Kiama MP Katelin McInerney is calling Sydney-based developer Level 33 to work with Kiama Council after she endorsed the reduction of the Akuna Street proposal to eight storeys.McInerney issued a statement in the wake of the plan being granted State Significant Development status to say that the compromise from a much-higher proposal was a workable solution for the town centre."This proposal of eight storeys is a significant improvement on the previous 13-storey proposal," she said. "This reduction makes the proposal a more appropriate scale for the site, given its location."McInerney is urging local residents to have their say once the details of the proposal are put on exhibition in the new year. "I continue to call on Level 33 to work with Council and the community through this process regarding the specifics of their proposal, to reach an outcome which delivers the best results for Kiama’s Town Centre," she added. "I know that since the sale of this site to Level 33 by Council, there has been considerable concern about the future of the site.‘I want to be clear with the community, it is my job to represent your views and this determination is only the first step in the process of a State Significant Development. "This is not an approval that has been granted. "The project will be required to go through a rigorous and transparent assessment process, as is the standard, including public exhibition when the community will be able to have their say."The NSW Government on Friday announced a list of sites throughout NSW that have been rated as state significant, which means that the developers can apply to the Housing Delivery Authority for increased height limits.Kiama Council had previously allowed a maximum of six storeys for the Level 33 proposal.After SSD status was granted, Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald expressed his disappointment with the NSW Government's decision.“Like many in our community will be, I’m disappointed by this decision,” Cr McDonald said on Friday afternoon.“Council has recently adopted planning controls for the Kiama town centre that reflect extensive community consultation and set a six-storey height limit for this site.The state’s decision to advance an eight-storey proposal is not consistent with those locally adopted controls and community expectations.“Housing delivery matters, but so does getting the right outcome for Kiama."Development in the heart of our town must respect our local character, amenity, infrastructure capacity and the plans our community has helped shape.”

Kiama Council will look at implementing a shuttle service for construction workers amid fears about parking in the town centre with a series of high-rise developments in the pipeline.Parking was a hot topic on the agenda at Tuesday night’s Council meeting with Councillor Yasmin Tatrai putting forward a notice of motion to institute parking permits for local residents.Cr Tatrai wanted Council to potentially issue two parking permits per household, bring in beach and on-street parking regulations with greater allowances for residents, and permits for local business owners.Her move was voted down after much debate after Council CEO Jane Stroud had recommended that such a system would not meet Transport for NSW’s Permit Parking Guidelines eligibility criteria and it would also create a significant administrative burden to implement, manage and monitor.In her response, she stated the work was not Council’s Delivery and Operational Plan or budget and confirmed that previous reports had explored this issue on many occasions.Staff and Councillors had also reached out to other LGAs such as Manly, Byron Bay and Wollongong to gather insights on how different parking systems, such as paid meters, had been implemented elsewhere. With high-rise construction set to kick off as early next year on three multi-storey developments on Akuna Street and the Council-owned Shoalhaven Street Precinct, the perennial parking problem in Kiama is about to get worse.Around 70 parking spaces at the Level 33 development site on Akuna Street will be fenced off midway through next month due to safety concerns.And when the developments are underway, particularly if they occur simultaneously, the construction workers will add to an already heavy parking burden.Council is looking at setting up a site outside the town centre with construction workers catching a shuttle service into the works zone.“If all three sites happen to be building at the exact same time, that would ruin the road network,” Stroud told The Bugle.“We're actually doing a giant body of work on that at the minute so that we can manage any kind of full-on construction period.“You can designate where you want construction workers to park and you can make that condition as part of the consents. “What I don't want to see is public parking chewed up. “I'm very aware that we need to manage any construction period as carefully as we can.”Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said Cr Tatrai’s notice of motion “was coming from the right place but there is a lot of work for us” before Council can have a definitive plan to fix the parking problem.“Previous Councils have considered or debated a number of parking management options, such as paid visitor parking to free up spaces in the central business districts, and parking fee exemptions for local residents, however these haven’t garnered enough support to move beyond suggestions.“Parking is something that Council is critically aware of, especially with the summer tourist season upon us and the possibility of future development occurring within the town centre. “Development of an overall strategy which factors in the many considerations is my preferred option.”Councillor Stuart Larkins has called for a review of the time limits on parking areas in the LGA - Kiama’s most recent Parking and Traffic Study was published in 2021 - and Stroud hoped to be able to add an update to the parking and traffic management plan into next year’s budget.The Shoalhaven Street Precinct is a step closer to reality after Council endorsed its submission for the rezoning proposal to Planning Minister Paul Scully on Tuesday night. The Department will prepare an issues paper which will go to the Minister for a decision.

