Note: The content of this message solely reflects the independent comments & views of Clr Karen Renkema-Lang and is not a communication or product by or of Kiama Municipal Council.Dear residents, ratepayers & business owners in the Kiama LGA,The purchase of the Barroul Estate by the Kiama District Hospital Committee in December 1924 was a defining moment in Kiama’s history; the beginning of a century of passion, commitment and generosity of many generations of Kiama people. Together they wove the fabric of caring for the aged and the vulnerable into the psyche of Kiama’s culture.  We are now on the cusp of another defining moment in Kiama’s history; looking to “divest” not just a parcel of land and some buildings but decades of volunteering, donating, door knocking and community led fund raising that created Kiama’s retirement village, aged care facility and home care services, and community transport services – Blue Haven Care.I will continue the fight to preserve as much of this priceless community asset as possible.To pursue the other options that are available for boosting Kiama’s cash position and improving Councils financial management.At the very least, I’ll be calling for any sale of Blue Haven Bonaira to be restricted to not-for-profit organizations that have a history of providing good quality aged care in our region. I’ll be doing all that I can to keep the historic Barroul House with its tranquil front garden and fountain as a community owned asset, so that members of the public are able to visit it for many generations to come.On Monday Kiama Council is holding a public hearing to allow members of the Kiama Community to have their say on whether or not the land at Blue Haven Bonaira should be reclassified from community to operational land. This is necessary step before the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira (including the heritage listed Barroul House, residential independent living units, aged care facility, home care services and community transport) can be completed.I urge you to come along to the Public Hearing to hear what others in the community have to say. It is scheduled for Monday 22 May 2023 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm in the Council Chambers, 11 Manning Street Kiama. You’ll need to register here if you would like to attend.And remember I’m always interested to hear your views. Feel free to call or email me, or drop by Short Black Cafe in Kiama for one of my regular coffee & chat sessions. The dates are on my website safekiama.org/your-thoughts/.As you know I am a passionate advocate for democracy and your voice is part of that. Yours Sincerely, Clr Karen Renkema-LangNote: The content of this message solely reflects the independent comments & views of Clr Karen Renkema-Lang and is not a communication or product by or of Kiama Municipal Council.

Not a single event, community service or initiative happens in our community without the hard work and dedication of volunteers.This National Volunteer Week (15-21 May), the focus is on how volunteers are change makers.As Councillors, we celebrate ‘Change Makers’ – and this means taking the opportunity to thank the many volunteers in our local community who give their time, expertise and their care to others.This week, I reflect on the many change-making initiatives started right here in Kiama, such as the Man Walk, that are changing the lives of people across the country.To play our important part in all of this, Kiama Council is holding our first ever Volunteer Expo on 24 May at the Kiama Farmers Markets (postponed from 17 May due to inclement weather).We’re keen to celebrate the positive changes our volunteers make in and around our municipality. We also want to promote volunteering and help our local organisations to recruit more volunteers. Although Kiama has a slightly higher proportion of volunteers than the national average, statistics from Volunteering Australia show the rate of volunteering through an organisation has declined over time.For people aged 18 years and over, the rate has declined from 36.2% in 2010 to 28.8% in 2019. Both men and women are volunteering less. Therefore I urge any locals who have been thinking about how they might ‘give back’ or contribute more to our community to consider giving volunteering a go.Not sure where to begin? We’ve made it easy to explore opportunities in volunteering. Our Volunteer Expo provides a chance for you to chat to around 30 different local organisations and find out what activities you can support and get involved with.There’s something for everyone – with representatives of organisations on hand including the Red Cross, Vinnies, Sing Australia, CWA, Lions Club, The University of the Third Age and more. You can also speak to Council representatives about volunteering at Blue Haven or the Kiama Visitor Centre.According to Volunteering Australia, the most common types of organisations for which people volunteered were those relating to sport and physical recreation (30.7% of volunteers), religious groups (23.1%) and education and training (18.8%).Volunteering Australia’s definition of volunteering is “time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.” And it is estimated that around a fifth (over 5 million) of Australians volunteer at some point each year. I hope you’ll be one of them.Finally, on behalf of the community, I’d like to thank all of our volunteers – for all the early starts, patrols, rescues and fundraising that you do to make our community thrive.

