Some of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history belong to women. Dawn Fraser winning her third successive gold in the 100-metres freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. Evonne Goolagong-Cawley clinching her second Wimbledon title in 1980, almost a decade after winning for the first time. Cathy Freeman powering along the home straight on her way to Olympic glory at Stadium Australia in 2000. These were all extraordinary moments, and they are all extraordinary athletes. “Dawnie”, Evonne, and Cathy didn’t just inspire a nation, they inspired the next generation of female runners, tennis players and swimmers. And so it will be with our Matildas, whose brilliant World Cup run came to an end last week with an agonising third place playoff loss to Sweden. The Bugle is in awe of what the Matildas achieved on the field. Like millions of Australians, we were wowed by Kyra Cooney-Cross’ raw pace, Mackenzie Arnold’s rock-solid defence, and Sam Kerr’s missile-like strikes. The game against France – which went down to the wire on penalties – was a particular highlight. The Bugle is also in awe of what the Matildas achieved off the field. The response from the Australian public, including our Kiama community, has been quite something. Stadiums have sold out, pubs have been packed, and live sites have been well attended by Tilly fans young and old. It's been written and said ad nauseam, but there’s no doubt the Matildas’ success will be a gamechanger for women and girls’ sport across the country. That’s why it was encouraging to see the Federal Government announce a $200 million investment in women’s sporting facilities and equipment at the grassroots level. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said “we want women and girls everywhere in Australia to have the facilities and the support to choose a sport they love”. He's right. The Bugle hopes some of that investment ends up in Kiama because we have no doubt that somewhere in the crowd at the Hindmarsh Park live site – amid the green and gold flags and picnic blankets – was a future Matilda.  Contact us to tell us your favourite Matildas moment, and what women’s sporting initiatives the Government should be looking at in Kiama. 

First it was on, then it was off – now offshore wind may be back on off the coast of Kiama. Earlier this week, The Bugle’s Brendon Foye brought us big news from the Illawarra Clean Energy Summit & Expo. The Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, has announced plans for a 1,400 square kilometre offshore wind zone, stretching from Wombarra in the north to Gerringong in the south. The project – which would see turbines installed at least 30 kilometres off Kiama’s coast – would generate enough energy to power 3.4 million homes. It will also provide 2,500 jobs during construction and 1,250 jobs on an ongoing basis. While few of The Bugle’s readers would be against more good jobs and more clean energy, many are likely to have concerns around the environmental impact of such a project – and what that could mean for tourism and the local economy. This news is also sure to give many of our readers a heavy dose of déjà vu. It was only two months ago that BlueFloat Energy canned its plans to plant 150 turbines off Kiama’s shoreline, following significant community blowback. The Bugle reckons that blowback could’ve been measured in gigawatts! At the very least, it’s a good thing that Minister Bowen has promised to hold a fair dinkum consultation on this new project. He says: “this is a genuine consultation and I encourage all community members to get involved and have their say on the proposed zone”. Community information sessions will be held at Kiama Leagues Club on Wednesday 20th September and Gerringong Town Hall on Thursday 21st September, with the formal consultation period to run until Monday 16th October. Irrespective of where locals land on this issue, it’s The Bugle’s very strong view that everyone should get an opportunity to have their say and that the Federal Government needs to listen. At the time of the BlueFloat decision, Kiama State MP, Gareth Ward welcomed the decision to move their project away from Kiama. We have not heard from Mr Ward following this latest development from the Federal Government. In a statement on Facebook, Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips provided details about the consultation period and said the project “presents a huge economic opportunity”. Here at The Bugle, we’ll do everything we can to make sure that our community’s voice is heard. But ultimately it starts with you. Please contact us and tell us whether you think, on balance, a new offshore wind turbine farm is good for Kiama.