Summer is when the South Coast’s towns and villages are at their best, shining the spotlight on some of NSW’s most iconic landscapes.From Christmas markets and community celebrations to carnivals, beaches and New Year’s Eve events, The Bugle has rounded up what’s happening across the region. Destination Kiama’s manager of tourism, events and economic development, Sally Bursell said summer signals the region's peak period with the last week of December traditionally the busiest. “Boxing Day tends to be the busiest day in the year at the Kiama Visitor Information Centre at Blowhole Point,” Bursell said. “Not every business is open on Boxing Day, so the VIC (Visitor Information Centre) is a beacon that people can trust, and plays a role in dispersing visitors through to our key experiences and activities around the region such as The Illawarra Fly, Minnamurra Rainforest and of course Jamberoo Action Park.” Bursell encourages those who have family and friends staying, to be Kiama’s ambassadors.Huskisson Fair. “A lot of people have friends and family staying and they sometimes get a little bit of cabin fever over the Christmas and New Year period,” she said. “Go out and explore your own backyard and show your friends and family – there are just so many options. “Supporting locals this time of year is super important - it’s been a challenging year and a little patience and kindness goes a long way.” Christmas and pre-Christmas events To kick off the festive season, The Picnic Train will run a special diesel locomotive-hauled return trip from Sydney to Kiama on 20 and 21 December, offering a nostalgic way to arrive on the South Coast. In the Shoalhaven, the Milton Village Showground Christmas Market will take place on Saturday 20 December from 9am to 2pm, featuring collectables, giftware, and handmade goods. Gerringong’s annual Christmas Parade will also be held on Saturday from 10am hosted by Gerringong Lions, beginning at Belinda Street, with floats, music and entertainment. Christmas on the Greens at Gerringong Bowlo will offer a free, family-friendly community celebration from 4pm. The Gerringong RFS Santa Run will be held on Sunday, departing at 2pm from Stafford Street, Headland Gerroa and finishing at Michael Cronin Oval around 5:15pm. Shellharbour Council will host Create and Sleigh at the Shellharbour Civic Centre on Monday (22 December) from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, a free evening of Christmas arts and crafts where you can design and create Christmas decorations. For those last-minute Christmas gifts, Kiama Farmers Markets is on Tuesday at Black Beach Reserve with over 150 stalls of locally made crafts, boutique fashion, art, jewellery, homewares and gourmet treats.   Kiama Library will host a children’s Christmas activity with local children’s author Diann Rodgers-Healey on Tuesday from 10am - 12pm for a morning filled with activities, designed ages 10-12 - cost $5. Gerringong's Santa Run.Carnivals and school holiday fun Running from Boxing Day until 4 January, Laurie’s Kiama Family Carnival returns with food carts and rides with the kids sure to leave whatever energy they have left at Laurie’s! Further south, Husky Carnival begins on 26 December and runs right through to Australia Day on 26 January at Huskisson Playing Fields, with over 20 exhilarating rides, extensive side show games, tasty carnival food and entertainment – including fireworks on Saturday (3 January), it’s a family night of fun. The ticket box opens at 5:30pm daily. Jamberoo Action Park will again offer its six weeks of summer program, including Dive-In Movies every Saturday evening, beginning 20 December at 5pm.   Illawarra Fly. For those seeking adventure above ground, Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk and Zipline Tours at Knights Hill offer extraordinary views of the local rainforest and adrenaline-fuelled experiences. Beaches, walks and outdoor adventures The Shellharbour-Kiama-Shoalhaven region has more than 100 beaches nestled into its coastline from the famous Seven Mile Beach in Gerringong, to the whitest of sand at Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay - swimmers are encouraged to check BeachSafe website or download the app for current information and conditions and patrols. With many coastal walks along the headland of the Kiama region, from the Minnamurra River to Kiama Blowhole, to Loves Bay in Kiama Heights to Gerringong – there is something for everyone to remain active and burn off that extra pudding! For those who want to go 'Fishing with a Local' – check out one of the South Coast’s finest fishers George Newcombe where you will be taken to tried and tested fishing spots. Bookings are essential. Always wanted to hang 10? Check out Surf Camp Australia lessons at Seven Mile Beach in Gerroa where there is consistent ideal surfing conditions for beginners. Check out the Minnamurra Rainforest by torchlight with the NSW National Parks and enact all of your senses with this unforgettable adventure – bookings are essential. Learn more about the oldest living peoples and cultures, check out Gumarra Aboriginal Cultural Experience and Education and learn about the many different facets of art, language, food and dance – bookings are essential. New Year’s Eve across the region While there will be no fireworks in Kiama this year, celebrations are still set to light up the town. “Lots of businesses have decided to embark on new things and Yves is launching their new deck with their New Year’s Eve white party theme,” Bursell said. Yves Social White Party provides a chic and coastal celebration while overlooking Kiama Harbour to celebrate NYE25. Bookings are essential and this is an 18+ event. Jamberoo Action Park.Located at Kiama Blowhole, Diggies is holding two sittings: Sunset Sitting from 4:30pm-6:30pm and Dinner Party from 7:30pm – featuring a Mediterranean-style feast. “Diggies is somewhere that always has a NYE event, but they are upping the ante this year with a Mediterranean style feast,” Bursell said. Meanwhile Cin Cin Wine Bar at Little Blowhole is taking over with a mini street party, beginning at 5pm, offering wines, food and an outdoor celebration to reminisce on 2025 and welcome 2026.Check out the Destination Kiama website for more information: www.kiama.com.au For more information on BeachSafe head to www.beachsafe.org.au

The Illawarra and Shoalhaven’s coastal bars may offer access to some of the region’s most popular waterways, but Marine Rescue NSW is reminding boaters they can quickly become dangerous if conditions are misjudged.With the summer holiday period underway, Marine Rescue NSW Illawarra Inspector Stuart Massey is urging skippers to take extra care when crossing the Lake Illawarra Bar, Crookhaven River Bar and Sussex Inlet Bar.Boaters looking to cross coastal bars should stand off, check the conditions and then decide whether it is safe to proceedInspector Massey said coastal bars demand patience and preparation, particularly for visiting boaters unfamiliar with local conditions.“Boaters looking to cross coastal bars should stand off, check the conditions and then decide whether it is safe to proceed,” he said.“It is best to cross on a run-in tide because there are fewer compression waves.”Each bar behaves differently depending on weather, swell and tides, and local knowledge can make a critical difference.3500 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers are ready to assist boaters on the state's waterways this holiday seasonMarine Rescue NSW is encouraging boaters to seek advice from their nearest unit before attempting a crossing.“The decision and responsibility to proceed always remain with the skipper,” Inspector Massey said.“If you’re holidaying at another coastal location and plan to cross a bar, please do your homework and never put yours or your passengers’ lives in danger.”Mistakes on coastal bars can have serious consequences, with capsized vessels turning a routine outing into a life-threatening emergency within minutes.Inspector Massey said wearing a lifejacket at all times is essential.“If something does go wrong, stay with the vessel and grab hold of anything floating,” he said.Beyond bar crossings, Marine Rescue NSW says many callouts across the Illawarra Shoalhaven could be avoided with better preparation.From Port Kembla to Kioloa, more than half of incidents attended by volunteers are caused by engine or battery problems, or vessels running out of fuel.“These are preventable issues,” Inspector Massey said. “Every safe trip starts before you hit the water.”Skippers are advised to check safety equipment before departure and continue to assess conditions throughout their trip, as weather can change rapidly along the coast.This summer, more than 400 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers will be on duty across seven local units — Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Jervis Bay, Sussex Inlet, Ulladulla and Kioloa — operating rescue vessels and radio rooms.Last summer, between December 1 and February 28, volunteers across the region carried out 196 search and rescue missions, including 78 emergency responses, returning 446 people safely to shore.During that period, crews also monitored almost 4,000 vessels that had Logged On with Marine Rescue NSW.Marine Rescue NSW volunteers are ready at any hourActing Commissioner Todd Andrews said Logging On before heading out remains one of the simplest and most effective safety measures boaters can take.“When a boater Logs On, they share details of their trip and expected return time,” he said.“If they don’t return as planned, a search will be initiated. Logging On saves vital time in an emergency.”Boaters can Log On via the free Marine Rescue NSW app or on VHF channel 16.Andrews said choosing to delay or cancel a trip in poor conditions should be seen as good seamanship.“If you’re unsure, don’t go out,” he said. “We want people to enjoy their time on the water and get home safely.”Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit organisation supporting boating safety and local communities across the state.

