meeting, the real test of those reforms came from outside the official agenda, through a public access presentation by Minnamurra Progress Association spokesperson Jacqui Forst. Speaking in support of Councillor Melinda Lawton’s motion to undertake a full environmental assessment before a possible relocation of the Council depot near the Minnamurra River, Forst offered more than advocacy.She offered a mirror, asking whether a Council promising high governance standards can justify self-assessment under outdated legislation. CEO Jane Stroud's written response to Cr Lawton’s motion confirmed that a self-assessment under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 would be carried out and stressed that the project was already being managed within Council’s new internal framework, the very one established by the SFGIP.In other words, trust the process. But Forst gently challenged that trust, pointing out that 1979-era assumptions about rivers as “dumping sites” no longer meet modern community standards or expectations.Her call includes quadruple bottom line reporting, economic, environmental, social, and cultural costs, in the assessment process, and collaborating with Shellharbour Council to create a joint strategy for the catchment. This is not the first time the CEO’s approach to transparency has raised concerns.In her Item 13.1 progress update on the Performance Improvement Order (PIO), Stroud noted the governance plan was “operational in nature” and therefore did not require community feedback. But this distinction, as the river debate shows, is exactly what troubles residents - decisions made under the banner of “operations” still affect public land, natural resources, and community amenities.Whether it is selling aged-care facilities or moving a depot near a fragile river ecosystem, these decisions are lived, not abstract. Tellingly, the PIO progress report flags a quiet risk, that councillors might “make new commitments beyond capacity.”In plain terms, it is a warning against councillors overstepping.But it also raises a deeper issue - are elected representatives being empowered to lead, or managed into silence under the guise of reform?Cr Lawton’s motion, and Forst’s evidence-backed support, suggest that community leaders are still trying to ensure environmental integrity is not sidelined by financial convenience.The test is not whether the system can absorb such motions. It is whether it can act on them. Just months after finalising the Blue Haven Bonaira sale and launching a new digital governance tool, Council is now facing a different kind of audit, not by the Office of Local Government, but by residents who are asking what does improvement actually look like? As Jacqui Forst put it, “Safe and inclusive discussions are essential in this time of change.” So is listening.

Kiama’s Acting Mayor, Cr Melissa Matters, says it is time for the State and Federal Governments to stop turning their backs on regional communities like Jamberoo.From early childhood education to critical transport links, Cr Matters says Kiama Municipal Council is being forced to carry the load while higher levels of government remain silent.“Kiama is a childcare desert,” she said.“Families are stuck on waitlists for months. In Jamberoo, our community pre-school is on a floodplain, one heavy rain away from being unusable, and we still have no funding commitment for a safe, modern facility.”The need for a new Jamberoo Community Preschool is now listed as a top priority in Kiama Council’s Draft Delivery and Operational Plan.Cr Matters is encouraging residents to make a submission and show their support during the public exhibition period.“This is more than just education,” she said. “It is about safety, equality and whether young families in our region are given a fair go.”Another pressing concern is Jamberoo Mountain Road, a vital route for locals, tourists and emergency services, which will again be closed for major repairs in May.Council will carry out the work, but under disaster funding rules, the repairs must follow outdated standards.“We are doing the heavy lifting, rebuilding a road from the 1800s, but the funding rules stop us from building it to modern safety standards,” Cr Matters said. “That is not just frustrating. It is dangerous.”Kiama Council is calling on the NSW Government to assume responsibility for Jamberoo Mountain Road and for both levels of government to fund a long-term solution before another landslip or tragedy occurs.“We are not asking for handouts,” Cr Matters said. “We are asking for common sense and a fair go. Until we get it, Council will keep fighting.”