Sustainability: how we thriveI’ve recently taken to the road in our new Mayoral vehicle, which is an EV (electric vehicle).This has prompted me to think about sustainability.Pillar two of our Community Strategic Plan (CSP) is: we thrive in a sustainable environment.But what on earth does that mean?‘Sustainability’ can be challenging to define, yet to me, it is very real. It’s a lens through which I view all issues. I consider sustainability to be an inter-generational contract – basically living life to the fullest without compromising future generations' ability to do the same.‘Environment’ is two worlds. One is the world around you, and the other one is the world within you. So, I try to adopt a principle that suits each of those worlds. That is: ‘Think for yourself, act for everyone’.Environmental sustainability is one reason that when it came time to choose a new car for the mayor’s position, I wanted it to be Kiama Council’s first fully-electric fleet vehicle.I know many in our community have already taken the step of purchasing an EV, and I have spoken to many more who are considering their options.At Kiama Council, our net zero goals, as outlined in our Corporate Emissions Reduction Plan, are something we take seriously. My EV joins some hybrid vehicles in our passenger fleet and our new waste truck, which meets Euro V1 (6) emissions standards. On other fronts, we’ve also upgraded our street lighting to LEDs to be more energy efficient, and we’re working with Endeavour Energy on a project to install the first community battery in our municipality – every bit helps.Financial sustainability is a concept that we talk about a lot in Council, and you’ll probably be aware that the Councillors and I have made big decisions to help steer us back towards financial sustainability – we’re forecast to be back in the black by 2026.Looking beyond our own books, economic sustainability involves Council helping foster a local and regional economy that promotes long-term stability and resilience. In this area, we’ve recently launched our Signature Community Events Grants program to provide a better funding model for local festivals and events.Cultural sustainability is another area Council works hard at. Preserving and celebrating cultural diversity is essential for sustainable development. Valuing and sharing diverse cultural heritage, traditions, and knowledge can enrich societies and foster a sense of identity and belonging.We recently hosted the regional NAIDOC Awards and in November, we’ll host a new event: an Indian Festival, with input from the Kiama and District Business Chamber, the Consul General and the Indian community. It is shaping up to be a fantastic cultural, economic, and fun exchange.Ethical sustainability: This aspect revolves around promoting ethical behaviour and responsible practices in all aspects of council life. As our mid-year review showed, we havecompleted 18 actions and counting from the Hopwood report into Council’s governance systems and practices. Recognising the importance of everyone’s well-being and emotional resilience as crucial components of a sustainable future helps build inter-generational sustainability. This is why I spoke to our Federal Member, Fiona Philips, who is working with us to establish a Headspace here in our LGA, to provide additional mental health support for our youth.Finally, social sustainability means focusing on creating urban and rural planning that is inclusive and equitable. Where we plan for today, with tomorrow in mind.This involves engaging with our community to ensure we understand our aligned vision and objectives. Our Local Strategic Planning Statement and Kiama Town Centre Plan goes a long way to achieving development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Dear Bugle reader, Parliament sat last week, and I didn’t waste a minute. I gave notice of a bill to amend NSW electoral law to require voters to show some form of ID when they go to vote. The bill will also require the Electoral Commission to use electronic elector mark-off once someone has been issued with ballot papers. My bill comes amidst revolutions that thousands of people at the 2019 State Election voted twice! I take any form of fraud very seriously and requiring voters to show some form of identification combined with electronic mark-off will provide a layer of protection for a legitimate vote being outweighed by anyone committing electoral fraud. This approach has previously been recommended by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters but both major parties have ignored these recommendations. My bill will mean that both sides will have to nail their colours to the mast on measures designed to safeguard our democracy. I look forward to seeing their approach. I also concluded debate on a private members bill to provide for greater accountability measures for Ministers on handling government money and government grants. My bill proposed, among other things, that an unethical awarding of taxpayer funds by way of a grant, should give rise to a serious breach of the Ministerial Code. Interestingly, Labor supported provisions of my bill when they were in opposition. But now in Government, it seems they conveniently take a different view. Whilst the vote was close due to some crossbench support, the bill was defeated with Labor voting against the bill. I also used Question Time last week to ask the Premier about how the NSW Government is cleaning up expenditure of private sector consultancies used by NSW Government agencies. Whilst you may have been following the Canberra controversy involving the ‘Big Four’ consultancies, much of the current debate was kicked off due to an inquiry into a little known NSW entity called TAHE (Transport Asset Holding Entity). As a result of the inquiry into TAHE, the Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee proposed some very sensible recommendations to better manage expenditure on government consultancies and reduce possible conflicts of interest. My question to the Premier was very simple; what are you doing to implement these recommendations? The Premier took my question on notice and offered to provide a written reply to the House in due course. Suffice to say, I take the expenditure of taxpayer funds very seriously and I look forward to reading the Premier’s reply.

The Bugle’s View – Affordability crisis.You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out Kiama is in the middle of a housing affordability crisis. But the problem in our part of the world is now so bad, according to new research, that you may need to be a rocket scientist just to afford the rent. Business Illawarra’s Solutions to the Affordable Housing Crisis report – covered by The Bugle’s Donna Portland - shows more than 20,000 essential workers across the Illawarra Shoalhaven region are experiencing housing stress.In other words, the people that make our community tick – like nurses, labourers, and Aged Care workers – are finding it the hardest to keep a roof over their head. Consider this hypothetical case study included the Judith Stubbs & Associates research which fed into Business Illawarra’s report: “A child care worker wanting to move out of Sydney to take up a job in Kiama, and earning $772 per week could pay $231 in rent, and could not afford to rent a one-bedroom unit in the cheapest part of the region. They would pay more than half their income to rent a one bedroom unit in Kiama ($400), noting that these are in very short supply”. It's the Bugle’s View that this is unacceptable, unsustainable, and unfair – and it needs fixing. It’s not just important for families that we fix it, it’s important for small businesses too.Businesses Illawarra’s report also found 93 per cent of businesses across the region are worried about worker shortages, and 43 per cent of them see “an underlying lack of affordable housing” as the cause.Of course, much of this won’t come as a surprise to The Bugle’s readership – it is more confirmation than revelation. The important question is: what do we do about it? Business Illawarra makes a few common-sense suggestions like identifying more vacant government-owned land for development, expedite approvals for affordable housing developments, and consider up-to-date shortfall figures in regional housing targets.  They’ve also launched a new campaign to accelerate housing supply, which most people agree is a big part of addressing the crisis. Perhaps most valuable though is their call for all stakeholders – all levels of government, industry, and community – to act on solutions within their control. As always, The Bugle supports having a broader public conversation about making Kiama the best place to live, work, and raise a family, but the best way to fix this problem is to get shovels in the ground.