The little drummer boy sits beside Frosty the Snowman, the sunlight bouncing off his pointy orange nose. Next to him is a nativity set and a family of skiers all lined up waiting for Santa to arrive. Unlike traditional Christmas scenes adorning homes across Kiama, these decorations are made using recycled golf balls and tees.Kiama Golf Club member Jane Wall has combined her two passions, golf and craft to capture the spirit of Christmas. And those lucky enough to know her are likely to have a Christmas Wall Ball on their mantelpiece or window sill. “Last year I gave my neighbours a family of golf ball skiers,” says Jane. “They are mad snow bunnies.”Jane also gifted her sister a special Christmas golf ball she created using their mother and grandmother’s costume jewellery. “Mum passed away in July and left us all this jewellery that was hers and her Mum’s,” explains Jane.“I wasn’t going to wear it, but I wanted to keep it, to honour their memory so I’ve incorporated it into the costumes I make to decorate the golf balls.“That way Mum’s still a part of our Christmas.”All of the Christmas golf ball decorations made by Jane use recycled materials and have a special meaning for those she gifts them to. Her latest Christmas creation is a Canterbury Bulldogs-themed golf ball for a friend who lost her brother recently. It will sit proudly atop his grave. A former pro golfer in the 1990s, Jane worked as a police officer when she wasn’t on the European tour. Like all first responders she was trained to run towards danger, not away from it. Jane’s job as a police officer embodies the bravery and selflessness we all witnessed watching the horrific footage from Sunday’s Bondi shootings when 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed by two gunmen.She also worked as an Ambulance NSW Triple Zero operator, supporting people through their most harrowing moments. Frontline work comes at a cost and Jane is among the one in 10 Australians who have experienced PTSD, with first responders at even higher risk due to repeated exposure to trauma.“Policing was what I loved and I was good at it,” says Jane “I was told by my superiors that I cared too much but in this job you can never care enough and unfortunately some of the things you see never leave you.” The golf ball decorations are one way Jane manages her PTSD, a lifelong condition that can knock the wind out of her sails at any given moment.She has avoided the news since the devastating massacre, the worst in the nation’s history since Port Arthur. She knows the images of two active shooters, police running towards gunfire and people fleeing for their lives, will trigger her PTSD. In her years as a serving officer, Jane saw the worst of society. Now she looks for the best, choosing to focus on the things that bring her happiness. While the nation was glued to their screens watching the horror at Bondi Beach unfold Jane was busy fossicking through her local recycling centre for pots and bits and bobs to create a fairy garden.“I do it because it makes me smile, and it makes the people I give my creations to smile as well. You need to find those small moments of joy when things are at their worst,” she saysPlaying golf - she has an excellent handicap of two - and crafting provided an escape from her worst days at work and kept her mind busy during the Covid pandemic. When the PTSD was its worst Jane knew she was in “real trouble” when she couldn’t even play golf; one of the things she loved most in the world. She credits the ladies golfers at Kiama with “pulling her up and out of a black hole where I would just beat myself up over everything”. Jane slowly recovered her confidence and started playing again. “The ladies got me back on the course, helped me get my game back on track,” says Jane.“But without that support, from my partner, the golf ladies and having the game and the golf ball Christmas decorations for therapy, who knows where I would be.”So if you have received a Wall Ball Christmas decoration, know that it is so much more than a quirky present. It’s a reminder that a kind word, supportive hug, or a simple smile can go a long way this silly season. It can change lives.

Volunteer crews from Marine Rescue Shoalhaven and Marine Rescue Jervis Bay worked together to assist two anglers after their vessel capsized off Currarong at the Banks near Jervis Bay.The men were thrown into the water when their runabout was swamped by a series of larger waves and overturned on Tuesday.Thankfully, another vessel nearby saw what had happened and quickly came to their aid, pulling both anglers safely from the water.Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said rescue vessels Jervis Bay 41 and Shoalhaven 30 were deployed to the incident.The capsized vessel at the Banks“Our crews carried out welfare checks on the anglers and transferred them safely onto the rescue vessel,” Inspector Massey said.“The capsized boat was also secured, as it posed a navigational hazard, at the request of NSW Police Marine Area Command.”The anglers were uninjured and returned safely to shore, where they expressed their gratitude to the recreational boaters who first stopped to help, as well as to the Marine Rescue volunteers who ensured everyone made it home safely.Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit professional organisation, and its volunteers are proud to look out for their local boating community and be there when they’re needed most.

More than 100 people braved rain and lightning to participate in the Sam Matters Cup at Gerringong Golf Club. The annual event raises awareness of suicide prevention, in honour of 18-year-old Sam who took his own life five years ago.Each year those in the tight-knit Gerringong community turn out to remember the “loveable, cheeky, beautiful boy” who had “every reason to live”. And each year they are prepared for a downpour. “It rains every time,” says Sam’s brother Perry who, along with hundreds of supporters, donned wet weather gear and braced for a wet and windy 18 holes on the picturesque, but notoriously tricky course.The Sam Matters Cup is usually held in September but it was postponed to December this year after hundreds of millimetres of spring rain made the hilly course unplayable.Despite being moved to summer, the heavens opened again on the morning of the cup but the deluge didn’t deter supporters of Sammy and the Matters family - dad Dean, mum Mel and brothers Josh and Perry.Photo: Ella GunningAbout 120 golfers braved the weather in honour of Sam’s love for a game he had played for almost a decade and to raise money for the Saving Sammy Foundation, set up by Dean and Mel in the hope other families don’t have to experience the loss they feel every day since their son’s death. “Today is a chance to remember Sam with our community and friends and prevent the same heartbreak happening to another family,” says Mel, who organised all the catering for the event at The Hill, the family’s well-known Gerringong restaurant.“Golf was such a big part of Sam’s life,” says Gerringong Golf Club professional Shane Cochrane who, along with Dean and other club stalwarts, has been instrumental in organising the annual event.This year, like many before, the weather thwarted players’ attempts to complete 18 holes, with the event cancelled midway through due to the severe weather. “Steve would’ve continued to play in weather like this, he’s used to the rain, he’s from New Zealand,” grins Shane. He was referring to Tiger Woods’ caddy Steven Williams, who visited the picturesque course in October to play 18 holes and launch his book, written by Gerringong Golf Club member Evyn Priest, about life on tour with the GOAT of golf.While many of Sammy’s supporters would’ve happily continued on in the rain, nearby lightning strikes made the event unsafe and forced the course to be cleared.Alex and Greg Weir. Photo: The BugleToolijooa farmer Greg Weir, a relative of the Matters’ family, dusts off his clubs each year to play in the cup and managed to squeeze in 10 holes before being called in.“I only play golf once a year, this event, with my son Alex,” says Greg. Although the pair were the inaugural winners of the Sam Matters Cup in 2020, Greg says the day is not about competition, it’s an opportunity for people, especially fathers and sons, to bond and have important discussions about mental health. Photo: Ella Gunning“We might not do it much but things like this charity event get us talking, and put a spotlight on suicide and mental health,” says Greg. “That’s Sam’s legacy.”And that’s why the Matters’ family pour their heart and soul into organising the event, with Dean at the forefront of the golf day making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible - rain, hail or lightning.Photo: Ella GunningThe downpour failed to dampen the spirits of those who knew and loved Sam and the close-knit coastal community joined the extended Matters’ family at The Hill for lunch.Mel, Kiama’s Deputy Mayor and a baker by trade, was on the tools helping to churn out delicious meals and hot and cold drinks for the wet, bedraggled golfers. Photo: Ella GunningDean, with the help of his granddaughters Jess and Nicky, drew names out of a hat to determine who would win prizes, given the competition was cancelled.“Unfortunately it rains more often than not when we hold the cup, apologies for that, but it never stops people from showing up,” he told the crowd gathered to honour Sam. No one seemed to mind that the golf game was cut short, with connection, camaraderie and mental health awareness the real winners on the day.“I was very proud of Melissa, she spoke at the presentation this year, something she hasn’t been able to do in the past because it was just too painful,” says Dean. “Our community is amazing, it’s like it gives us a collective hug saying ‘we are with you’.”With Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures showing 3214 Australians died by suicide in 2023, the need for connection, awareness and suicide prevention has never been greater. On average nine people across the nation lose their lives to suicide every day. In NSW, suicide deaths rose to 954 in 2024, higher than in previous years.The Saving Sammy Foundation hopes the more than $100,000 raised will help bring down these heartbreaking numbers through funding youth development programs at Nowra PCYC and the Building Young Men Program, a mentoring initiative with Kiama High School.“Mentors talk to the boys about their own challenges, the difficulties they faced in growing into young men,” explains Dean. “It is a fantastic initiative which I wish had been available when Sam was alive. "Maybe the outcome would have been different. If we can save one young person Sam's life will not have been in vain.” Young people needing support can reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800, both are free and confidential 24/7 phone and online chat counselling services.