You could feel the frustration in the room, not anger for anger’s sake, but a deep weariness that came from years of seeing housing decisions made without listening to the people who live here.At last week’s housing forum at Kiama Leagues Club, the panel had spoken.Then it was the community’s turn. What followed was part town hall, part truth-telling session.So what would actually fix the housing strategy?When the question was put to the panel they didn’t hold back.Former urban planner Tony Gilmour suggested two quick changes: add affordable housing to the list of strategy priorities and make it crystal clear that in-fill and brownfield development are preferred over sprawl on greenfield sites."That’s planning 101," he said. "And we’re not even doing that."Housing Trust CEO Michelle Adair called for data with a pulse.“We need to know who’s going to live here,” she said. “How old are they, what are they earning, are they raising kids, are they care workers or casuals, or retirees?”Without this, she argued, the strategy is planning for a place that may not even exist. She also called for an action plan with actual action, not vague “we’ll review this in two years” clauses.Architect Madeleine Scarfe demanded targets. Social housing in the Kiama LGA sits at just 0.6 per cent - well below the state average of 4.2 per cent.She also called for an increase to at least 5 per cent and for limits on short-term rentals. "Targets matter," she said. "Even if they’re modest, we need to know where we’re headed."She also urged Kiama Council to take out Spring Hill and Riversdale Road from the strategy until demand justified it. “We don’t need them now,” she said. “Let’s not waste land just to hit numbers we don’t believe in.”Bronwyn Siden, a retired town planner, spoke plainly. “You can’t achieve affordable housing in greenfield sites,” she said. “The infrastructure costs alone make it unviable.”She called the current strategy a step forward, but one still fundamentally flawed.Her message was clear: Council needs help. Volunteers, experts and locals must work together if the vision is to be realised.Neville Fredericks, a developer and former Mayor backed her up. The real problem, he said, isn’t bad intentions, it’s bad regulation. “The system is designed to produce sprawl,” he said. “If you want compact, walkable, diverse housing, you have to change the rulebook.”And then came the big red flag - infrastructure. Or rather, the lack of it. One long-time resident asked how 900 new homes could be approved without accounting for the waste they would produce.He had done the maths: four people per home equals 720,000 litres of sewage from 900 homes per day. Has Sydney Water even been consulted?No one could say. The silence was damning. “We’re already short on sewer and space,” he said. “We can’t keep piling people in and pretend it will sort itself out.”Alan Woodward brought the cautionary tale. He spoke of Ligurano, a coastal town in Italy that once thrived.Now it’s a ghost town half the year. Holiday rentals replaced families, schools shut down, and trains stopped running. “Could Kiama become the next Ligurano?” he asked. The room fell quiet.And still, practical ideas kept coming. Bernadette Black, a South Precinct resident, described streets overwhelmed by short-term rentals - not a family getaway, but party houses for 18 guests with no development approval.An environmental advocate warned that Spring Creek, Kiama’s last remaining coastal freshwater wetland, was under threat from proposed housing development.A small local developer and builder stood up and told the story from the other side. “We want to build affordable homes,” he said, “but the system is stacked against us.”He listed every layer of cost: stamp duty, capital gains tax, GST, land tax, holding costs and the endless risk of going to the Land and Environment Court. “We’re not the enemy,” he said. “We’re part of the solution, if we’re allowed to be.”And yet, the room wasn’t cynical. It was clear-eyed. Create a citizen jury. Attract real innovation. Invite funders, insurers and housing organisations to collaborate with local knowledge.“The innovation won’t come from Council,” said panel member Jacqueline Forst. “But it can come from us.”In the final moments, 21-year-old Jordan Casson-Jones took the mic again. “If teachers and nurses and firefighters can’t live here, then this won’t be a community anymore,” he said. “It’ll just be a place.”

At The Bugle, we believe good local democracy starts with people feeling heard, valued and respected.Whether it's a footpath that goes nowhere, a crossing that makes your heart race, or a flashy new building that forgot to include truly accessible toilets, if something in your community isn’t working, you shouldn’t be left shouting into the void.And yet, that’s how it often feels.Maybe you’ve had a proper vent with the neighbours.Someone’s posted a frustrated comment in the local Facebook group.And now you’re wondering, what next? How do you actually get Kiama Council to listen?Believe it or not, there is a way forward.It’s not always fast, and it doesn’t come with fireworks.But with persistence, respect and a bit of strategy, it can work.Here’s how to turn frustration into action.1. Start with a councillorFind a councillor who might understand your concern. Give them a call or send a short, respectful email explaining what the issue is, why it matters, and what you’d like to see happen.Even better, invite them to come and see it.Councillors are far more likely to act when they’ve visited the surf club that just received a $5 million makeover, only to find the so-called “ambulant” toilet can’t actually be accessed by anyone using a mobility device.Or when they’ve had to cross Belinda Street, Gerringong, and found themselves in a game of chance with passing traffic.Grounding the issue in lived experience helps cut through.2. Speak at a public forumCouncil holds a public forum the Monday before each council meeting. If your issue lines up with an item on the agenda, you can register to speak.You’ll get five minutes. No grandstanding. No theatrics. Just a clear, calm opportunity to share your perspective. And yes, councillors do listen. Some even go back and rewatch the recording.3. Ask for a Notice of MotionThis is one of the most powerful tools councillors have. A Notice of Motion allows them to formally put an issue on the agenda for discussion and decision.You can’t submit one yourself, but you can ask a councillor to raise it on your behalf. If it’s supported, Council staff must follow up with a report or action.This is how change happens, whether it's about green waste services for local businesses, better planning for accessible infrastructure, or policies that actually reflect lived community needs.4. Build community backingIf the issue affects others, don’t go it alone. Talk to your local P&C, community advocacy group, surf club or sports group. Share your concerns and invite others to join the conversation.A lone voice might be dismissed as a squeaky wheel. A community chorus is much harder to ignore.5. Shine a lightStill hitting a wall?There’s power in visibility.Write a letter to the editor. Call in to local radio. Raise your issue respectfully on social media, or get in touch with The Bugle.Public pressure isn’t about stirring up outrage. It’s about shining a spotlight, building understanding and making sure those in power are paying attention.What to avoid• Don’t attack Council staff. They implement policy. They don’t make it.• Don’t send a novel. Keep emails short and focused.• Don’t wait until the ribbon-cutting. Raise concerns early when there’s still a chance to influence outcomes.Because local voices matterThe Bugle is committed to a stronger, fairer Kiama.We know that when people feel confident to speak up, when they know where to go, who to ask, and how the system works, they’re more likely to take part in shaping their community’s future.You don’t need a title, a platform or permission. You just need to care enough to say something.And when you do, we’re here to back you.