The last time property was this expensive, Bob Hawke was Prime Minister, MC Hammer was on top of the charts with “U Can’t Touch This” and Peter Sterling was about to win his second Rothmans Medal.That was September 1990 – when the average Aussie needed to shell out 45.5 per cent of their income to buy a house.Today, that same figure is 45.4 per cent.It's a good way of illustrating just how hard ordinary people are getting hit by the Reserve Bank’s interest rate hike-athon.And, of course, buyers aren’t the only ones getting smashed by successive rate rises. Families with a mortgage – including thousands who took out loans on Phil Lowe’s promise rates were going nowhere until 2024 – are under the pump. And they’re under the pump in a big way.According to Finder, more than four hundred thousand households missed a mortgage payment in the second half of last year.It's no secret mortgage stress is a massive problem in Kiama.A couple of months ago, the Illawarra Mercury interviewed a local family forced to sell their car to help keep up with mortgage payments, which had gone up by $1300 a month.That’s $15,000 a year extra for a family already paying lots more for electricity, petrol, and groceries. Given the 2021 Census found Kiama’s average monthly mortgage payment was $2194, it’s safe to assume locals are now on the hook for at least $3000 a month.How are families supposed to get ahead and plan for the future when it costs that much just to keep a roof over their heads?Speaking to Kiama business owners this week, it’s clear these rate hikes are rippling through the local economy – people are spending noticeably less.A local hair studio owner in Kiama, says her turnover is down and her cash flow has taken a hit.“Customers have been rescheduling their appointments because they simply can’t afford it. It’s hard,” she said.A similar story for Darren Longbottom, owner of Zink Surf, who says he’s been forced to cut costs and is looking hard at layoffs.“A business is no different to a personal or family budget. Along with obvious slowing trade, we have a cost to business which is increasing with not only inflation but with what seems like endless rising interest rates,” he said.It's not just mortgage holders up against it, though - renters are in a similar boat.When the Census was published two years ago, the average weekly rent in the Kiama LGA was $485.Today, of the 74 available rentals in Kiama and surrounding suburbs on realestate.com.au, only 7 are on the market for $485 or less and there’s nothing with two bedrooms for less than $600.Last week, The Bugle promised to start a new conversation about the future of our community.We’re speaking up about interest rates and the cost of living today because our community literally doesn’t have a future if solutions aren’t found to make property more affordable.That’s why, in the coming months, every time we speak to an elected official – be it the Mayor, an MP, or a Minister – this will be our first question. And it should be yours too.

Earlier this year, The Australian newspaper crowned Kiama as Australia’s most liveable town.In their story about the award, the newspaper spoke to local couple Lau Amadeo and Thais Chikhani, who moved here five years ago to start a new life with their young family.You might know Lau and Thais as the owners of award-winning coffee shop Little Earth Roasters on Tingira Crescent (The Bugle recommends the Reuben Toastie). When the newspaper asked Lau why his family chose Kiama, he said it was because “the community is great” and “the people who live in Kiama are amazing”.He also spoke about the natural beauty of the area and our laid-back lifestyle. “The rolling hills, the ocean, it’s really nice outdoors all the time, the kids are always at the park of the beach. It’s safe, I don’t worry about anything, we have no worries here”, he said.The Bugle couldn’t have put it better – Kiama really is one of a kind. So, it’s no surprise we were named Australia’s most liveable town.But no town, including ours, is perfect. There’s always more work to do.The Bugle hopes this recognition on the pages of the national broadsheet sparks a fresh conversation about the future of our community.We might be the best place to live, but how do we become the best place to raise a family, the best place to start a business and the best place to enjoy retirement?How do we make sure young people in our community have access to the same opportunities as their Mum and Dad?And how do we make sure everyone who calls Kiama home feels the same way about our community as Lau Amadeo?These questions should be front of mind for all the local decision-makers at Kiama Council, as well as ourrecently re-elected State MP Gareth Ward and our Federal MP Fiona Phillips.Answering these questions won’t be easy, and will take time.But the first step is starting the conversation – and making sure everyone’s voice is heard. That’s our job here at The Bugle.Together, we look forward to making our one-of-a-kind community even better.

We are a strong, adventurous, creative and courageous community. Our way of life supports our economy, global or local, regional or on our own street, we call this place home.The above words are from the vision outlined in our Community Strategic Plan (CSP) 2022-2032, a document our community, Councillors and staff worked hard to create at the beginning of our Council term last year. I thought of them this week when I turned my mind to tourism. In a summer-friendly area as ours, tourism seems a given during the warm months.However, as the seasons turn to cooler days and darker nights, I’m even more aware of the beneficial influences our tourism industry brings to our area, our people and our economy.It is my belief that if we understand that tourism is good for the area, the benefits should flow to us all. So, what we do for tourists, we do for ourselves as well.Council’s tourist arm, Destination Kiama, recently conducted its Local Tourism Survey, which received almost 400 responses from locals, local businesses, tourists and tourism operators.One of the top responses was a desire for more local events in off-peak periods. This is why, as winter’s chill descends upon our idyllic seaside lives, Council (and others) are preparing to transform our place into a captivating winter wonderland, with a dazzling display of festive lights, engaging events, and winter cheer, turning the frosty season into an unforgettable, lovely Kiama winter.Our keystone event for the season will be the 2023 Kiama Winter Festival, held during the school holidays and once again bringing a real ice rink to central Kiama from 7 to 12 July.This is the sort of family friendly, all-ages, accessible activity that you’ve told us you enjoy and we’re thrilled to be providing. As an added bonus, there will also be igloos!In terms of priorities for tourism projects in general, the highest response was for walk, cycle and nature-based experiences. This is hardly surprising, as we know our community loves and values our stunning natural environment. In fact, Pillar 2 of our CSP says: “We thrive in a sustainable environment” and has outcomes built around protecting our people, our place, our flora and fauna and valuing our natural environment of spectacular beaches, rainforests and rolling hills.Our CSP also says we’ll work together to understand and respond to the need for growth and change and will create a strong and diverse economy.Nowhere is this more apparent than in our tourism sector, where our local operators have had to pivot and pivot again to meet the challenges of the past few years. I’m proud to see what has been achieved and what continues to be apparent: we have so many thriving local businesses and new ones every day.The appreciation for this is reflected in the Tourism Survey, in which respondents said they value our town and village streetscapes and love new activations, niche and growing visitor sectors, such as accessible tourism.A brilliant example was Council’s recent Sun Up Surf and Skate Festival in Kiama Downs (put on by Destination Kiama in partnership with Surfing NSW and with funding from the NSW Government), which saw an area transformed into a local festival that had not traditionally been used that way.So as the nights draw in, rest assured that the good times will not cease. Your Council is working hard to ensure locals, businesses and visitors alike can enjoy our wonderful area all year round.On the King's CoronationThe Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will occur at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May, 2023. On behalf of the Council of Kiama, I wish the new King the happiest of reigns and offer him and his family all the warmth of our community’s feelings.