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald paid his respects on Thursday to the victims of the Bondi Beach shootings, joining local government leaders from across the state in laying wreaths at the Bondi Pavilion.Showing their support and solidarity for the Waverley community, the mayors laid tributes on behalf of their grieving and traumatised communitiesLed by Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh and the President of Local Government NSW Mayor Darcy Byrne, the group of elected representatives were from as far as Orange, Kiama and the Tweed."Yesterday, Kiama stood alongside communities from across NSW at Bondi, laying wreaths in memory of those who lost their lives, those injured, and everyone affected by the Bondi tragedy," said Cr McDonald."Our thoughts remain with the people of Waverley."In a short statement after the gathering, Byrne said the Mayors had travelled from every corner of the state to bring a message of love, solidarity and support for the people of Bondi, the Waverley Council and the Jewish community in particular.“On Sunday, this beautiful beach was the scene of an appalling and horrific act of antisemitism, of terrorism, of pure evil,” he said. “We are here to say that this outrageous obscenity will be countered with a wave of love and support and kindness from across NSW and Australia.“This most heinous crime, committed against the Bondi community and the Jewish people, was also an offence to all our communities and we stand shoulder to shoulder with Waverley Council as they now have this sad and heavy burden to bear.”Mayor Nemesh thanked the Mayors for their demonstration of support and commended them for their ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism at a local level.“The mayors gathered here today, come from different political backgrounds, different parts of the state and from different faiths. Cameron McDonald at Bondi Beach."This issue transcends politics.“What we are seeing here from our Mayors is clear and moral leadership.”Mayors and Deputy Mayors who attended on behalf of their communities:Mayor Cr Will Nemesh Waverley CouncilMayor Cr Darcy Byrne Inner West Council, President of LGNSWMayor Cr Ed McDougall Bayside CouncilMayor Cr Brad Bunting Blacktown City CouncilMayor Cr John Faker Burwood CouncilMayor Cr Sarah Ndiaye Byron Shire CouncilMayor Cr Therese Fedeli Camden CouncilMayor Cr Darcy Lound Campbelltown City CouncilMayor Cr Michael Megna City of Canada Bay CouncilDeputy Mayor Cr Rachelle Harika City of Canterbury BankstownCouncillor Cr Callum Pull City of NewcastleLord Mayor Cr Clover Moore, AO City of SydneyMayor Cr Frank Carbone Fairfield City CouncilDeputy Mayor Cr Sam Stratikopoulos Georges River CouncilCouncillor Cr Mike Creed Hawkesbury City CouncilMayor Cr Warren Waddell Hornsby Shire CouncilMayor Cr Cameron McDonald Kiama Municipal CouncilMayor Cr Christine Kay Ku-ring-gai CouncilMayor Cr Merri Southwood Lane Cove CouncilMayor Cr Ned Mannoun Liverpool City CouncilMayor Cr Ann Marie Kimber Mosman CouncilMayor Cr Zoe Baker North Sydney CouncilDeputy Mayor Cr Candy Bingham Northern Beaches CouncilMayor Cr Tony Mileto Orange City CouncilMayor Cr Todd Carney Penrith City CouncilMayor Cr Benjamin Cai Strathfield CouncilMayor Cr Jack Boyd Sutherland Shire CouncilMayor Dr Michelle Byrne The Hills Shire CouncilMayor Cr Chris Cherry Tweed Shire CouncilMayor Cr Tanya Taylor Willoughby City CouncilMayor Cr Matt Gould Wollondilly Shire CouncilMayor Cr Sarah Dixson Woollahra Municipal Council

This week's edition of The Bugle is full of local news and views from our South Coast community.Our lead story is how Kiama Council is planning to cope with the extra parking burden caused by upcoming construction work and there is also a feature on the Sam Matters Cup golf day at Gerringong.READ THE DIGITAL EDITION HEREMore than 100 people braved rain and lightning to participate in the charity event at Gerringong Golf Club.The annual event raises awareness of suicide prevention, in honour of 18-year-old Sam who took his own life five years ago.Each year those in the tight-knit Gerringong community turn out to remember the “loveable, cheeky, beautiful boy” who had “every reason to live”. And each year they are prepared for a downpour.You can also read plenty of great community stories, including an update on the Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival, a crackdown on e-bike problems by local police and a local resident making Christmas treasures with meaning.Kiama Golf Club member Jane Wall has combined her two passions, golf and craft to capture the spirit of Christmas. And those lucky enough to know her are likely to have a Christmas Wall Ball on their mantelpiece or window sill.In sport, you can read about all the latest in South Coast cricket, NRL star Zac Lomax turning out for Kiama and Lucy Darragh's successful trip to the world juniors.Darragh claimed third place in the Under-16 women’s division at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships last week - a key contribution to Australia securing the Team World Championship for the second year in a row.The championships were held in Punta Rocas, Peru, from December 5-14, with Darragh progressing all the way to the final before narrowly missing first place by just 0.41 points to eventual winner Bailey Turner (USA).

Each time the phone rings Pam Grosse leaps out of her seat, ready to spring into action and rush her husband Warren to hospital.“Then I sit back down again,” says the Kiama woman whose husband has been waiting for a transplant for the past 18 months after being diagnosed with chronic liver disease five years ago.Warren, 68, is one of more than 14,000 Australians on the national organ transplant list. “It’s a list no one wants to be on,” says Warren and all the couple want for Christmas is a phone call to say a successful donor match has been found.“We’ve come close,” says Pam. “Twice we thought there had been a successful match but it didn’t work out. Every day we live in hope.”Warren has managed his liver disease through diet, medication and monitoring at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for three years but his health began to deteriorate two years ago.“We got to the stage where his liver was almost starting to respond but then cancer kicked in as a result of the chronic disease,” explains Pam. Warren has had five procedures to “microwave and burn the cancer out of the liver”.“Every time they do that, they leave a big hole in Warren’s liver and that can’t regenerate,” says Pam. “The only way he’s going to survive this is a transplant.”While 80 per cent of Australians support organ donation, only 36 per cent have signed up to join the national donor register, which was set up in 2002.Before that people could register to become an organ donor when they applied for or renewed their licence. This process was phased out everywhere except South Australia which now has the highest number of registered organ donors in the nation - 74 per cent and double the national average.Pam says many people remain in the dark around organ donation registration and Pam and Warren would love to see the driver’s licence organ donation scheme reinstated in NSW. They want the NSW Government to follow Victoria’s lead after the state’s health minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced this month that it would renew the scheme for all driver’s licence applications by 2026.The move, which has been welcomed by Transplant Australia CEO Chris Thomas, comes more than a year after a Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into organ donation recommended the licence donor registration scheme be reinstated.Thomas has called for all states and territories to directly link organ donation registration on a driver’s licence.“The reality is Australia had this system for many years,” he said. “We gave it away everywhere but South Australia and it was a mistake. We are a generous nation. People support donation. We just need to give them the solutions to confirm their support … to ensure that at least 50 per cent of our population is registered.”Transplant Australia believes bringing back the driver’s licence scheme will also encourage young people to become registered organ donors when they apply for or renew a licence. Pam and Warren, both former school principals, know the importance of education programs and want more to be done to advocate for increased organ donation.“People need to be more widely informed about how to join the donor registry, now that it’s no longer linked to their driver’s licence,” says Warren. “It only takes one person to make a difference.“When my three brothers and I got our driver’s licence years ago, we all decided as young blokes to become organ donors and it was easy.“But a lot of people I talk to don’t realise they’ve stopped that.”The NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service says fewer than one in 10 young people are registered organ donors. In a bid to boost donor numbers the service partnered with La Trobe University to find out how young people wanted to learn about organ donation.The study found young people want to make educated decisions but need reliable information, want to learn about organ donation from a younger age and feel learning about it in school makes it a more normal topic.This service now runs school-based education programs about organ donation in partnership with NSW Health and the NSW Education Department.“It’s a tough conversation to have with your family because no one wants to talk about dying,” says Pam. “But Warren faces that reality every day unless he receives a transplant.” In the meantime, while they wait in hope, Pam has channeled her anxious energy into painting. She turns her watercolours into greeting cards and donates them to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where Warren receives life-saving treatment. All funds raised from the sale of the cards support families at the hospital.Pam and Warren have also urged people to lobby their local MPs to push for improved education around organ donation, including the reinstatement of the driver’s licence scheme.People can sign up for the national Australian Organ Donor Register through their myGov account, the DonateLife website or by calling 1800 777 203.