When Karen Fowler asked “Is this housing strategy right for Kiama?” In her recent opinion piece for The Bugle, she gave voice to what many in the community have been wondering.Is the Draft Local Housing Strategy guiding us toward a future we recognise, or one we might regret?She raised concerns about whether the Strategy matches our actual growth needs, reflects the community’s values and ensures that infrastructure keeps pace.At a recent Kiama Business Network forum, Ed Paterson, Kiama Council’s Director of Planning, responded to those concerns.Outdated population figures?Karen noted the Strategy uses 2022 population projections that predicted 6917 new residents by 2041.But 2024 data slashes that figure to just 2180.Ed acknowledged the discrepancy and said the newer figures will be reviewed as part of the Strategy’s refinement. “Projections change all the time,” he said, citing migration and policy shifts. “We’ll be checking our work against the latest data.”Too much housing?Karen also questioned why Council was planning so many homes if population growth is expected to slow.Ed explained that the Strategy is a long-term vision, stretching 40 to 50 years ahead, not a short-term construction program.Rezoning and infrastructure take time, he said, and planning ahead prevents reactive decision-making down the track.Why expand urban boundaries?Even using the older population forecasts, Karen argued the Strategy proposes more homes than needed and questioned the need for four Urban Expansion Areas (UEAs).Ed’s response was Council doesn’t control when landowners or developers act, so identifying greenfield sites early allows for coordinated, sustainable growth rather than speculative, piecemeal proposals.What about infrastructure?Karen welcomed the Strategy’s “non-negotiable principles” and its focus on infrastructure planning. Council says these parts have been significantly strengthened. Sydney Water is now doing network modelling, and a new Structure Plan is being prepared to ensure coordinated delivery of roads, open space, schools, and utilities.Preserving what matters mostKaren called on the community to think about what we value most, our green hills, beaches, and village character, and to ask if the Strategy protects those things.Ed said this feedback has been heard. The revised vision includes environmental protections, respect for First Nations culture, and aims for “housing in the right locations”.Will it deliver affordable housing?While Karen didn’t use the phrase “affordable housing,” she raised real concerns about inclusivity.Ed clarified that Council is exploring planning controls, incentives, and partnerships with community housing providers. But he also pointed out that some aspects of affordability, like regulated housing schemes, are beyond local government’s control.Have your sayCouncil has received more than 100 submissions.Community feedback is open until 27 April, and the final Strategy is expected to go to Council mid-year.As Karen wrote, “This is more than a plan. It is a vision of our future. Let’s make sure it’s one we share.”

Opinion As political leaders tour the nation with housing promises, local communities like ours are left asking: when will anything actually change?In Kiama, housing affordability is not just a distant problem, it is a daily challenge.From Jamberoo to Minnamurra, to Gerroa families are being priced out, workers are forced to commute long distances, and older residents are struggling to downsize without leaving the area they love.So while federal parties pitch superannuation schemes and stamp duty tweaks, the real question is: how do we come together locally to solve what is clearly a cluster problem?Kiama Council's Draft Local Housing Strategy V2 has been through several rounds of consultation and revision.It aims to respond to these complex challenges, but like housing strategies across the country, it risks missing the mark unless it brings the right players to the table.Because this isn’t just about planning rules. It’s about land, labour, lending, legacy infrastructure, and leadership – all pulling in the same direction.A recent article in The Conversation unpacks five key ideas that could shift housing policy in the right direction – and they apply just as much to us here in Kiama:• It’s a cluster problem: Housing affordability is driven by the interaction of many factors – from interest rates and global capital, to planning delays, construction workforce shortages, and poor past policy. No one fix will work in isolation.• We need supply and demand solutions: Both major parties are currently focused on boosting demand, but this risks pushing up prices unless supply is rapidly expanded – something that takes years, not months.• Look to the homes we already have: With new builds adding only 2 percent to housing stock each year, creative use of existing homes – such as enabling granny flats or flexible lot sizes – must be part of the solution.• Target the right people: Many schemes benefit those already close to affording a home. Local and national policy must focus more sharply on people truly locked out of the market.• Think across generations: Housing reform needs to work for young buyers, ageing residents, and renters alike – including bold changes like replacing stamp duty with a land tax.The question for Kiama is how we apply this thinking locally. No single level of government can fix housing alone.Councils control planning, but not tax. States hold infrastructure budgets.The Commonwealth sets financial incentives. Kiama’s strategy must clearly define roles, push for coordinated funding, and embed community voices throughout.Our housing isn’t just about supply or policy. It’s where we live, sleep, raise families and age. Kiama can’t solve the national crisis - but it can model an honest, inclusive, and sustainable response.Listen to • KMC Director of Planning present Draft Housing Strategy V2 at Housing Strategy Business Panel Discussion on 11 April here • Business Panel Discussion here• Housing Expert Dr Tony Gilmour discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here • KMC Director of Plan Ed Paterson discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here Have your sayKiama Council’s draft housing strategy is on public exhibition until April 27.You can read it and share your views here.This article draws on the original piece “Housing affordability in Australia: here are 5 ideas to help fix it” by Amity James and Steven Rowley, published in The Conversation on 11 April 2025.