Change is an inevitable part of life. Whether we welcome it with open arms or resist it with all our might, it is a constant force that shapes our lives. Our community is currently experiencing a period of growth, innovation, and new possibilities.Here’s an update on some of the exciting changes happening around us and how they may impact you.First, I have some fantastic news regarding Akuna Street. We sold the property late last year, and the new owners are planning to bring not one, but two supermarkets to the area!Eddy Haddad, director of Level 33 Property Group, which bought the site, has also revealed plans for a gym and a selection of stylish venues in the currently underutilised space behind our Terralong Street shops.In addition to these developments, we have welcomed a new state government and not one but two new local ministers.Ryan Park, the Minister for the Illawarra and Member for Keira, has expressed his keen interest in Kiama. I have known Mr Park for some years, and he is a long-time friend of Kiama MP Gareth Ward. We are looking forward to scheduling a meeting with Minister Park in the near future.Our other local minister is Paul Scully, Member for Wollongong, who has been appointed the new Minister for Planning and Public Spaces. I know Minister Scully, as an Illawarra representative, has a detailed understanding of the challenges facing coastal communities, including in Kiama and across the Illawarra.I am looking forward to working with Minister Scully and I have invited him to visit Kiama as soon as possible to discuss how we can make our local communities the best possible places to live, work, and play.I am also proud to announce Council’s progress toward financial stability. We have planned better budget controls, reduced unnecessary expenses, and begun more accurate long-term financial planning to secure our future prosperity. This includes divesting from certain assets that others will more effectively manage.Our focus is now shifting to enhancing the delivery of public services. We will soon be commencing reviews of some of our key services, with an eye towards streamlining processes, investing in technology, improving efficiency and continuing to provide a great ‘customer experience’ to you, our community.Another change I am happy to report is that we have received the sign-off on our audit for the 2020-21 financial statements, with the Auditor General moving past our previous financial uncertainties. This marks a significant step forward, although there are still many more to take. Our path to continued progress is clearly outlined in the updated Strategic Improvement Plan 2 for Kiama Council, which was endorsed at this week’s ordinary meeting on 18 April.Lastly, your Council has changed significantly over time. Things are more complex now.Lucky for us, we have recently discovered that, while complexity is hard, it is not a bad thing.Complex systems, like in nature, are more resilient and adaptive. We lose our more fragile parts as we go through adversity and come out the other side smarter, stronger and better prepared for the next change that will inevitably arise.

It’s the NSW State election this weekend and although our local council elections are a year or so behind us, I doubt there is a single councillor who won’t remember how it feels. We recall the anxiousness, the sheer mental effort and the excitement that our state candidates are experiencing right now.After Saturday, we’ll know who we’ll be working with for the next four years. In the leadup, if you’re looking to quiz your potential State representatives on how they’ll represent local issues, here’s what I’d suggest you ask them:Ask your candidate, if elected, what are their plans for Jamberoo Mountain Road? It was a state road, but the government abdicated ownership, now we must beg, cap in hand to receive funding for repairs. We need the state’s help, if not to take it back, to provide enough money to go beyond repairing this vital arterial road. We need to rebuild it better, so it will stay solid through the next downpour and the next decade.Ask the party reps if their candidate will step up on water and sewerage. Our state-managed water and sewerage utilities, stormwater and water management systems have been allowed to deteriorate to a Dickensian state. Poor health, overflows, a big pong and toilet paper bubbling up in the main street after every storm is unacceptable.In terms of local planning, we must work with a set of local planning regulations that were made in Macquarie Street back in 1993. During the past 40 years, the legislation has had so many tweaks and stitched-up sections it looks Frankenstein.Ask your candidate: will they be providing additional resources to work with councils to make a new fit-for-purpose system that is sympathetic to our needs and not just the needs of developers? And while they’re at it, what will they do to improve the NSW Planning Portal to enable it to deliver efficiencies and reduce costs for councils?We live in a lovely spot, and thankfully many of us have secure housing, but we’re in the midst of a state-wide housing crisis. Housing is a basic human need and key to a healthy, prosperous and equitable society. Ask how your candidate plans to work with Kiama Council on design, masterplanning and the acquisition of appropriate sites while retaining our valued green spaces. Also, what can they do to ensure our children and key workers are not priced out of local markets?Tell your candidate that your council and communities across our LGA are suffering from the impacts of skills and labour shortages, which slow economic recovery and hamper productivity. Will they invest in initiatives to attract and retain skilled labour to local government and local businesses, particularly in regional areas such as ours?Will they invest in training and professional development beyond the metro areas? And what initiatives will they instigate to assist local farmers, businesses and the visitor economy?We also need investment in better waste, recycling, green power and circular economy solutions.You can be assured that, whoever is elected, your Mayor and the Council will work with them closely, collaboratively and tirelessly to achieve great outcomes for our area.Best of luck to all who are running.