Public NoticeUnlocking Bombo Quarry: Aboriginal Archaeological Baseline AssessmentInvitation to Register an InterestArtefact Heritage on behalf of Transport Asset Holding Entity of New South Wales (TAHE) and Boral (the landowners) is undertaking an Aboriginal Archaeological Baseline Assessment of the Bombo Quarry Precinct. The applicants are exploring opportunities to rehabilitate the Bombo Quarry Precinct to inform future uses. The Precinct, located within the Kiama Local Government Area, comprises approximately 105 hectares of land located approximately two kilometres north of the Kiama township. The TAHE site remains an active ballast quarry which services Sydney Trains.We are inviting registrations of interest in the project from Aboriginal groups and individuals who hold cultural knowledge relevant to determining the significance of Aboriginal objects and/or places in the locality of the Precinct. The results of consultation may be utilised for the preparation of an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report (ACHAR) to support a future rehabilitation Development Application and Planning Proposal.Please note that the consultation guidelines require us to provide details of the Registered Aboriginal Parties to Heritage NSW (formerly Office of Environment and Heritage) and the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council. In your response could you please advise if you would not like your details to be provided.Please register your interest in the project by end of day on 10/08/2023, by contacting:Jonathan BennettArtefact Heritage ServicesSuite 56, Jones Bay Wharf, 26-32 Pirrama Rd,Pyrmont NSW 2009or email [email protected] contact details for the landowners are:Adnan VoloderTransport Asset Holding EntityLevel 15, 130 Pitt St, [email protected] McArthurBoral Resources (NSW)Level 3, Triniti 2, 39 Delhi Road, North Ryde NSW [email protected]

We are living in a time of extraordinary technological progress. Right now, Artificial Intelligence is painting portraits and writing essays, Teslas are driving themselves, and Jeff Bezos is blasting people into space on Star Trek-esque rockets just for fun. Think about how the humble iPhone – with all its apps and widgets – has transformed our everyday lives. With the flick of a finger, we can pay the water bill, do the grocery run, and figure out the fastest way to get home from work. It's The Bugle’s view that innovation is a force for good, and we need plenty more of it. Along those lines, it’s staggering to think that Generation ChatGPT finds it so hard to build and maintain high-quality infrastructure. In the last two weeks, the Bugle has brought you two important stories about a near-fatal incident on Jamberoo Road and the long-awaited re-opening of Jamberoo Mountain Road. In the former, Mark Whalan spoke to Jamberoo local Kate Harris who hit an Angus Yearling while driving home from Albion Park earlier this month. With social media reports of cows loose on local roads on the up, Kate is calling for flashing warning lights to be deployed when animals are loose. In the latter, Cassandra Zaucer covered the re-opening of Jamberoo Mountain Road following its closure due to landslides and flood water last year. Her coverage noted that – while the road re-opened ahead of schedule – the length of its closure had a huge impact on local businesses including Kings Pattiserie & Café, Nerilee Antiques and Jamberoo Pub. Wherever there are cows there will be loose cows, and storms and landslides are a fact of life. Surely, though, there’s room for more innovation when it comes to planning, building, and maintaining essential infrastructure. How can we harness technology to get people where they need to go more quickly and more safely? Can we find more creative solutions to make sure local business don’t suffer when repairs (inevitably) have to be made? These questions are well above The Bugle’s pay grade, and they can’t just be answered locally. So, it was good see Prime Minister – and self-confessed “infrastructure nerd” - Anthony Albanese talking about building more high-quality roads during his visit to the South Coast this week. The fact the PM is talking the talk on more and better roads for our part of the world is good news. Now it’s up to State Government to play their parts and ensure we get the best outcomes for our community....

Dear Bugle Reader,  As you may be aware, I have been pushing for an upgrade of the South Coast Line. Whilst I’ve been able to secure more seats and more services over the years, one of the upgrades I’m pushing for at present is the installation of a passing loop south of Kiama to double the capacity of the line between Kiama and Bomaderry. Whilst some have argued for the duplication of the entire line, this four kilometre passing loop is an elegant solution that makes practical and economic sense. Add to this new hybrid trains that run on both diesel and electric lines and you deliver the benefits of an electrified line for a fraction of the price of laying and electrifying an additional set of tracks. Under questioning from me in the NSW Parliament, the Regional Roads Minister has admitted that the NSW Labor Government are putting this rail upgrade on-hold whilst they undertake yet another ‘review’. You can view my questions and the Minister’s answer by clicking here.  I know how hard it is to get things done. But I also won’t let this government get away with cutting projects from our region so they can take the money to Sydney. Sydney gets enough investment, and our growing region needs investments that make a real difference. FREE RAT TESTS I have free Rapid Antigen Tests available from my office at 102 Terralong Street for those that would like them. We have secured these tests from the NSW Department of Health. No appointment is required, and you can drop-in and pick up yours today. REGIONAL SENIORS TRAVEL CARD Whilst you are in my office, you may want to sign my petition opposing NSW Labor’s cuts to the Regional Seniors Travel Card. We are seeking to secure 10,000 signatures on our petition so we can have this matter debated in Parliament. If you would like to, you can also take sheets away and have your friends and family sign them. Given that the Government said it wouldn’t cut this card when it was in opposition, I will be doing all that I can to hold them to account.  Have a great week! Gareth