At a packed forum at Kiama Leagues Club on Wednesday night, residents lined up to say one thing: Council's housing strategy does not represent us.It doesn’t reflect the reality of life here, and it won’t deliver the future our community needs.Tony Gilmour, retired urban planner, opened with a calm demolition job.Councillor Melinda Lawton convened the forum. The strategy, he said, had been years in the making but still lacks clarity, transparency, or anything resembling strategy.The numbers are outdated. The community input has been ignored. The vision? Missing.He called it wishy-washy. He was being polite.Dr Tony Gilmour and Michelle Adair Michelle Adair, CEO of the Housing Trust, reminded us what happens when workers can’t afford to live here. You lose your GP. You lose teachers. You lose your café staff.You lose your community. If Kiama wants to stay the same, she said, it has to change.Renowned local architect Madeleine Scarfe brought it home.You can’t call something a strategy if you don’t say how you’ll reach your goals.The document lists problems but offers no real solutions.No controls on short-term rentals. No commitment to one- or two-bedroom homes. Just more sprawl.Environmental expert David Pepper warned of a suburban creep from Gerroa to Bombo, with no regard for biodiversity or liveability.Greenfield sites aren’t just paddocks. They are part of an ecological system. Tear that up, and you don’t get it back.Then came Jordan Casson Jones, who is 21 and raised in Kiama.Living in a granny flat with his partner, both working, both studying, still struggling. “If I had children,” he said, “I couldn’t afford to stay here.” How many more young people will Kiama lose?"And finally, Jacqueline Forst lit the match.A strategist, carer and self-confessed forum crasher, she cut straight to the truth. “We cannot fix this by building more houses,” she said. “Tinkering at the margins is over.”Her message? Reject the developer-first model. Build bottom up. Empower locals. Use our brains and land value for something better.She called out the cheap shots. The bureaucrats laughing at Kiama for being NIMBYs.The big city powerbrokers are dismissing local voices, Forst said. And then she turned it.We are not naysayers. We are a region of housing innovators, she said, and it’s time we acted like it.From rock star futurists to real-world renters, the message was clear: we are not passive bystanders to Kiama’s future. We are the blueprint.So, what now?Residents need to make noise by writing submissions, emailing councillors and challenging the corporate spin because if this version of the strategy goes through unchanged, Kiama is at risk of losing more than trees and footpaths but the very soul of its community. The deadline for feedback is Sunday. The stakes are high. Have your say here.

Jamberoo Mountain Road will be closed to traffic for more than a month to repair a damaged section above The Abbey.Kiama Council has announced the road will closed between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday for approximately five weeks from Wednesday 7 May.This will allow a Council contractor to safely carry out the repairs to around 20 metres of road damaged by a landslide last year.Jamberoo Mountain Road will be open outside of these hours, with one lane closed at the work site.Traffic controls will be in place to ensure worker and driver safety.The closure days and times have been arranged to minimise the impact on local residents and businesses.Council would also like to remind users of Jamberoo Mountain Road that heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses and caravans are not permitted.Drivers should also be aware night works are being conducted on Macquarie Pass between 28 April and 18 July (8pm to 4am). Picton Road and Kangaroo Valley are alternate routes during these times.

Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips has been forced to remove an election pamphlet from circulation after Kiama Municipal Council lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Electoral Commission.A flyer featuring a photo of Phillips and Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald and dozens of community members at the opening of the new Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club had been produced as part of her re-election campaign for Gilmore in next Saturday’s federal election.Kiama Municipal Council was concerned that the flyer featuring McDonald performing mayoral duties in Phillips’ campaign-related material would be perceived as him endorsing the Labor candidate.Mayor McDonald was elected last October as an independent.“Neither Kiama Municipal Council nor the Mayor authorised the use of this image, and permission was not sought,” according to an official statement from Council. “Despite assurances provided to Council, the election material continues to be circulated.“A formal complaint has been lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission and the candidate informed to cease using or circulating this material.”Phillips responded by saying the flyer is no longer being used in her bid to retain the seat of Gilmore, which is expected to go down to the wire once again after it was the closest race nationwide in the 2022 election.“A flyer containing a photo of a well-attended community event at the opening of the new Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club was distributed locally,” Phillips said.“Kiama Council raised a concern with me about the Mayor being part of that photo on Saturday 19 April. “The flyer was immediately removed from distribution following Council’s request and has not been distributed further.”