Note: The content of this message solely reflects the independent comments & views of Clr Karen Renkema-Lang and is not a communication or product by or of Kiama Municipal Council.Dear residents, ratepayers & business owners in the Kiama LGA,Over 100 people attended a very important Council meeting at the Pavilion on Tuesday 28 February. Many more watched the livestream. All of the agenda items tabled pointed to a new ‘business model’ for Kiama Council. During the meeting it was very evident that the community of the Kiama LGA want to have a say in the future of our Council, and so they should.What should a new ‘business model’ for Kiama Council look like? Should Kiama Council be reduced to a leaner meaner organisation that just provides a platform for tourism and the basic Council services - pot-holes and garbage collection? Should we sell precious community assets to the highest bidder? The Kiama Leisure Centre? Blue Haven Terralong Street Retirement Village? The Blowhole Point cabins? Kendalls Beach holiday park? The Old Fire Station? Couldn’t most of these be retained and revitalised as profit-making enterprises for the long-term benefit of the local Community?Council has a substantial property portfolio that is identified in the draft property plan tabled at the Council meeting on 28 February. These are all Council owned or managed assets. They are a mix of commercial, industrial, residential, recreational, crown land and infrastructure parcels of land and buildings. The working draft plan clearly states that “Council seeks to potentially leverage its property and related assets to facilitate private development investments”. Which of these should we absolutely fight to keep to provide the best outcomes for the people who call Kiama home?I would also like to point out that as I understand the Local Government Act, the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira cannot proceed to finalisation until completion of the public exhibition and public meeting, and receipt and consideration of submissions. It is also important to note that the property and liquidity plan were adopted as working drafts for future discussion and workshop. They were not approved or accepted at the 28 February meeting.Let's talk about money!What do we need to prove to the State Government (and importantly to you in the community) that we are financially viable?Firstly, we need an immediate cash injection of around $15 million (or more) to be able to pay bills as they are due over the next two years. It is clear from the financial figures presented at the meeting that the sale of Blue Haven (with or without Terralong Street) will NOT provide this amount of money in the time it is needed. The good news is that successful negotiation of $15m from the balance of the loan used to fund Blue Haven Bonaira build will, and this is being pursued.Secondly, the financial figures presented made it clear that even without selling Blue Haven Terralong Street, Council will have a relatively healthy cash balance ($14.3m) to manage day to day operations and pay bills by June 2024 – assuming the sale of Bonaira goes ahead. The draft property plan makes it perfectly clear that there are options (other than selling Terralong Street) to provide another $10 to $15 million cash injection if needed. The impacts of renegotiating the loan and keeping, and improving revenue from Terralong retirement village may well result in this not being needed. But we don’t know as we haven’t been presented with this financial data.Thirdly, before Council makes a decision to sell valuable community assets, we need to understand the lost opportunities and the extent of lost revenue from doing so. And importantly we need to have an alternative strategy that demonstrates a better financial, social and cultural proposition than what we are losing. We know from past financial reports that profits from the independent living units at Terralong Street have financed successive expansion of Blue Haven in 5 discrete stages, subsidised the aged care facility and funded other community infrastructure. Further, the financial figures presented at the June 2022 meeting showed that Council operations (excluding Blue Haven) are running at a loss. We have not yet been presented with financial data that details alternative revenuesources to correct this structural deficit.Finally, Council needs a stable and fully functioning financial management system along with a stable and qualified financial management team capable of producing accurate, timely and relevant financial statements. It needs these things in place to restore confidence that Council can manage the proceeds from any sale of assets responsibly and appropriately to restore Council as a ‘going concern’. Council must be able to demonstrate that these things are in place before any further decisions are made about selling valuable community assets.I will continue to push for all of the above to be made explicit and to be considered in future decisions of Council.And remember I’m always interested to hear your views. Feel free to call or email me, or drop by Short Black Cafe in Kiama for one of my regular coffee & chat sessions. The next one is Weds April 12 from 9:30am. Other dates are on my website safekiama.org/your-thoughts.As you know I am a passionate advocate for democracy and your voice is part of that.Yours Sincerely,Clr Karen Renkema-Lang

So, here we all are, in the best place on earth. It’s official, verified and fair dinkum.I’m talking of course about Kiama being declared Australia’s best small town by demographer Bernard Salt, who crunched the numbers from the 2021 Census to come up with the results.While I’m sure the criteria for this are all very legit and I’m thrilled to be Mayor at a time when we’ve been acknowledged in this fashion, I’d also suggest there is more to a place than statistics, green hills and the hole that blows.Most importantly there is the charm of the people. It’s one of the first things I noticed about the people of Kiama – and not just the town of Kiama but our whole Municipality.Whether you're a visitor or a long-time resident, you'll always be greeted with a smile and a welcoming hello around here. It's not uncommon to strike up a conversation with a stranger in a local café or on the beach, and before you know it, you're exchanging stories and laughing together like old friends.Beyond their welcoming nature, the people of our LGA are also deeply connected to their local environment. Many residents are involved in conservation efforts and community landcare groups that aim to protect the natural beauty of the area for future generations. Whether it is through beach clean-ups, tree-planting projects, or wildlife rescue programs, the people of Kiama demonstrate a strong sense of stewardship and responsibility for their local environment.Our towns are home to a thriving arts scene, with numerous galleries, workshops, and festivals that showcase the talents of local artists and performers. There’s the Jazz and Blues Festival on this weekend.Another thing that stands out about the people of our Municipality is their sense of community. This is a place where people come together to support one another, whether it's through volunteering or simply checking in on a neighbour who needs help. The place has a strong spirit of inclusivity and acceptance, and you'll find people from all walks of life living here and contributing to the community.One of my favourite things across the LGA is the way that the people here have embraced and preserved the town and country's history and character. There's a strong sense of pride in the local heritage. You'll often find residents sharing stories and memories about the past, and there are plenty of opportunities to learn more about the local history through museums, guided tours, and other cultural events.This is not limited to our colonial and Anglo-Saxon history either. Kiama Council hosted two Aboriginal yarning circles earlier this year where we listened to first nations Elders speak about their lived experience and the cultural history of this place. It was an enlightening and heartening experience and one that we will aim to repeat and build upon.Overall, the beauty of Kiama is not just found in its stunning natural landscape but in the warmth, kindness, and creativity of its people. The sense of community and connection that permeates our Municipality is truly what makes it the best place on earth.