The success of the Gong Shuttle free bus service in Wollongong could one day lead to similar services being set up in Shellharbour, Kiama and the Shoalhaven.Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison launched the draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan in Wollongong last Tuesday, billed as a 20-year vision to guide the region’s transport future.The NSW Government is calling on the local communities to have their say on how transport in the region evolves.With the population of the area, which runs from Helensburgh to Ulladulla, expected to rise by around 150,000 over the next two decades, it is essential that road, rail and bus transport in particular are planned correctly and delivered promptly.The draft plan sets out priorities based on evidence, data and consultation with more than 40 stakeholders, including councils and community groups.Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said the Gong Shuttle, which he described as “Wollongong’s subway”, had been a raging success since it was launched in 2012. And he wanted it to be a blueprint for how local transport networks are formulated over the next two decades.“We know that the success of the Gong Shuttle, one of the most successful bus nodes and corridors in the country, is not by mistake because it came about because of engagement with the community and identifying the key spots along a route that would make a difference,” he said.“I want people to be able to see what's in here (the draft plan) - if what they believe is important is not here please say it. “Now is an opportunity for the community to have their say transport matters in this region.” Aitchison said “if the demand is going to be there for particular areas, we will do it” when asked about the Gong Shuttle service.She accused the previous Coalition government of excluding MPs in the region, blindsiding them with transport plans.“We would wake up in the morning and find out that a plan was being launched in our community about transport - it didn't speak to local council considerations, it didn't take input from local members, it didn't take input from community,” she said.“We want our investment in transport in roads, in rail, in active transport to be strategic. We want them to be regionally focused not just one electorate that the Coalition was trying to win 10 years ago.“Our biggest priority here in the Illawarra is around housing, busting congestion and safety.”Aitchison added that high-frequency bus services are needed in the region to complement the rail network.“We know that's a growing thing that growing communities need to get cars off the road. But also with our road users we want to ensure that they're getting safe trips and that those trips are resilient.”Shellharbour MP Anna Watson said the Government was not looking at “a band-aid for a bullet wound”.“We are looking at future-proofing the way we move around this city and the broader Shoalhaven.“It’s not going to happen in five minutes … it is going to be important for jobs, important for businesses and important for the community.“There are a lot of elderly people within our communities that find it difficult to get around and the reason why there's a lot of loneliness within our communities is because people can't get around.“It's hard to get on a bus and it's hard to get on a train - the services just aren't there.”When asked about the possibility of electrification of the rail line south of Kiama, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said there were “a range of priorities for the South Coast Rail Line which is why we're undertaking that task of the Illawarra Rail Resilience Plan. “We have to feature in whatever plans there might be and whatever timeline that might be within the budget constraints that we might have at any given point. “We've found that (South Coast) was one of the more neglected rail lines on the entire network and that's why over recent weeks we've had some substantive investments and some frustrating and inconvenient shutdowns to do the maintenance work.” He said more than 20,000 people were expected to take up residence in 200 hectares of redeveloped surplus industrial land at Port Kembla which is serviced by four existing train stations, opening the door for the Illawarra to have its own self-contained rail network. During the public feedback period, Transport for NSW staff will be out across the region speaking directly with residents at local pop-up sessions.Community members can view the draft plan and provide comments until 9 February at www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/sritp/illawarra-shoalhaven.

The iconic Kiama Blowhole is one of two sites that Surf Life Saving NSW has begun trialling new Artificial Intelligence camera technology to help prevent rock fishing tragedies over the next 14-month period. Funded by NSW and federal governments, the SAIL (Surveillance AI for Lifesaving) project aims to improve coastal safety by identifying lifesavers or rescuers when a rock fisher has been washed or enters the water unexpectedly. Rock fisher Chengchao Zhao who is a design engineer and a resident of western Sydney, has experienced the dangers of rock fishing with a close call at the popular casting spot of the Kiama Blowhole.  “I felt the conditions were OK and the sea was not very strong but after 10 minutes, all my fishing gear was gone,” Chengchao said. “That kind of wave is very scary!”Along with the AI camera technology, the NSW Government is investing $23 million over four years, delivering jet skis and emergency response beacons up and down the coast. Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said this trial and funding will not only support the work of NSW lifesavers for quick responses but provide greater data for research improvements. “Both Kiama and Little Bay have sadly seen too many heartbreaking incidents,” Dib said. “By working with Surf Life Saving NSW, we’re taking practical steps aimed at making the NSW coastline safer – and already, we are seeing lives saved.” Kiama MP Katelin McInerney is pleased to see this technology being trialled at the Kiama Blowhole. “Our community has been impacted too many times over the years when people have been swept off rock platforms, and it’s encouraging to see innovative safety solutions being trialled to help save lives,” she said.Both McInerney and Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce had a strong message for rock fishing enthusiasts this summer.  “I encourage everyone to stay alert to conditions and always wear a life jacket while enjoying our coastline," McInerney said."Rock fishing remains one of the highest risk activities and I urge rock fishers to wear a life jacket every time they fish and avoid situations where they put their lives at risk this summer," Pearce said.There is a national average of 13 people who die per year because of rock fishing, with a total of 126 fatalities in NSW since 2004. Chengchao welcomes the new technology and encourages all levels of government and departments to continue education programs for those engaging in rock fishing. “Some people I know who rock fish don’t have enough awareness or education around the dangers, which is very frustrating – hopefully the government can help,” he said. Chengchao explained that because of the unpredictability of rock fishing, he is ritualistic in his approach.   “I always wear a life jacket when fishing, always go with my friend to keep an eye out for each other, and I also do comprehensive research before I go and fish,” he said. “Checking the forecast which includes checking the tide and swell height and direction, wind (speed and direction), what is the appropriate gear for that rock fishing area – these are just some of the many variables I must consider.” The NSW government recommends it is safest to wear a lifejacket whenever rock fishing or exposed to ocean swell, but it is only enforced in declared areas, which interestingly does not include the Kiama Blowhole. Flagged earlier this year as a potential site for the trial, Surf Life Saving NSW South Coast branch president Shane Wicks told The Bugle that there had been at least four rescues off the Kiama Blowhole fishing area in the first six months of 2025. Kiama Council provided permission for the trial to be undertaken on Council land with Mayor Cameron McDonald explaining that the monitoring systems are in two locations around Blowhole Point.Council is also undertaking community consultation for opting into the NSW Rock Fishing Act 2016 which would include Kiama's coastal regions from Minnamurra Headland right down to Black Head Beach in Gerroa. At the recent Local Government NSW Annual Conference in Penrith, Council was successful in advocating for two important motions which included rock fishing safety reforms, in response to the tragic increase in fatalities along the NSW coast and was attended by Mayor Cameron McDonald, Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters, and Councillor Stuart Larkins."When councils unite, we can achieve meaningful outcomes. Seeing Kiama's motions adopted shows the power of collaboration," Deputy Mayor Matters said. The other site undertaking the SAIL project trial is on the south-eastern coastal region of the Randwick LGA, where the trial has already recorded a successful rescue of a rock fisher who was swept off the rocks during a heavy swell at Malabar. For more information about rock fishing lifejacket laws and declared areas head to: https://www.nsw.gov.au/environment-land-and-water/coasts-waterways-and-marine/rock-fishing-lifejacket-law For more information on Surf Life Saving Australia's Coastal Safety Brief Rock Fishing head to: https://www.surflifesaving.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/05/Surf-Life-Saving-Australia-Rock-Fishing-Coastal-Safety-Brief-2020.pdf For more information on Kiama Council's community consultation regarding rock fishing safety in the Kiama area head to: https://yoursay.kiama.nsw.gov.au/rock-fishing-safetyBelow is a video example of the new AI camera in action