If you’ve been left wondering whether your concerns about housing in the Kiama LGA are being heard, there’s another chance to join the conversation.An independent Community Forum will be held this Wednesday (23 April) at Kiama Leagues Club, hosted by Councillor Melinda Lawton.This forum offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from a panel of experts with deep roots in our region and strong views on the Kiama Draft Housing Strategy Version 2.Whether you’re curious, concerned or committed to helping shape a liveable future for our towns and villages, this event invites you to take a seat at the table.Who’s speaking, and why it mattersThe forum follows on from a Kiama Council-hosted breakfast forum at The Sebel earlier this month.While many found that event informative, others left with unanswered questions.This Wednesday’s session provides an alternative space for deeper discussion, reflection and community voice.Confirmed panel members include:Dr Tony Gilmour, retired affordable housing consultant and former Chair of Council’s Infrastructure & Liveability CommitteeMichelle Adair, Managing Director of Housing Trust, with a background in portfolio growth, advocacy and stakeholder engagementJacqueline Forst, social worker and service innovator with experience across NSW Health, aged care and the not-for-profit sectorDavid Pepper, environmental scientist and former builder, who now works in carbon and biodiversity credit marketsMadeleine Scarfe, local architect and community broadcaster at Kiama Community RadioJordan Casson-Jones, youth advocate and Greens candidate, representing a generation whose future depends on today’s decision.Their combined experience spans housing, health, architecture, climate, economics and community development.Be part of the solutionYou’re invited to come along, listen, and participate in a meaningful conversation about what kind of housing future we want — and need — for the Kiama LGA.If you can’t attend in person, consider tuning in to the two-part Kiama Community Radio recording from the earlier Sebel event, available on the KCR website.And if you’ve still got questions — or if the strategy feels more like ticking boxes than telling our community’s story — then this forum is for you.📍 Wednesday 23 April 2025🕕 6:00pm📌 Kiama Leagues Club🎟️ All welcome — free entry, RSVP encouragedFor more info or to book a spot, visit here

The following views are those of Councillor Matt Brown and Bernie Hems, and not of Kiama Council or KCR.We’ve been here before, and we’ve won. Now Kiama is once again in the running to be named NSW’s Top Tourism Town (over 5000 people category), and Councillor Matt Brown believes we’ve got what it takes for back-to-back glory.Speaking with Bernie Hems on KCR, Cr Brown said Destination Kiama had lodged another strong submission, with secret judges already out and about. “They’ll be walking into shops and chatting to locals, and we won’t know who they are,” he said. “So smile, people.”Winning three years in a row would land Kiama in the Hall of Fame.Voting is now open via the Tourism NSW website.Cr Brown also urged support for local entries in the other categories. Huskisson and Robertson are both finalists for Tiny Town and Small Town respectively.Top of the agenda at last week’s Council meeting was a proposal from Woolworths to install a boomgate at its Kiama car park. The plan would allow two hours of free parking, with fees kicking in after that.Cr Brown raised concerns about congestion and unintended consequences.“It’s already a choke point. You’ve got three ways in, and it jams up even when it’s not peak time,” he told KCR. “Add a boom gate and it could become gridlock.”“This isn’t just about Woolies. It’s about staff who work in the centre, shoppers who want to linger, and the spillover into residential streets. We need to look at the broader traffic flow and what this means for our town.”Council voted to defer the decision and seek expert advice from the Traffic Committee.“Before we make any decisions, we need proper data, not just assumptions,” Cr Brown said.A separate proposal for a Kennards self-storage facility at the corner of Shoalhaven and Farmer Streets was refused, after residents raised concerns about shadowing, flooding, and scale.Cr Brown supported the decision but said the issue reflects a deeper structural challenge.“We’ve got industrial zoning sitting inside residential streets. It’s outdated and it’s creating conflict.” He believes Council needs to be more proactive. “We should be rezoning these legacy industrial sites for housing, and finding proper locations for new employment lands. If we don’t do that, these tensions will keep flaring up.”Council also endorsed its first-ever Cultural Plan, with an amendment to continue refining the document with community input. Cr Brown described it as an encouraging step, but one that must lead to action.“We’ve got a new arts and culture officer, and for the first time, dedicated cultural grants. That’s a great foundation,” he said. “But we also need spaces, programming and clear support for live performance.”He pointed to Fillmores, the popular local venue currently hampered by planning complications and strict noise limits. “Right now, if someone raises their voice too much on stage, it can breach our noise regulations. That’s not workable.”Council’s bid for a state-supported entertainment precinct was unsuccessful last round, but a revised request has now been lodged, backed by a more comprehensive strategy.“We need to give local talent places to perform, and give our young people reasons to stay and engage,” Cr Brown said. “It’s not a music venue if no one’s allowed to sing.”Council also backed a motion from Cr Melinda Lawton to ensure stronger environmental assessment and public transparency around plans to relocate Council’s depot to a remediated site near the Minnamurra River.“She’s passionate about protecting the river, and she’s right,” Cr Brown said.“We’re talking about a site with a contaminated history, right beside wetlands and mangroves. We need to understand what the risks are, both environmentally and financially.”While initial assessments are already a legal requirement, the motion calls for a higher level of public reporting and consultation.“We’ve seen how recent storms have impacted that area. We can’t afford to wing this. These are decisions that affect future generations.”As Bernie Hems put it, “From boomgates to big dreams, it’s never dull in Kiama.”Listen to Bernie on KCR on Tuesdays 9am to 11am