When I was a young boy, I questioned my parents about why was there a ‘Father’s Day’ and a ‘Mother’s Day’ yet no ‘Children’s Day’?The stock, universal reply to every kid, from every parent with this question was ‘Every day is Children’s Day!’When asked about why we have Australia Day on 26 January I give a similar answer... every day is Australia Day! We celebrate that day, but I’d be happy to change it if it upsets some people, and who wouldn’t want that?But it’s the day we use currently, and that’s kind of ironic because India shares that day too! It’s ironic because we use it as the day the British put up the Union Flag here, and it’s the day they pulled it down in India!In the 1780’s, there was also lot of international intrigue about an American letter sent to the British about the French.ut for a couple of mishaps, Australia could have become a French colony.So that instead of saying, ‘I’m Australian, not English!’, we’d say ‘Je suis Australien, pas Français!’Anyways, I love it here every day. We’re living in the same land as the Earth’s oldest culture, where you get to vote and marry whoever you like and there’s Kookaburras.I have seen, learned and lived in many other places, there’s nothing wrong with them, but here is better.I’ve had extensive talks with local Aboriginal elder Aunty Gwenda, who is so gracious, and wants to acknowledge that the past holds good and bad, but it is for us all to create a better and more representative future.We’ve agreed, in this area, to work on that as a team.Here’s what’s doing on Australia Day locally: Welcomes to Country, didge recitals, smoking ceremonies, traditional dancers, a yarning circle, flag flyovers, surf club barbecues, pool parties and a whole pile of other fun!At our ceremony at Gerringong Town Hall we’re also welcoming 30 new citizens, presenting our local Australia Day citizens awards, while our guest speaker is World Superbike Champion Warwick Knowland.So here are the three actual points of what we’re doing and why:ReflectRespectCelebrateWe reflect on our nation’s past, which began more than 75,000 years ago and respect the contributions of all Australians, and we celebrate our achievements by coming together and connecting with family, friends and the community.And you know what? We really should do this every day.

Welcome to 2023, a new year of opportunity for your council and your community. Kiama Council is an organisation of people who are deeply devoted to the community we serve. Some of us are councillors, some staff, and others volunteers.We all continue to believe in the promise that together we can pull out of our current short-term issues and create great goals that will be rewarded by great results.This year, councillors will determine the best strategic use for the proceeds of the Akuna Street sale, adjusting our ratios to a more normal setting and in doing so, hopefully calm our bankers and other keen observers.The process of the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira will also evolve into an open and transparent strategy that retains a healthy suite of aged care offerings in the district but shifts Council’s focus from an aged care business into a council with a retirement village as one of the many strings to its revenue bow.The past year has not been all doom and gloom. We have in fact achieved victory over many aspects of council’s performance, and this year we will achieve even more.We will move from a strategy of divestment into a strategy of sustainable revenue.Building a robust financial strategy is about far more than crunching numbers, good financial monitoring and demand management. It is collaboration, communication, ownership, vision and trust, especially between council staff and elected members.This year I know we will be mindful of the past, but our eyes will be on the future.There will be new life in the heart of our commercial and retail centre: the construction of a new Woolworths-anchored mini-mall and, together with the right contractor, an iconic revitalisation and unique makeover for Hindmarsh Park.We may also see the beginnings of what will be built on the Akuna Street site.The rejuvenation of these three major locations will result in quite the makeover for central Kiama during the next year or two. I’m looking forward to seeing the transformation.I have found great value in keeping the mayoral door open. I plan to enrich this in 2023 with additional opportunities to improve my accessibility, create an open flow of communication and maintain closer relationships with the community.Now, with the end of our financial issues in sight (note, I didn’t say over!), culture within our council is noticeably enriched and we can build on this with increased vitality.A new year offers a fresh perspective and opportunities. Rather than resist and hide in the old, I hope you’ll join me in welcoming and shepherding in the new. Together we shape the future of our Local Government Area.