The fourth pillar of Kiama Council’s Community Strategic Plan (CSP) is: “We are part of aconnected and liveable community”.Being part of a connected and liveable community means that the council aims to foster asense of belonging and cohesion among you good folk, while ensuring that the communityremains vibrant, sustainable, and enjoyable. One way we work to achieve this is through ourcouncil committees, which we have recently restructured.I congratulate the successful applicants to council’s two newest committees: We haveappointed the following four community members to the Sustainable CommunitiesCommittee: Michael Bowden, Liam Pettigrew, Narreda Grimley and Alan Smith. They willjoin Councillor Imogen Draisma and myself as the councillor representatives on thiscommittee.The following four applicants were appointed to the Infrastructure and LiveabilityCommittee: Roy Rogers, Tony Gilmour, Jennifer Wulff (nee Heath) and Dr Fiona Mackie.They will join Councillor Mark Croxford and Councillor Stuart Larkins on the committee.We are so grateful to the many community members who applied for the roles and Iencourage their participation throughout the committee term as invited experts whereappropriate.Overall, community participation on a council committee can lead to more inclusive,effective, and people-centric decision-making processes, ultimately benefiting thecommunity's wellbeing and development.This new structure will be well tested over the next 12 months. We don’t expect that it will beperfect, nothing really is, but we can learn from any mistakes along the way and make surewe don’t repeat them. I believe that if we have a positive mindset, we’re likely to see any littlehiccups as an opportunity to improve and add greater value to this innovative method ofcommittees.Beyond the next 12 months, I’ve been thinking about how we deliver on the goals outlined inthe fourth pillar of our CSP, which is a long-term plan that outlines the vision, strategy, andpriorities of your council in serving its community. That’s you!I’ll break down the key elements of this strategic pillar:A connected community: This focuses on building strong social connections amongcommunity members. It involves initiatives to promote community engagement, inclusivity,and participation in local events, projects, and decision-making processes. The goal is tocreate a sense of belonging and unity among us all.A liveable community: This aspect emphasises creating an environment where people canlead fulfilling and comfortable lives. It includes various elements such as access to essentialservices, well-designed public spaces, recreational facilities, and infrastructure that supportsa high quality of life. A liveable community is also one that is sustainable in the long term.This involves efforts to protect and preserve the natural environment, promote eco-friendlypractices, and ensure responsible urban planning and development that balances the needsof the present without compromising the needs of the future.Your council also focuses on fostering economic growth and social development within thecommunity. I believe this includes support for local businesses, creating job opportunities,and addressing social issues to ensure a thriving and prosperous community.Our goal may be a lofty one, but with your support we can continue creating a cohesive,inclusive, and sustainable community where all members of our LGA enjoy a high quality oflife, social interaction, and access to services and amenities.Don’t forget that I run an open door policy... Email or call ahead to book an appointment orjust drop in. I’m always up for a chat if I’m around.

It seems the hits just keep on coming in this cost-of-living crisis.Last month, there was bad news on power bills.The Australian Energy Regulator confirmed South Coast residents are set to pay 25 per cent more for electricity. That means local households are on the hook for another $594 a year, just to keep the lights on.Last week, there was more bad news on mortgages.Commonwealth Bank boss Matt Comyn told a parliamentary hearing in Canberra that only 60 per cent of the impacts of recent rate hikes since last May have flowed on through the economy. In other words, there’s plenty of sting in the rate rise tail.This week, there was more bad news – this time on the cost of essentials. Data from Coles – obtained by The Australian newspaper – shows shoppers are going without the things they need in a bid to save cash. Sales of hand sanitiser and soap is down almost 30 per cent, handwash is down 7 per cent, “environmentally friendly” cleaning products are down almost 16 per cent, and carpet cleaning products are down almost 11 per cent.Put together, these numbers show people are really feeling the pinch.You don’t need to be a PHD economist to see it’s getting harder and harder to come up with the cash to heat and eat, and keep a roof over your head.Speaking of PHD economists, it’s been hard to miss the news this week about the departure of Reserve Bank Governor, Philip Lowe.It's fair to say Dr Lowe has divided opinion.There’s no doubt his ill-fated prediction that interest rates were going nowhere until 2024 will go down as one of the all-time clangers. There’s also no doubt the fact he was the public face of twelve successive rate rises didn’t do him any favours.While Dr Lowe’s successor, Michelle Bullock, is primarily making headlines as the first woman appointed to lead the Bank, The Bugle is more interested in her regional roots.Growing up in Armidale, she attended Armidale High School and the University of New England. Ms Bullock’s reign as RBA will be closely monitored and it is heartening to know that the head honcho is cognisant of the needs of workers and families outside the big cities. We all know that Kiama is a great place to live, work and raise a family. But in order to continue our prosperous trajectory, we also need to grow. Our infrastructure is under constant strain but our population is growing at a remarkable rate. We need to build more houses, better roads and more investment. The Bugle hopes that the right balance between addressing the economic uncertainty of the present day does not compromise investment and economic prosperity in the near future.