New league tables have confirmed what local councils have long argued: they’re not the only ones slowing down development applications.For years, councils have worn the blame for sluggish DA processing. Now, fresh transparency from the NSW Government is helping set the record straight, and Kiama Municipal Council is using it to make practical changes.Published league tables now hold 22 state agencies accountable for the time they take to respond during the process. For the first time, both state and council data can be viewed side by side.“It’s a fairer picture,” said a spokesperson for Kiama Council, which has already made a series of internal improvements that are reflected in its latest rankings.Those improvements include better monitoring of DA timeframes and upcoming community consultation on a revised Development Assessment Policy. The new policy will clarify when Council will request more information from applicants and when it will simply refuse incomplete DAs.It’s a shift prompted by new ministerial expectations, which ask councils to stop carrying weak applications.Kiama’s Planning and Development team is also preparing for future reforms, even though the much-hyped mid-rise and TOD pathways haven’t landed locally yet.So far, no such applications have been lodged in the Kiama LGA, likely due to market constraints and the challenge of assembling infill lots.But Council says real collaboration with state agencies remains limited. Although councils must refer to state departments during the DA process, all communication must go through the NSW Planning Portal. This restricts real-time discussion. Instead, Kiama is pushing for earlier cooperation through strategic work like the Local Housing Strategy. It is also calling on the state to release similar performance data for infrastructure and essential services approvals, often a hidden source of delay for developers and homeowners.The new approach, Council says, is not just about process.It is about shifting the relationship from blame to partnership.“Councils are the first sphere of government and the closest to the people we serve,” said LGNSW Vice President, Mayor Claire Pontin.With league tables on both sides now live, the pressure and the opportunity to work together is finally clear.

Kiama Councillor Stuart Larkins has welcomed the intent behind the Minns Government’s planning reforms, including the Infill Affordable Housing Bonus, while urging a considered approach for the Kiama area.“The real issue here isn’t just how many homes we build. It’s about the diversity of homes we’re offering,” he said, pointing out that Kiama lacks housing that suits people with different needs, including key workers and smaller households.His comments came in response to a media release announcing a $70 million development in central Wollongong.The project will deliver 145 apartments, including 25 affordable homes that will remain accessible to low and moderate income earners for at least 15 years.The mixed-use development will also include ground floor retail and commercial space and will be managed by Evolve Housing.Cr Larkins said he would watch with interest how this model works. While supportive of the goals, he noted Kiama Council has already taken steps to support housing diversity by agreeing to increase height and density limits in the town centre.He cautioned that a policy developed with metropolitan areas in mind may not always suit a regional community like Kiama.Alongside Councillor Imogen Draisma, he has called for a Council report on potential opportunities for housing developments supported by federal and state grants.He believes the former Havilah Place nursing home site should be prioritised. “That site should be a focus,” he said.On the 15-year guarantee for affordable housing, which is a requirement under the Infill Affordable Housing Bonus, Cr Larkins said it should be seen as a bare minimum. He would like to see longer term commitments for social and affordable housing in the Kiama LGA.He also reaffirmed that Minnamurra and Gerringong are unsuitable for the Transport Oriented Development policy. However, Kiama and Bombo may offer future opportunities, and Council’s submission reflected this.Council’s strategic documents, including the Housing Strategy, should reference funding opportunities even though specific programs may change with different governments. “Grant funding should always be pursued,” he said.As the Council representative on the local traffic committee, Larkins said community concerns around parking and infrastructure will be raised and addressed as needed.He acknowledged that increased density often raises pressure points in town centres but said Council would respond case by case.He also expressed support for mixed-use housing in central areas, such as shop-top developments that combine residential, retail and service access. “I would certainly prefer such buildings are in town centres,” he said.