I am going to borrow a quote from Kelly Clarkson the singer who said “The thing about Christmas is that it almost doesn’t matter what mood you’re in or what kind of a year you’ve had – it’s a fresh start”.I like that sentiment of a fresh start. I am excited about what the new year holds for all of us.It’s been a hard year at Council, there’s no denying that. We’ve shared much of that hardship with all of you: the facts of it, the solutions to it and the need for a fresh start.I sincerely hope that as this year closes, we don’t forget all the hard work, all the good work that gets done every day by our staff and the effort that our Councillors and community members put into making this wonderful community of ours a great place to live in and be part of.I hope each of you get a chance to enjoy all the lovely things about Christmas: friends, family and colleagues.Being on council gives a unique perspective to observe our community, and to see the good everywhere. In the volunteers that drive buses, cook snags, deliver meals and plant and weed and bring us music, and the exciting people who teach and talk and enrich our lives in countless ways.We see the gifts donated to the Mayor’s Giving Tree; we see the little notes of thanks when a Councillor has championed a good cause or a staff member has gone out of their way to assist someone who really needed a little help.We see neighbours who help neighbours, and not just at Christmas. On frosty winter days, ovals get line marked by volunteers, scouts and guides are taught bushcraft, passers-by warn visitors of dangerous surf conditions, and so much more.There is much good in community and, as we head into a new year, let’s all take the chance for a fresh start and to reflect on this year.Enough from me, here’s some tips from Kiama’s Councillors for Christmas:Cr Matt Brown: Stay hydrated and make the best use of local attractions and experiences such as Illawarra Fly, Jamberoo Action Park along with our beaches and National Parks. Merry Christmas!!Cr Mark Croxford: Be adventurous and try something new. The helpful team at the Kiama Visitor Information Centre on Blowhole Point is there to give you lots of suggestions.Cr Imogen Draisma: Just living in Kiama is a rare gift, enjoy it all: the ocean, the countryside the bustling towns and all that’s good in life.Cr Jodi Keast: Explore Kiama’s hidden treasures by asking a local what they love about Kiama. For me, I enjoy walking around the Minnamurra headland and riding through Bonaira Native Gardens.Cr Stuart Larkins: Visit (and support) as many of our local small businesses as you can. On a cooler day, enjoy our local bushwalks or our fantastic coast walk. Remember to look after our environment and take your rubbish with you.Cr Karen Renkema-Lang: Choose you own adventure – there are so many options. Or just sit back, relax and soak up the magic of Kiama and the surrounds.Cr Kathy Rice: Pack your worries away and don’t pick them up again until the holiday is over. Make sure to take some time just for you and keep your eyes open to the magnificence that is all around you in Kiama.Cr Warren Steel: Enjoy spending time with your family.

We are all part of a larger picture.British writer Douglas Adams is probably best known for The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but just as good is Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency in which he coined the phrase ‘the fundamental interconnectedness of all things’.I’ve been noticing this interconnectedness lately and the more you pay attention, the more you see.Cobar is situated in the centre of New South Wales, and in 1975, it seemed as though I passed through this lovely old mining town every other week as part of my Army training. I was reminded of that connection as I spoke to Cobar Shire Council’s GM, Peter Vlatko online last week.He told me of Cobar’s troubles as aged care providers. Financially, they cannot hang on until Christmas. Although the message is sad and related to the viability of aged care, the interconnectedness of all things is both how we know – I met Peter at the Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Annual Conference in Albury this year– and why we know – because Kiama Council also runs aged care and we deeply understand the challenges right now.As a council, we have many, many internal and external connections we can use to help our decision-making, to compare our progress, and learn useful lessons. As well as the aforementioned LGNSW network, we have the Country Mayors Association of NSW, where 60 councils share the joy of regionality. Our council is also part of the Australian Coastal Councils Group, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation and the new Greater Cities Commission.Within our municipality, we have precincts, associations, community groups, council committees and workgroups.Local Government NSW, a connected council group in itself, promotes council membership of other connected groups. The Australian Local Government Association is the national connected voice of local government putting us in touch with 537 councils Australia-wide.It is wise to research, look outside our own bubble and see the world of lived, previous experience and understand if lessons learned by others can be applied to our own situation... in life as well as on council. It is also a good exercise in gaining perspective.As well as empathising with Cobar, I look at Lismore’s flood woes, Central Darling Shire Council who gave away their aged care facility and Central Coast Council clawing its way back from the abyss. I look at Randwick Council, who years ago divested of aged care services, or any number of Victorian councils who are right now doing the same.Our own experience with aged care has been somewhat of a beacon to others in near-identical situations. In fact there are 13 NSW councils who still own or manage aged care facilities. All of them regional, most much smaller than Kiama (average population 7,500, where ours is 23,000) and all struggling with this aspect of their business.As I’ve discovered from talking to the Mayors, CEOs and GMs of other councils, we have more commonalities than we have differences and that’s a good thing.There really is a fundamental interconnectedness of all things and it’s cathartic to find you’re not alone and answers do exist. Those answers often come from those who have been there and done that. All you have to do is connect.