The pillars of local wisdom At the end of this month, Kiama Council will host the Local Government Regional Government NAIDOC Awards for the Illawarra. The event moves each year between four Council areas – Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Wollongong. Despite being considerably smaller than our neighbouring councils, we’re pulling together what will be a fantastic community event. This doesn’t surprise me, as we put on so many impressive local events here in Kiama – events which are much more about the people who participate and contribute than the institutions behind them. I am a tragic for old movies and (despite my wife Wendy’s protests) I just love Lawrence of Arabia; a timeless classic. Following his war service in 1919, TE Lawrence, (Lawrence of Arabia) took to writing ‘The Seven Pillars of Wisdom’, an autobiographical account of his time as a British advisor to Bedouin forces in forces in World War I. I am currently reading it. He states in this book that the Bedouins believe in ‘…persons, not institutions.’ I agree, and if I can relate that to our own situation, that’s why our events such as the NAIDOC Awards, and our community focused policies, programs and projects are so successful. It’s also why we have a Community Strategic Plan (CSP). It comes from the people, not the institution. Our CSP contains five pillars, not the seven of Lawrence, but with the same idea… Pillar 1: We belong and contribute Pillar 2: We thrive in a sustainable environment Pillar 3: We create a strong and diverse economy Pillar 4: We are part of a connected and liveable community Pillar 5: We expect accountable and transparent leadership; a Council that is financially sustainable The first pillar "We belong and contribute" is what I am focusing on this week. It promotes inclusivity, engagement, and active participation within the broader community. Here's what it means to me: inclusivity and diversity. Our aim should be to create an inclusive environment where all members of the community feel welcome, respected, and represented. This involves efforts to embrace diversity, promote equity, and ensure that everyone has a voice in the decision-making processes. Council is doing its bit by developing and implementing policies and practices that explicitly support diversity, equity, and inclusion. For example, we’ve recently updated our policy on recruitment and hiring practices to ensure anti-discrimination measures, and the promotion of diverse perspectives. Mayor’s column 12 July 2023 Pillars of wisdom I recognise the importance of actively involving community members in shaping policies, programs, and initiatives. We have sought members from the community to join two new committees . Engaging with our community was how we created the CSP. As well as looking forward to Kiama Council’s presentation of the NAIDOC Awards at The Pavilion from 5pm, 29 July 2023, which celebrates the achievements of local First Nations people, we promote inclusion in many other ways. We try to make sure that council works towards fostering a sense of belonging and unity among community members, promoting social connections through our libraries, Leisure Centre, SENTRAL (“the Youthie”), Blue Haven, special events and even in urban design: building strong neighbourhoods, and facilitating activities that bring people together. "We belong and contribute" highlights our commitment to creating an inclusive, engaged, and empowered community. TE Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom is a challenging read, but like so many challenges, there’s a strong message, ‘Believe in people, not institutions!’

Dear readers, One of the things I love most about being your local MP is recognising important events and celebrating the contribution of people in our community. You may qualify for a letter from the King if you are: Celebrating your 60th wedding anniversaryCelebrating your 100th birthday You may qualify for a letter from the Governor of NSW if you are: Celebrating your 50th wedding anniversaryCelebrating your 95th birthday If you have represented the State of NSW in sport, you also qualify for an official State Representative Award signed by the Premier of NSW and me. I also have a range of Kiama Electorate Community Service, volunteer, and achievement awards. Feel free to contact my office if you would like further information on any of these awards. SERVICE NSW CELEBRATES 10 YEARS This month marks 10 years since we officially opened the very first Service NSW centre anyway in NSW. When the then Premier Barry O’Farrell announced that multiple government services would be moved under one roof, I remember lobbying him to ensure Kiama had the very first. And that’s exactly what happened. I think everyone would agree, the team at Service NSW in Kiama do an outstanding job and I’m so pleased that the feedback about their dedication and commitment continues to be as positive and strong as ever. LABOR AXES REGIONAL SENIORS TRAVEL CARD Whilst Chris Minns and Labor promised not to axe the Regional Seniors Travel Card if they were elected, the Labor Government have broken yet another promise with the card stopped from 7th July. Whilst any cards issues before this date can still be used, the government has broken its promise and won’t be issuing any more for the foreseeable future. I’m opposing this cut and to have this matter debated in Parliament, I have started a petition and we need 10,000 signatures to kick off the debate. If you oppose cutting the Regional Seniors Travel Card, feel free to pop into my office and sign our petition. FREE RAT TESTS I have free Rapid Antigen Tests available in my office. Feel free to drop in and collect yours today. KIAMA WINTER FESTIVAL A huge shout out to the organisers of the Kiama Winter Festival. The ice skating at Black Beach Reserve was a massive highlight. I got my stakes on and enjoyed every minute of it! (And I achieved my main objective of not falling over!). WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER In addition to this column in the Kiama Bugle, I publish a weekly column which contains information on local issues and updates on my activities in our community and in Parliament. If you would like to receive this weekly e-newsletter, please don’t hesitate to send me an email to [email protected] so you can be added to the list. Have a great week!