When 18-year-old Ava Groves travelled from Nowra to Sydney for the State Final of the 2025 Regional Public Speaking Competition, she didn’t expect to leave Parliament House as one of the top three speakers in NSW.“I was definitely surprised,” Groves said. “The competition was insane. Everyone there knew what they were doing, they're all experienced public speakers – I really didn’t expect it.”Groves, who has just graduated from St John the Evangelist Catholic High School in South Nowra, represented the Queanbeyan round after winning her regional event earlier this year.Groves taking third place next to Richard MarlesThe State Final, held on 5 December, brought together six outstanding students from across regional NSW as part of the NSW Legislative Council’s Regional Roadshow program.The program, launched during the Council’s Bicentenary, aims to strengthen young people’s connection with the democratic process by taking public speaking competitions and youth forums to regional centres.This year’s roadshows visited Grafton, Queanbeyan, Tamworth, Griffith, Cessnock and Orange before finalists were selected to speak in the Legislative Council Chamber.Groves’ prepared speech, titled “The lies we tell ourselves,” examined the small but constant fictions many people use as coping mechanisms – from insisting everything is fine to convincing ourselves we’re doing enough for causes like the environment.“It wasn’t targeted at anyone,” she said. “It was more for the general public, because we all lie – there are always things we could be doing better.”Despite being new to the craft, she found the impromptu section of the competition less daunting than expected.“Everyone had the same 15 minutes to prepare,” she said.“Not as much is expected of you compared to the prepared speech, so I felt more reassured. I could just get up there and talk.”According to Groves, the regional finalists all got on very well. “We were all pretty close by the end,” she said. “Some of the places they were from I’d never even heard of.”Finalists (not in order) Gabrielle Eveleigh, Maitland Grossmann High School, Ava Groves, St John The Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra , Jonah Grimshaw, Condobolin High School, Hannah Lennon, St Paul's College - Walla Walla, Ben Reeve, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Ruby Woods, Oxley High SchoolGroves hopes her achievement encourages other regional students to take chances on opportunities that may seem out of reach.“People think regional towns are disadvantaged and don’t have as much opportunity, which can be true, but it’s also a myth,” she said.“If someone like me, who’s never done anything like this, can give it a go, then anyone can."You’ve got nothing to lose.”Ava Groves giving her prepared speechShe credits her parents for their steady support throughout the competition.“They’ve listened to so many drafts and supported me non-stop. I wouldn’t have done it without them.”With her HSC behind her, Groves is planning to study a combined law and arts degree at university – a path strengthened by her newfound confidence in public speaking.“This really awakened my enjoyment of it,” she said. “If I pursue a legal career, it will absolutely benefit me.”For Nowra, her success is both a personal milestone and a reminder of the talent thriving in regional communities when young people are given a platform to speak.

At 92, Noel Creighton has become something of a Kiama treasure.He’s lived here all his life, watched the town grow around him, and for more than 65 years has carried the mantle of the South Coast’s very own Santa Claus.He smiles when he recalls that his childhood home once stood where the Kiama Leagues Club is today.“So when I’m having dinner at night, when I do go, I’m actually sitting in my bedroom,” he laughed.One of 11 children, Noel first put on the red suit in December 1957.The extended Creighton family would gather in the old Tennis Hall near Hindmarsh Park for Christmas Eve, and with countless nieces and nephews racing around, Noel’s sisters decided someone needed to be Santa. That someone, it was determined– would be him– a tradition that would carry out to this day.Noel as Santa with Wendy and his son, also NoelFrom that first family Christmas, Noel’s Santa duties quickly spread into the community.Each year he’d appear around town– at the primary school, Rotary events, even at hospital Christmas parties. One of his favourite memories is arriving by boat from the harbour to the school.“I carried a bunch of towels with me– I wanted to make sure it was stable so I didn’t fall off!” he chuckled.Over the years he became known for his grand entrances. He has arrived in a horse and carriage, a helicopter, boats, and even on a motorbike.“I arrived on an old motor bike with the beard blowing in the wind, you got no idea, a lot of fun.” He shakes his head. “They were good days.”For the past 25 years, Noel has been Santa for Kiama Meals on Wheels, and this December he received a Community Service Award recognising his decades of joyful dedication.Noel with his Community Service Award at Central Park Cafe“He loves the Meals on Wheels and they love him,” his daughter Wendy Toomey said.Wendy laughs when she remembers growing up with a Santa father. “I guess I didn’t know for a long time. My brother and I didn’t really realise it was Daddy. Then he used to come up to school and I still didn’t know Santa was Dad.” Still now, living in Kiama with her husband and father, she still calls Christmas “a special time of year.”Noel as Santa before Meals on Wheels last week Noel’s life in Kiama has never been just about Christmas, though.For many years he has volunteered at the Presbyterian Church, where his son served as pastor for more than 20 years. Noel still tends the gardens there.“The reason I do the gardening is because out the front, people are always saying good morning and good afternoon. I meet a lot of people—it’s amazing!”He is still a familiar face around town– and often recognised.“Some people up at Woolies, as I’m walking past, I don’t know their name, I just say hi or hello, and you know what they do? ‘Hi Santa,’” he laughed.At 92, he still drives, keeps himself busy, plays bowls – “I can hold my own at the old bowling greens,” he said proudly – and enjoys chatting with visitors.“People come into Kiama for the weekend and he finds out all about them,” Wendy said. “It is a lovely community– Kiama.”One of Wendy’s favourite memories is of a little boy who came to their front door.He had recognised Noel as Santa and wanted to be sure. “He asked Dad if he was the real Santa,” Wendy said. Noel told him gently, “Santa has lots of helpers – I’m one of Santa’s helpers.”Noel has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and it’s clear within minutes of meeting him that he’s lived a life filled with gratitude and purpose.“Life’s what you make of it– pull a muscle,” he jokes.Faith has always been at the heart of Noel’s Christmas spirit.He often shares a poem he loves, Santa’s Christmas Prayer, which tells of Santa kneeling before the nativity, recognising Jesus as the true meaning of the season.“May they give You all the glory, for You’re the One True Christmas story,” the poem closes – words Noel shows still move him after all these years.And perhaps that’s Noel’s greatest legacy – not just the red suit or the memorable entrances, but the quiet reminder he offers to everyone he meets: that joy is meant to be shared, that community is built on kindness, and that Christmas, at its very core, is about God’s love. In Kiama, you don’t need December to spot Santa. He’s already here, gardening out the front of the church, rolling a bowl at the greens, or chatting to strangers who don’t stay strangers for long. And whether he’s in the suit or not, the spirit of Christmas seems to follow him everywhere.