I learned lifelong lessons from the first book I read... and the last and the next one!The first book I ever read was called 5 Pennies to Spend. I was five years old, so there was symmetry. I think I loved the pictures as much as the story.It had the lot: money management, maths, kindness and a surprise ending. I know it contributed to my adult sense of social justice and responsibilities. No kidding, it did.Neil with the book that sparked his love of readingSo, I read that Little Golden Book and good things happened to my brain, but the keyword is reading.I attended to the NSW Public Libraries Association conference “Switch 2022” in Albury last week, and was pleased to learn that they coaxed an additional, indexed and ongoing $41 million every year from our State Government.I saw bestselling author and musician Holly Throsby at Kiama Library, in conversation with publisher Richard Walsh about her new novel, Clarke. I read a book about a bored little boy to the kids at Ss Peter & Paul primary school in Kiama and the children laughed and learned about how it’s always best to just be you.I met with Sally Rippin, Australia’s highest-selling female author, who has ventured into the previously unknown territory (for her) of adult non-fiction with her new book Wild Things, about how we learn to read and what can happen if we don’t.In council we have to do a great deal of reading. Our business papers (the council meeting agenda) are often more than a thousand pages long. And we only have days to take it all in.The Mayor reading to Ss Peter and Paul studentsReading is so vital, and sometimes so rare that if you can read this, you can count yourself lucky. Many people have either no or just basic reading skills.Without the ability to read, some of life’s most essential necessities become far out of reach.It becomes difficult to have a job, to access information, to engage in local democracy and even community participation can prove challenging when your reading skills are low or limited.So, when I talk about the first book I remember having read having a great impact, research backs me up. It confirms that a child’s early years of brain development shape the adults we become, the success we achieve and the contributions we make socially, economically and personally.According to the World Literacy Foundation, if a child reads for just 20 minutes a day, they are exposed to 1,800,000 words per year.Our Kiama Library service promotes literacy skills in early childhood and provides literacy resources and services to all. Our library staff are the best of the best.And I’m pleased that our newest library space – Gerringong Library and Museum (GLaM) – is celebrating its first anniversary on 3 December and everyone’s invited to the party (see the council website for details).On the other side of one of those five pennies are people living with dyslexia: a learning disability that can cause difficulties with reading and writing. Dyslexia is not a reflection of intelligence and more common than you may think, it actually affects around 10 per cent of the Australian population.Ask our excellent library staff and they’ll point you in the right direction for support with dyslexia if you need it.Local Government is more than just roads, rates and rubbish. Kiama Council plays a vital and very broad role in the lives of each and every person in our community.Our libraries and crew do a fabulous job that is well regarded throughout the state, I am incredibly proud of that team.Don’t forget to visit your local library soon – after all, it’s the building with the most stories in town.

This week I addressed the annual Mayor’s Breakfast hosted by the Kiama and District Business Chamber.My thanks to the Chamber for allowing me the chance to speak directly to a large and important part of our community: our local business owners and operators.What I had to say, in short, was this:I’ve heard it said we (Kiama Council) would be in a whole lot better shape if we ran it like a business. There is only one thing wrong with that sentiment: it isn’t a business.Roads seldom make money, and neither do our parks or libraries. We don’t charge fees at the entrance in order to be ‘run like a business.’Kiama municipality may not be a business, but it has a lot of the characteristics that good businesses believe are their hallmarks.When I am asked ‘Are you running council like a business?’, I say that we employ first-rate business principles, alongside the highest principles of good governance.Most businesses would have a hard time matching our service or functioning in such a highly regulated and highly public environment where every move we make is legislated and subject to very public scrutiny.Our financial situation is improving and we are taking steps to improve our cash flow by divesting assets that are no longer providing the utility that the community expects.To enhance our bottom line, we are seeking revenue-making opportunities and being open and transparent with our bankers, our auditors and the NSW Government.Everything we do for the next little while will fall into one of these categories:Improve cash flowDevelop a surplus budgetActively pursue sustainable revenue streamsAvoid administration.I am also committed to ensuring that this council will become much more business-friendly.Business people are our neighbours, our friends, our families and they keep our community strong.That’s why I am committed to a small business charter.I believe what benefits small business benefits the whole community.This means Council working with businesses across all sectors to revitalise the local economy, to attract new customers and investment.To this end, we are recruiting for an Economic Development Coordinator.This is to offer support in enquiries from businesses to accelerate procedures and assist in developing a Small Business Friendly Council Charter.From my own working life, I understand the strain, the stress and the risks small businesses take daily.After COVID, we must have strategies in place that will offer support, cut red tape and bring real benefits to our local small business community.

Sometimes, those who give the most are the ones with the least to spare. Time is one such commodity that some people give, very generously, even though it is often in short supply.For this reason, I believe one of the greatest honours you can show to someone is to respect their time.Jamberoo legend John Downes – Mumbles to everyone who knows him – has shared that precious commodity with us. He has given us his time. Fifty-seven years of it, in the service of the Jamberoo Fire Brigade. Mumbles is part of a very small group of people across New South Wales to receive a NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioners Commendation for Service. This was presented on Sunday. I was privileged to be there when John received his award alongside other brigade members receiving National Emergency Medals for their service in the Black Summer Bushfires of 2019-20.The very next day I was asked to welcome the Wollondilly CWA members to their eighty-ninth conference in Kiama. As they gathered, I saw many big hearts and brains that volunteered their time to make an impact in our community. The whole conference was about everything they could do for others. They want to try a little harder, to dream a little broader and have their hearts stretch a little farther. The conference was full of people with ideas seeking others of their own kind. What a hoot for the Chicks With Attitude!On 28 October, I will be at the Red Cross Zone 28 conference, with volunteers from all over our area. I know that these groups not only help us, but they also help each other. The Gerringong Red Cross needed a place to come together and provide Devonshire tea... the local RSL freely gave their hall. When renovations had to be made and the hall could not be used, Rotary came to the party and offered their facilities. Collaboration among the champions.People who give their time to helping us in either front-line jobs or volunteering are true ambassadors and champions for our community. It is a noble thing to pitch in as a volunteer in your community and we are fortunate to live where we live, where more than 25 per cent of locals volunteer, compared to 18 per cent across NSW.Perhaps the most amazing, if not surprising thing is that when awards are given for community service and volunteering, those who receive them are generally reluctant to take the limelight. This is a hallmark quality in those who give more than they take. But, I believe, these people should be known by the wider community. Therefore, if you know of someone or a group who deserve recognition, you should nominate them for an award!Our local Australia Day Awards recognise those people that play a part, large or small, in our community. The Australia Day Awards are for:Local Citizen of the yearYoung Citizen (24 years or under)Senior Citizen (65 years or over)Community GroupThe Awards are presented at a ceremony each Australia Day, 26 January. This year, we’ll be holding our awards ceremony at Kiama Leisure Centre, to recognise the fact it’s the centre’s 40th Anniversary.Nominations for our Australia Day Awards 2023 close 30 October 2022. Nominate someone today.