Last week in Parliament I supported moves to cap politicians’ wages for the next two years.I went into politics to serve our local community – not to feather my own nest!Given the cost-of-living challenges everyone is facing, it’s my strong view that proposed increases in politicians’ wages could be better spent on our frontline public servants such as ambulance offices and nurses - as well as bolstering our frontline homelessness services.Last week, I introduced a Private Members Bill to provide greater transparency and accountability on government grants. Governments do not have money – its taxpayers money and I want to ensure your hard-earned dollars are spent appropriately.The bill will ensure that breaches of transparency measures have serious consequences for a Minister who inappropriately handles government funds. The Bill will be debated in Parliament in coming weeks.I love using the Parliament to recognise local people doing great things and this week was no exception.I was delighted to deliver a Community Recognition Statement on the floor of the House to congratulate Sophie Yates and Hallie Richmond of Kiama High School, who have been selected to attend the International Youth Science Forum in London this coming July.Both Sophie and Hallie are extremely passionate science students who have been provided with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with global innovators throughout the scientific community. The International Youth Science Forum is a 14-day program held at various prestigious establishments. They include the Royal Geographic Society, Imperial College London, Oxford and Cambridge universities, as well as a multitude of other recognised institutions.Sophie and Hallie have advised me that they will have access to a range of specialist lectures, demonstrations and keynote addresses from Nobel Prize winners and other scientific trailblazers, as well as scientific visits to world-class laboratories.Sophie and Hallie will be connecting with around 500 young people from across 70 countries, allowing for the global expansion of scientific outreach and the inspiration of the next generation. I was delighted to make a small contribution to their fundraising efforts and I congratulate both of them on their success.Over the weekend I attended a National Tree Planting Day and attended the 20th annual Gerringong Rotary Change-Over. Tonight it is the Rotary Club of Bomaderry’s turn who are celebrating 53 years of service.This week in Parliament I’ll have some special visitors to Parliament with my mum and some close friends joining me in the House for lunch to celebrate my birthday. Looking forward to seeing them!Have a great week. Gareth.

This week in The Bugle’s View, we want to do something reporters are not supposed to do.We want to talk about ourselves.We think it’s an important time to remind you, our readers, about why exactly we do what we do.Plain and simple, our job is to tell the stories of our community.It is to make sure you, our readers, are properly informed about what is happening all around town.Just in the last two weeks, The Bugle has been at its best doing an extensive job reporting on local issues, big and small.Cassandra Zaucer helped the parents of Shellharbour Anglican College voice their concerns about unsafe and overcrowded school buses.Brendon Foye covered the decision of Blue Float Energy not to establish its South Pacific Offshore Wind Project off the coast of Kiama.While our new General Manager, Belle Woods, made the news herself when she covered her own run in with a Triton Ute at the entrance to Blowhole Point (you will be pleased to know Belle is getting better by the day).Stories like these matter to our special and close-knit community. And it is thanks to our frank and fearless reporters for facilitating this.We have also launched The Bugle’s View to build on this reporting, by starting conversations about the issues that matter and asking tough questions to address them.That is why we have brought you The Bugle’s View on issues like the cost of living, the cost of housing and how we can turn parts of our town into greater tourist destination hot spots to ensure job security and opportunities for our youth and community.Rest assured; we are certainly not going to stop now.We are going to redouble our efforts and keep going, because we know that is what you, our readers, expect. Try as we might, we also acknowledge that we cannot be everywhere at once. As such, we invite you to continue write to us - to make sure that we cover the issues that matter to the community, no matter how big or small.It is important to remember that you, our readers, also happen to be our family, friends, neighbours, and fellow community members.We are proud to be your Bugle.

Last year, on a cloudy Monday afternoon in October, thousands of people turned up at North Bondi to catch a glimpse of Nedd Brockman.They were there to cheer on the twenty-three-year-old sparkie from Forbes in the last two hundred metres of his 3952-kilometre, 47-day run across Australia.Once he’d finished, journalists peppered Brockmann with all sorts of questions. Did you ever think you wouldn’t finish? What’s the first thing you’ll do when you get home? How are the knees holding up?The most important question of all, though, was why? Why run the equivalent of 270 City2Surfs in seven weeks? Why put yourself through hell?The answer was simple: for charity.Through almost 20,000 contributors, Brockmann raised $1.5 million for the homelessness charity, We are Mobilise.In an interview a couple of years earlier, he explained what it meant to him:“Every Tuesday, I was travelling into Ultimo to go to TAFE and I’d always see 10 or so homeless people doing it tough on the streets…it’s the most humbling experience. Your mindset changes and you feel like you’ve just got to help.”This spirit – of giving back, looking out for others, and lending a hand – is a quintessentially Australian thing; mateship is unselfish, and it’s reciprocal.The Bugle’s very strong view is that this spirit is alive and kicking in Kiama.Indeed, it will be on full display this Sunday, when locals come together for the ninth annual Red Cross Fun Run to help raise funds for those in need.The Bugle encourages all its readers to participate, whether that’s by running or walking the 5 kilometre, 9 kilometre, or 21 kilometre course – or lining the Coast Walk to cheer everyone on.We should all take pride in the fact our community is home to a grand smorgasbord of grassroots organisations – Kiama Leagues, Kiama Masonic Club, Kiama SLSC, Lions Club, Probus, Rotary, and Kiama Community Radio to name just a few.The philosopher Edmund Burke famously called community organisations like these the “little platoons” of society.In other words, it’s not governments and councils that make communities tick, it’s people.Grassroots organisations play a really important role in our community for a few reasons. They bring locals together, they give locals an opportunity to give back, and many of them are there to help when times are tough.Right now – with yet another interest rate rise adding to the skyrocketing cost of living – these groups, and the support they offer, are more important than ever.While it’s a bad thing that 15 per cent fewer Australians were volunteering in their community in 2020 compared to 2021, it’s a good thing that participation in community sport across the country is holding firm.It was also heartening to see Deputy Mayor Imogen Draisma talk up the benefits of volunteering in The Bugle a couple of weeks ago, and advertise the good work of Kiama Council in putting on the first ever Volunteer Expo. There’s no doubt this was a worthwhile initiative.It's The Bugle’s very strong view that, here in Kiama, the more locals who give back, the better.