With Kiama facing mounting housing affordability challenges, the role of short-term rental accommodation platforms like Airbnb has come under increased scrutiny.As of early 2024, non-hosted short-term rental accommodation (STRA) accounts for around 1% of private housing stock in NSW, according to data cited by the Real Estate Institute of NSW.In Kiama, the figure is closer to 6%, based on estimates shared during recent housing strategy consultations.This stark contrast highlights the disproportionate impact of STRAs on housing availability in the region, raising concerns that growing tourist demand is pushing out long-term residents and exacerbating the local housing crisis.At last Friday's housing strategy forum, local architect Madeleine Scarfe highlighted the economic implications of STRAs, noting that properties rented for $1,000 a night often contribute less to the local economy than long-term residents.She proposed measures such as requiring development applications for STRAs exceeding certain rental days and adjusting rates to reflect their commercial use.Community Housing Provider Natalie Allan emphasised the potential for STRAs to be converted into long-term rentals through partnerships with housing providers, offering property owners stable income and tax incentives.Allan emphasised the importance of converting short-term rentals into long-term housing.She highlighted that such partnerships could provide property owners with stable income and tax incentives, while increasing the availability of affordable housing for local residents.Kiama Council is exploring options to regulate STRAs more effectively.While the NSW Government currently allows up to 180 days of non-hosted STRA per year, other regions like Byron Bay have implemented stricter caps to address housing shortages.Council is considering similar measures, including day caps and levies on non-hosted STRAs, to encourage property owners to return homes to the long-term rental market.Residents are encouraged to participate in the ongoing consultation process to shape policies that reflect the community's needs and values.Listen to • KMC Director of Planning present Draft Housing Strategy V2 at Housing Strategy Business Panel Discussion on 11 April here • Business Panel Discussion here• Housing Expert Dr Tony Gilmour discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here • KMC Director of Plan Ed Paterson discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here Have your sayKiama Council’s draft housing strategy is on public exhibition until 27 April .You can read it and share your views at yoursay.kiama.nsw.gov.au/local-housing-strategy.If the current approach doesn’t reflect your priorities, you are entitled to contact your councillors directly and ask for changes that support a more liveable, affordable Kiama.The forum was rich with insight, lived experience and bold ideas. The Bugle will be sharing more highlights and panel discussions on The Bugle app over the next two weeks.

Before you click “submit,” on your Draft Housing Stategy V2 submission, consider this: what does “character” actually mean to you?At the recent Kiama Housing Strategy forum, community housing expert Natalie Allan posed a quiet but powerful challenge to the room.“When we talk about character,” she said, “we need to be honest about whose perspective we’re speaking from.What is the character to a single mum working shifts? To an older person renting? To a young couple trying to stay near family? We need to define it before we defend it”Our perception of who we are directly influences the way we act,” she added, urging attendees to move beyond “my view is my view” thinking.She encouraged residents to see themselves not just as individuals with private interests, but as part of a collective. In her closing remarks, she returned to this theme, asking people to write submissions that reflect what is good for the whole community, not just what benefits them personally.Architect and Greens councillor Melinda Lawton reflected on Natalie’s comments after the meeting. Cr Lawton described community as more than just proximity.“It’s that sense of belonging,” she said. “It’s people knowing you when you walk into a shop. It’s people checking on people. It’s that village atmosphere.”Cr Lawton pointed to Erskineville, a suburb in the heart of Sydney’s 5.5 million–strong population, as proof that a village feel is possible anywhere, but only with the right planning and commitment to connection.All speakers challenged the room to reflect on what values are embedded in their vision of Kiama’s future and whose voices are too often left out.With the strategy on public exhibition until 27 April, residents are being urged to share their views.Not just about density, setbacks or streetscapes, but about the kind of community they want to nurture and the values that should shape it.Listen to • KMC Director of Planning present Draft Housing Strategy V2 at Housing Strategy Business Panel Discussion on 11 April here • Business Panel Discussion here• Housing Expert Dr Tony Gilmour discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here • KMC Director of Plan Ed Paterson discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here Have your sayKiama Council’s draft housing strategy is on public exhibition until April 27.You can read it and share your views here. If the current approach doesn’t reflect your priorities, you are entitled to contact your councillors directly and ask for changes that support a more liveable, affordable Kiama.The forum was rich with insight, lived experience and bold ideas. The Bugle will be sharing more highlights and panel discussions on The Bugle app over the next two weeks.

Locals are feeling the squeeze as new development outpaces essential services like transport, health and childcare in Kiama.At last Friday's Housing Strategy forum, the audience listened attentively as a panel of experts responded to pre-submitted questions on the future of housing in Kiama.While the format limited spontaneous debate, the issues raised were anything but passive.Frustration was evident over the pace of development outstripping local infrastructure.Local architect Madeleine Scarfe warned that building homes without corresponding upgrades to transport, schools and healthcare risks eroding the liveability that draws people to Kiama in the first place.She also advocated for more walkable neighbourhoods, local employment opportunities and coordinated planning that puts people first.“There’s little point building more homes if people can’t get to work, school, or medical appointments,” one pre-submitted question pointed out.Council staff acknowledged the shortfall and confirmed they are lobbying state agencies for better coordination and funding.But many in the room questioned whether that would be enough without stronger planning controls at the local level.With Kiama’s median house price now around $1.55 million and the average new home loan in NSW sitting at $800,000, the affordability gap is widening.This financial strain, combined with short-term rental pressures and lagging infrastructure, has prompted renewed calls for housing strategies that prioritise community needs.Listen to • KMC Director of Planning present Draft Housing Strategy V2 at Housing Strategy Business Panel Discussion on 11 April here • Business Panel Discussion here• Housing Expert Dr Tony Gilmour discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here • KMC Director of Plan Ed Paterson discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here Have your sayKiama Council’s draft housing strategy is on public exhibition until April 27.You can read it and share your views here. The forum was rich with insight, lived experience and bold ideas. The Bugle will be sharing more highlights and panel discussions on the The Bugle app over the next two weeks.

Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters took the chair for the first time at Kiama Council’s 15 April meeting and did so with poise, patience and good humour in what proved to be one of the most packed and passionate meetings of the year.From funding calls to facility fees and fiery exchanges over car parks and coastal impact, there was no shortage of material to test her mettle.But Cr Matters remained calm and composed, steering a marathon agenda with the support of councillors and staff, and making space for a range of views across the chamber.The night began with a debate over Council’s unsuccessful bid for the state’s Entertainment Precinct Kickstart grant.Cr Stuart Larkins pushed for a revised approach, arguing Kiama met the eligibility criteria under point (c), which allows for councils that have passed a resolution to develop a night-time economy strategy and have supporting plans.“This motion should be about advocating for our application, not attacking the rules,” he said.Cr Matt Brown, Cr Imogen Draisma and others backed the move, with Cr Michael Cains urging a stronger stance in lobbying the state. “Our community keeps getting the rug pulled out. Aged care, roads, tourism funding.”The amendment passed five to three, and Council will now ask the state to reconsider Kiama’s application based on its existing commitments.Council also deferred Round 2 of the Community Grants Program to review policy compliance, but not before approving $2000 in funding to ensure the Jones Beach Boardriders' May event could go ahead.A proposal from Woolworths to introduce time limits and boomgates in its Kiama car park raised major red flags for councillors.The move could displace staff parking into residential streets and affect older patrons and long-stay diners.Council voted to defer the decision, seek feedback from the Traffic Committee, and to consider the impact on vehicle flow and pedestrian safety.Meanwhile, a development application for a Kennards self-storage facility on Shoalhaven Street was formally refused. Despite late efforts to find a compromise, councillors said the bulk and scale of the proposal were not appropriate for a residential zone.Cr Brown noted it exposed a deeper issue. “We’ve got serious employment land located in the wrong places. This is a legacy planning problem we have to fix.”The mood sharpened over a last-minute amendment proposing venue hire fees for the upstairs space at the newly built Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club.Cr Melissa Lawton and Cr Erica Warren argued it was time to monetise the space and reduce Council’s maintenance burden.The building was built with grant funding and sits on community land, making the question of access and revenue particularly sensitive.Others, including Cr Brown and Cr Larkins, criticised the process as rushed and lacking consultation with the surf club.“This was dropped on us at one minute to midnight,” said Cr Brown. “It’s not how we build trust.”Council opted to progress core planning documents to public exhibition and consider hire fees separately, allowing time for community input and clarity. Cr Matters ended her first meeting in the chair with good grace and a steady hand. It was not an easy gig, but she made it look that way.

As Kiama Municipal Council invites public feedback on the Draft Local Housing Strategy, residents have a unique chance to shape the future of our region. Amid the maps, forecasts and planning jargon, one vital word deserves more attention: liveability.Dr Alan Woodward, a long-time Kiama local and respected national leader in mental health and social policy, believes the people who live here are the real experts in what makes a place liveable. In a recent interview with Bernie Hems on Kiama Community Radio, he reflected on how community knowledge can be the difference between a good plan and a great one.“We know our community best,” he said. “We know what works and what doesn’t. That local expertise matters, and now we’ve got a platform to use it.”That platform is the Draft Housing Strategy, and submissions are open until 27 April.Dr Woodward, who helped establish the new incorporated group Kiama Matters, urged residents to move beyond cynicism and speak up.“Participation is one of the ways that the community can have a say and influence what occurs for them,” he said. “Individually, it’s easy to feel powerless. But groups, especially ones that work collaboratively and share good information, can really influence outcomes.”It’s a timely reminder. The Housing Strategy lays out where, what and how we’ll build over the coming decades. Housing is not just about rooftops and lot sizes. It’s about how we move, connect, raise families and grow older. It’s about sustainability, infrastructure and design, but also the quieter things: feeling safe, being seen and knowing your neighbours.His message is simple. “There are no better experts than the people who live here,” he said. “The liveability questions associated with population growth are things that people in the local community have expertise in.”Whether it’s access to green space, traffic impacts, housing diversity, affordability or the character of your street, now is the moment to reflect on what liveability means to you, and tell Council.Submissions can be short or long.A single story, a list of priorities or even a question is enough to make a difference.💬 Have your say hereAnd if you need a little inspiration, put on Imagine, Alan’s song choice to close the interview, and think about the Kiama you want to leave behind for the next generation.Tune into Bernie Hems' show at 9am on Tuesdays on KCR.