In April 2024, Kiama 10-year-old Indi Whittaker had an idea for a street pantry. It was a fully formed idea, with drawing and signage and purpose, and she sent a letter to Kiama Council and all the Councillors asking if she could build it on Council land. Eighteen months later, with much involvement from the broader community, the Community Care Cupboard has been installed at the Kiama Uniting Church on Manning Street and will be operational by Christmas. Indi had seen a similar idea in the street in Coniston and immediately thought that it would be great for Kiama, having noticed people sleeping rough in various parts of our town. Council didn’t respond officially, but (then) councillors Karen Renkema-Lang and Kathy Rice were impressed by Indi’s letter and approached Reverend Kath Merrifield from the Kiama Uniting Church. Local architect Madeleine Scarfe was involved in the early stages to turn Indi’s vision into a formal drawing and the Men’s Shed were engaged to build it, so it has truly been a community project. The slogan Indi created is “Take what you need, Give what you can”. Her vision is that the community provides the supplies for the Community Care Cupboard for those in need to take. The Care Cupboard will include toys and books for kids, non-perishable food, toiletries and blankets and towels in winter. It is vital that the Community Care Cupboard be well stocked and maintained if it is to be a success - the plan is that this will be managed by a community-based roster, but the details are still being ironed out. For more information, or to get involved, email Annie at [email protected] or if you would like to “give what you can”, you could just put your donations in the cupboard.

Sydney-based developer Level 33 has moved to reassure the local community that its plans for a high-rise complex on Akuna Street will “enhance the town centre” rather than detract from Kiama’s unique charm.Managing director Eddy Haddad told The Bugle that they were “aware of the concerns and are taking them seriously” following a backlash to the proposed $66 million development.Level 33 recently withdrew its legal action against Kiama Council and has engaged with the Housing Delivery Authority to complete the project.The HDA could allow the developer to go beyond the seven-storey limit to the 10-14 range for the complex which could house two supermarkets.When asked why the Land and Environment Court case, which was due to be heard this week, had been withdrawn, Haddad said: “The HDA has accepted the site into its program and has gone out to tender with a panel of architects. “At this stage, we could not gain further traction with Council on progressing the approval without the matter proceeding to a full hearing in Court, which we wanted to avoid.”Haddad would not say how many storeys Level 33 wants its development to be but added: “The project has now gone out to the HDA’s architectural panel for a redesign, so the final height will be determined through that process.“This will ultimately be determined by the State Government Architect and the Design Review Panel. Heights shown to date are indicative only and subject to further assessment and planning.”It is understood that the HDA will make a recommendation to Planning Minister Paul Scully who can then declare the project a State Significant Development, which means it would not need to conform to Council’s height limits.Local residents and business owners are concerned Kiama does not have the infrastructure in place to cope with a rapid increase in developments such as this one, plus two other multi-storey proposals for Akuna Street and the Council-owned Shoalhaven Street Precinct which could result in 450 homes being built in an eight-storey development opposite Kiama Bowls Club.“We intend to deliver a landmark development for Kiama that will enhance the town centre, including significant retail activation and additional retail and resident car parking,” Haddad added.“The (Level 33) site is proposed to include over 200 parking spaces for both residents and the retail precinct, which will support the town centre.”Haddad said they intended to “work collaboratively with Council throughout the process”.“We aim to commence construction as soon as possible following approvals.”Kiama MP Katelin McInerney has described the potential 14-storey development as “completely inappropriate” for the town.McInerney and Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald have written to Scully to voice their opposition to the project going above seven storeys.Cr McDonald has encouraged disgruntled local residents to also write to the Minister to express their opposition to high-rise development dwarfing the town centre.In his Mayoral Minute for next Tuesday’s Council meeting, he has reiterated his opposition to the Akuna Street development. “I do not support 14-storey buildings anywhere in the town centre of Kiama. "The community can rest assured we are advocating on its behalf for the Minister to refuse the application and ensure that the heights are more appropriate for a community of our size and scale.”Cr McDonald also pointed out that he was “aware that concerns have recently been published around the integrity and governance structures of the HDA”.“The NSW Leader of the Opposition has recently called for an independent review of all HDA recommendations as it has been revealed that an unauthorised AI tool was used to collate information before the HDA. “The integrity of any planning process must be maintained.“Council welcomes the news that the NSW Audit Office is undertaking a review of the governance arrangements for the HDA.”The Akuna Street site was sold by Council to Level 33 in late 2022 for $28 million.The dilapidated area of the old Kiama Independent newspaper headquarters has been decimated by vandals and squatters with abandoned cars, smashed glass and graffiti throughout the site.On Tuesday morning, Level 33 closed down the car park due to safety concerns but reopened access a few hours later and will allow motorists to park there for another month before it gets shut down permanently.

The NSW Government has released figures which show bed block in public hospitals in the Illawarra Shoalhaven has surged by approximately 25 per cent over the past year. Despite this, emergency department (ED) treatment times are continuing to show signs of turning around with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) achieving an improvement in T2 emergency treatment times.The latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) quarterly report shows T2 emergency treatment on time has increased across ISLHD by 2 percentage points to 51% including Wollongong up 8.8 percentage points to 55.5%.T2 emergency patients are among the most unwell including those suffering from chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe fractures, serious abdominal pain and sepsis - and need to be treated within ten minutes.It is particularly noteworthy given the July-September quarter is generally regarded as the busiest of the year, as winter illnesses circulate the community.Data released in the latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) MyHospitals update reinforces this improvement, showing that despite having the highest demand for emergency care in the country, NSW hospitals had the shortest emergency care wait times in the country for 2024-25.This improvement is part of the NSW Government’s broader work to rebuild essential health services, by recruiting more health workers, delivering more beds and expanding urgent care options.The number of semi-urgent and non-urgent presentations to ISLHD EDs have decreased by over 1500 in the July-September 2025 quarter compared to the same quarter the previous year.The number of patients exceeding their estimated date of discharge in ISLHD because they are waiting to access a Commonwealth aged care or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) placement increased from 101 to 126 in the year to 30 September 2025.The biggest yearly increases have occurred at some of the state’s largest hospitals:Shoalhaven – from 6 to 16Wollongong – from 5 to 14Minister for Health Ryan Park said Commonwealth bed block has surged in NSW hospitals by over 50 per cent in just a single year "and this is simply not sustainable".“Commonwealth bed block has serious consequences for our state hospitals – from wards, to surgeries that can’t be conducted, to people waiting for beds in the ED.“I want to thank our health workers for delivering another yearly improvement in ED T2 emergency treatment time performance.“This is a result of fewer people presenting with semi-urgent and non-urgent conditions, thanks to people contacting Healthdirect and receiving treatment through virtual and urgent care.” Kiama MP Katelin McInerney is concerned about the older demographic in her electorate.“Our electorate has a significantly older demographic and no older person should be left languishing in our hospitals due to a shortage of aged care beds.“We need more investment from the Federal Government to ensure our older residents have access to quality aged care, and I will continue to be an advocate for investment and early planning for these aged care developments and for the investment in new housing for the workforce required to provide these services.”