There is an old joke that a camel is a horse designed by a committee...probably not fair toeither animal, or committees.In the grand scheme of things, committees often get a bad rap. They're wrongly seen asslow-moving, self-centred and find it difficult to reach a decision. Let’s try to change thisperspective.We at council are forming two new committees, to be the hub of many others. Coremembers will be people who are able to manage a wide range of disciplines, have an openmind, are good with people, have a sense of priorities and who are not afraid to suggest acamel if necessary.We are looking for two lots of three outstanding individuals to become the core of a new ideaof committees.The proposed committee structure shares some similarities with matrix management, asboth involve the integration of individuals from different areas of expertise into teams. We’recurrently recruiting for our core members, but we’ll also invite additional experts to join fromtime to time, in order to address specialist needs and promote community engagement.We need people with boundless enthusiasm, capable of injecting our committees with asurge of energy, contagious excitement. We also need strategic thinkers; masterminds whocan see the big picture, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks and connect the dots. In themidst of all this, we also need people who can bring a sense of calm and perspective to thetable, soothing voices of reason.All this will combine into two additional committees, which can pull in extra help whenneeded, to consider the vast diversity of work that our community expects and deserves.This work will encompass things like the creation of walking tracks, management ofcompanion animals, ensuring we respectfully reference our First Nations people, caring forthe environment and listening and acting on the ideas of the young and much more.So, if you're ready to embark on this delightful committee adventure, where we work hard,enjoy harder, and form bonds that last a lifetime, then we want you!Join us in creating committees that will shatter stereotypes and redefine the way wecollaborate. Together, we'll write a story filled with teamwork, laughter, and maybe a camelor two. Submit your application today, and let's make these committees the stuff of legends!Lastly but not leastly two shout outs: One for our Deputy Mayor who wrote so eloquently inthe last column about Volunteers, and secondly a farewell for Cathy Law, formerly of TheBugle. Anyone would be hard-pressed to do what she did, as well as she did and asefficiently as she did. We all owe her.

At the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our community for their support at the most recent State Election. It is an enormous honour and privilege to serve our community in Parliament and I will continue to work hard every day to ensure our community is never forgotten and that we secure outcomes that matter most. I write this column as Parliament resumes for its second week and I have already given notice of a bill to address local residents concerns around agritourism, asked questions in Question Time of the Premier on State-based disability supports and homelessness, placed a range of questions on notice to Ministers on everything from the transfer of Jamberoo Mountain Road to the State Road network, environmental concerns around the Dunmore Hard Rock quarry, support for local dairy farmers due to the Country Valley Pty Ltd going into administration, safety improvements on the Kiama Bends and promised upgrades to local schools – just to name a few! To form a majority government in NSW, a party or coalition parties require 47 seats in the Legislative Assembly. As the current government only has 45 seats, the government require the support of the cross-bench to pass its agenda. As the first independent MP for Kiama, I have been addressing each issue before the Parliament on its merits and putting the views of our community at the heart of each decision I make on your behalf. I have supported Government Legislation to protect Sydney Water front future privatisation by placing Sydney Water in the NSW Constitution. I have also offered my support to the NSW Government to increase wages for our frontline workers like nurses, ambulance officers, and fire fighters. However, I am concerned with government plans to abolish the Active Kids Rebate which provides $100 to each school-aged child to participate in out-of-school sport. I think we can all agree that the more time kids spend being active rather than in front of device, the better off the next generation will be. I have established a petition calling for the government to retain this initiative to support families with the costs of living and the petition can be signed on-line on my website: Petition to continue the Active Kids Rebate Program - Gareth Ward MP for Kiama I have also responded to local parent concerns around seat belts on school buses. I think every child travelling to school on a bus should have a seat and a seat belt and I have commenced a petition calling on the NSW Government to fund improvements to our bus network to ensure student safety. You can sign this petition on my website: PETITION TO FAST TRACK SEATBELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES IN KIAMA - Gareth Ward MP I also moved to establish an inquiry into training for frontline emergency services who engage with people living with cognitive impairment or cognitive decline following the tragic events involving Claire Nowland. Sadly, the Government didn’t support this proposal. Should you wish to visit Parliament, I would be more than happy to host any community groups that would like to attend Question Time and tour the building. Feel free to contact my office to make arrangements. 

They say all publicity is good publicity, but right now, Kiama is blessed with bloody great publicity.And it’s all about people wanting to come here from somewhere else.A couple of months after The Australian crowned us as Australia’s most liveable town, The Sydney Morning Herald has got in on the act, labelling us “a stunning place to visit”.Last week, the Herald’s Traveller sung Kiama’s praise as the perfect place for a family-friendly weekend getaway:“The range of accommodation…the vibrant community feel…the astonishing natural beauty that surrounds it all and all the activities makes possible.”On top of that, they singled out a smorgasbord of great places to eat, name-dropping Olive & Vine, Silica, Miss Arda, JJ’s, El Corazon Cocina de Mexico and Hanoi on Manning.It's nothing locals don’t already know, but it’s exciting to see in newsprint, nonetheless.It also points to an important truth: tourism is the lifeblood of Kiama’s economy.According to Tourism Australia, travelers bring in $244 million to local coffers every year.And the number of people coming here is on the up – average annual visitor growth was 4.3 per cent between 2013 and 2019.We asked the Kiama Council what most of them were coming to see.Unsurprisingly, the blowhole is the most popular spot for visitors, attracting more than a million people a year.The second most popular spot is the beach while, over on kiama.com.au, the top two search terms are “Kiama Coast Walk” and “Markets”.It's The Bugle’s view that the more people visit Kiama, the better. We should do everything we can to encourage people to come for a weekend.But one thing we ought to have a conversation about is making sure people who spend time here spend money here too.According to the Council, the average spend for domestic tourists who come for the day is $95.We should be aiming to double the daily spend.We don’t just want to see Sydneysiders drive down to look at the blowhole, we want them to ride around town on a rented e-bike from Kiama Cycles & Sports, grab fish and chips for lunch from Jaws and browse the offerings at Bombo Clothing Co.The Bugle thinks this should be the goal of all tourism advertising: don’t just come for something, come for everything.We look forward to putting this to the Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, when we interview him shortly.

In the last 12 months, state and federal governments have introduced tax concessions designed to tip the balance in favour of electronic vehicles (EV) and plugin hybrids.From 1 July 2022, employers do not pay Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) on eligible electric cars and associated car expenses. For small business owners or employees that have access to salary packaging, this represents a substantial tax-saving opportunity if you are in the market for a new car for the business, family, or family associate. Because eligible EVs & Plugin Hybrids are exempt from FBT, there are no private use adjustments, the car can be for either business or private use, and the car expenses, including depreciation and finance costs, can be claimed in full for tax purposes. The car must be provided as part of a salary package to an employee or associate (including a family member). For most owners, the tax savings are equivalent to 5% to 10% of the cost of the car each year. What is an eligible Electric Vehicle or Plugin Hybrid? The car must be a zero or low-emissions vehicle – battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or plugin hybrid.The car must be held and used for the first time after 1 July 2022. Therefore, the tax savings apply to new and used cars if the vehicle was not registered until after 1 July 2022.  "During my search for a car, the car industry was unaware of the importance of the 1 July 2022 first use date," said Garry Pinch, a partner at Accounting Professionals. "They kept quizzing me why I wanted to know when the car was first registered. "Given the tax savings were between $2000 to $8000 each year, depending on whether the car was first registered after 1 July 2022, I would have thought it was material enough for the broader car industry to be aware." The car must not have been subject to the luxury car tax ie; for cars first purchased in the 2022/23 financial year, the GST-inclusive cost must be less than $84,916. Some things to be wary of – If you buy a car privately, you most likely won't get a tax invoice and cannot claim the 10% GST credit back.  "If you are considering buying an eligible EV, it might be best to buy from a dealer or a business/private owner that is registered for GST and will provide you a tax invoice because your employer can claim the GST credit and pass on the tax savings to you as part of the salary package," Pinch explains. Don't rely on others to determine whether the car you are looking at is eligible for the FBT concessions – do your homework or seek some advice from a tax expert. In NSW, electric vehicles and some low-emission petrol-electric hybrid vehicles are not subject to transfer duty & receive a concession on the motor vehicle tax. The concession is automatically applied when you register your car. The exemption from transfer duty makes purchasing used EVs & Plugin Hybrids an attractive proposition because you don't pay any duty irrespective of the value of the eligible car. Other potential future benefits unless the law changes –Eligible cars first used after 1 July 2022 will always be eligible cars even if the original owner sells the car in the future. All the tax benefits are transferred to the new owner if they salary package the car through their business or employer. The transferability of the tax concessions could substantially enhance the resale value of post-1 July 2022 eligible cars compared to pre-1 July 2022 EVs and all cars that are not low-emission cars (petrol and non-plug-in hybrids). Note the FBT concession for Plug-in Hybrids winds down from 1 April 2025, so this could limit transferability of the benefit for Plug-in Hybrids.Battery repairs and replacements are fully tax deductible for eligible vehicles. So, when it is time to replace the battery, if the vehicle is still part of a salary packaging arrangement, owners of eligible vehicles will be able to get the 10% GST back on their battery replacement plus the tax savings on the full tax deduction for the cost (pre-GST) of the battery through their salary package.If you change employers or start a new business, you can transfer the eligible car and maintain the salary packaging benefits and related tax savings to the new employer if they also offer salary packaging.