For many parents this week’s social media ban brings a sense of relief; no more dinner table or bedtime battles over screens.But for many young people it comes with a sense of loss and isolation from their social networks.From Wednesday, anyone aged under 16 was locked out of accessing platforms like YouTube, TikTok, SnapChat, Instagram and Facebook and social media companies who don't enforce the ban could face hefty fines of up to $50 million.But parents also have an important role to play in ensuring kids don’t find workarounds to the safeguards.Kiama Unplugged founder Jane Bourne says many parents and young people have been preparing for the ban for months by joining the charity’s screen-free activities.The Unplugged initiative - organised by Jane, a civil celebrant, and her husband Ian, a pilot, all at their own expense - has been helping the community to disconnect from their phones and reconnect with each other through a range of social activities since September last year.Now, with the world’s gaze firmly on Australia to gauge the impact of the bans, Kiama Unplugged has stepped into the breach to help parents and young people successfully navigate the new rules.“In the coming weeks, with the new law around delaying social media until children are 16, we know there are going to be a lot of stories to be told and shared,” says Jane.“As the founder of Kiama Unplugged, and also Australia Unplugged, I really want to support young people and their families, and to help people see the benefits that this age delay will have.Jane and Ian Bourne. Photo: Ella Gunning“On Wednesday we had a stall at Kiama Farmers Market and so many families engaged and connected with us about the ban.“It's so important for parents to have conversations with their teenagers about the age delay, be curious, and find out what social media meant to them and what they'll miss. We need to be validating their emotions.”Kiama MP Katelin McInerney popped by the market stall on Wednesday, saying the ban was “a good step in the right direction”.“Our young people will need more support over the coming holiday period and in the next school year adjusting to their new social media free norm.“All of us can do our bit to check in. It’s great to see Unplugged offering great screen-free alternatives for real world connection in our beautiful backyard.”Jane believes listening to “the voice of young people” is essential to successfully navigating social media changes.“Our information gathering session was a key driver in understanding the views of local high school aged kids so we can work alongside young people to ensure they remain socially connected when they are offline,” says Jane.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the ban “will change lives for Australian kids, allowing them to just have their childhood”."It is one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced," he said."It's a profound reform, which will continue to reverberate around the world in coming months, to assist not just this generation, but generations to come. It is about our families taking back control."Jane says the fact that the ban is encouraging different forms of engagement and interaction means it is already working and young people are genuinely craving real social connections.“We ran activities like decorating skateboards - kindly donated by local business Creative Kooks - and talked to young people about the positives and negatives of this ban,” says Jane.Photo: Ella Gunning“We had games and a lucky dip to win giveaways donated by local businesses.“There were lots of conversations about how people can get more involved in Kiama Unplugged, sign our pledge to delay smartphones and volunteer to join our youth advisory board.”While Jane understands banning social media won’t solve all of the issues faced by teens in today’s fast-paced world, she hopes it will better protect youth mental health and in some instances, save lives, in part by reducing the online bullying many teens can face on social media.“Online bullying follows kids from the moment they wake up, to school, to their bedroom until they finally sleep,” says Jane.“There is often no escape and the relentless bullying through group chats, screenshots and shares can have devastating consequences.”Kiama Unplugged has long been an advocate to “let kids be kids through play, connection, sport and support”.“We need to replace that sense of community many kids feel through their social media channels,” says Jane.Many experts have called for a return of the Active Kids and Creative Kids vouchers without means tests.This would allow a wider cohort of teens to find their tribe outside of screens, without adding more financial pressure on families.Jane also recommends making a plan for the summer holidays.“They will have all this time that they used to spend on social media, find and encourage other ways for them to discover that sense of belonging, identity and creativity, but in real life,” says Jane.“New outlets for creativity could be video, photo or music editing, creative coding, writing or journaling, learning a language or music.“The way our 12- to 15-year-olds were accessing dopamine has significantly changed, and we need to help them find healthier and more positive ways to replace that.”

Every Monday morning, as sunlight spills through Kiama Uniting Church’s windows, tables begin to fill with colour – fabric squares, embroidery threads, paint palettes, half-finished cards, and quilts in progress.This is Kiama Creative Crafts – a group that has shaped community life for more than two decades, built on the simple idea that people need people.The group meets from 9am to 11.30am during school terms, hosting crafters working across an enormous variety of skills: crocheting, embroidery, tapestry, quilting, card making, candlewicking, applique, and more.In the Lecture Hall, artists paint in every medium from watercolour to oils.Despite being hosted in the Church, most who come are not church members.Kiama Creative Crafts every Monday at Uniting Church. Photo: Ella Gunning“There’s less than a dozen actually connected to the church – most people are not,” said coordinator Deirdre Teague. “There’s people that come from Nowra, one from Sydney, some from Campbelltown, and a few from Shellharbour.”For many, attending is more than an artistic hobby. “For some people, this is the only social connection they have all week,” Teague said.Social chatting before artists get to work “From this they can get help for other people, and our minister here is very supportive – if there’s somebody who needs something she’ll make sure to follow up.” Members can contribute $5 for tea or coffee, an amount that accumulates into local support. “That $5 ends up going to different charities, so we give quite a sum, $500, to Kiama for their breakfast for high school, to homelessness, and the CRMI.” The group also supports the Carols and provides Christmas hampers to three local schools: Kiama High, Kiama Primary, and Minnamurra. As Teague put it, “It’s a well-being situation. Push the small groups, support each other.”People come for the craft, but stay for the companionship.Bill Jauncey, a former Kiama High geography teacher, has been coming every Monday for around a decade, and what began casually quickly became part of his weekly routine.“It’s not a formal sort of class,” Jauncey said. “I’ve always wanted to dabble a bit more in painting but this just sets up the ideal situation to do what you want.Jauncey's recently finished and admired wave painting"You go around and talk about ideas, and see what everyone else is doing and how they’re doing it, get some ideas to make it work.“This group’s been growing… this whole thing is really important for people getting out – it’s the social thing and chatting for a lot of people here.”Ken Mitchell, who joined a little over 12 months ago, described the easy rhythm of the mornings: “It’s great. It’s nice to chat to everybody."Everybody’s talking away in the morning when we first start off, then by say 10 o’clock everyone goes quiet working away for an hour, then just before 11 o’clock they all start getting up and talking again. It’s really a social event, and it’s very good.”Some projects become almost landmarks of the group’s history.Gladys Ling, who has been attending since 2001, recently finished a quilt she began before COVID in 2020.Flannel flowers, gum nuts, Christmas bells, and gum leaves make their way across the fabric – a patient, years-long labour of love completed in 2025.Ling's "not for sale" quilt that she began before COVID and recently completed. Photo: Ella GunningKiama Creative Crafts remains a place to create, chat, and reconnect. Open to everyone, the group hopes to gain more members in the coming year.  “Particularly since COVID, we’ve realized how important it is – we need more people coming in,” Teague said.