The time has come for bold and decisive action. I have spent a good part of the past 10 months as Mayor receiving data and the undeniable conclusion is: as a council, we need to change. It’s time to make difficult choices and be responsible.We have been more open with our community this year than ever. I appreciate that transparency and I know the community value this as well. It’s part of being the change we need to see.As anyone who has been following our story will know by now, we are in crisis. We need $30 to $40 million dollars in the next two years to service our loan repayments and that won’t come without some tough choices. We have had written warnings from the Minister for Local Government, statutory committees and our own Finance Advisory Committee on this. They all tell us that we need to change and correct our course.Blue Haven’s Residential Aged Care Facility is currently running at a loss of $75- $119 per bed per day, whereas the average for the industry is only a $24 loss. We have 134 beds and that means yesterday we lost $16,000, today we’ll lose $16,000 and tomorrow as well and so on and so on. If we continue running at this level of loss, we will need to severely cut council services and considerably raise rates. That would be nuts. It’s time for us to re-examine our core function, which is as a local council.To this end, I will be calling for an Extraordinary Meeting to be held next week on 13 October. At the meeting, I will seek to rescind the previous motion from our September Ordinary Meeting (item 20.1) which talked about our cash flow, the long-term financial position of Council, Blue Haven and the Barney Street Quarry.As well as seeking to rescind that motion, I will be proposing an alternate motion.This will be a balanced and sustainable approach, one which demands compromise, a little give from everyone. Compromise is necessary to enact the sort of strategic advantages that will lead to real improvements for the whole community.Here is the compromise I’ll be putting to council:Point one: The sale of the entire lot of Blue Haven Bonaira, ensuring uninterrupted operations of the Independent Living Units and Residential Age Care Facility.Point two: Following the completion of the business case and valuations we retain Blue Haven Terralong and seek the highest levels of residents’ engagement with any future use.The time to act is now, while we still control our destiny. Any delay now could be fatal to our council and our future. I’ll be addressing these initiatives with the Minister for Local Government, seeking her assent for the motion to be put. This bold motion will naturally require a majority of councillor’s support to be adopted.None of this has been easy, we are making big decisions and everyone has had to accept some degree of compromise. But we all know it’s time to change. To continue to deliver the local government services you need, want and expect, we must return our full focus to our core business. The end result will be the best outcome for Kiama Council, our community and the residents, families and staff of Blue Haven.

The lockdowns of the Covid 19 pandemic clearly demonstrated the value of essential workers here in Kiama. I have found that with the staffing issues of Blue Haven, essential workers no longer seem to be able to afford to live in our community, it’s a real problem for us all. This is a problem we can fix, but only if we make the right choices.Existing state regulations enable the least sustainable form of development: greenfield expansion. These proposed and approved rural subdivisions are car-dependent for almost every need. People there will live in isolated, sprawling places that cause high personal vehicle usage and with little or no walk-to retail and services. The answer, to my mind, is clear: greater urban density. This means having a home that is affordable, appropriate to needs, and within reach of transport, employment and essential services.I like urban consolidation—it creates vibrant town centres while limiting greenfield development. I also believe that if people accept greater density in our town centres, their children will be more able to buy a home, and seniors will be able to downsize in the town where they live. Building height is not a measure of density. The perception that high-rise equals high density is often confounded by reality. Best practice, including infill, good use of public space, and good design, create liveable higher density. According to figures from Savills, London’s most desirable and expensive borough is also one of its densest, with 135 dwellings per ha, the majority set in low and mid-rise.The politics of land-use planning – what gets built and where – favour those who oppose change. Community interest in urban planning is extremely strong in the Kiama LGA. Social media espouse that people see any change in regulations as a ‘watering down’ of standards.Political websites espouse sound, public-transport friendly development, yet members of those sites oppose every development that will deliver just that. This is sad as our LGA is among the least affordable in the world, and there is an acute shortage of low-cost rental housing.I acknowledge that Council and councillors have an important, although limited, role to play.We are actively working to advocate for and facilitate sustainable housing options for our community that are affordable, appropriate and available. The hard political reality is that people do not want rural expansion or urban consolidation. I am scared that this attitude will eventually lead to our exclusion in the debate. Decisions will be made for us.Which side of the argument you are on will depend greatly on your stake in the housing market—or lack of it. One person’s housing affordability crisis is another’s eagerly defended retirement nest egg. There are many reasons why density is seen as a good thing, but in short it is regarded as more sustainable, in the full sense of the word — environmentally, socially and economically.Population growth, and many of the supply and demand factors that impact housing availability and affordability, are outside of your council’s control. Focusing on urban and suburban centres and limiting greenfield development does not offer a neat set of solutions that we can just pick up and run with. But higher urban density offers significant insights and options that should be considered. If we can make a significant contribution towards ensuring that all our LGA have places to call home that meet our needs and supports ourquality of life, both now and into the future. We need enough density to allow for car-free living in a town that is resilient and walkable, while keeping us close enough to the ground to maintain our relationship with the earth and with one another.

A few weeks back, I reflected on our youth and the valuable contribution they make and will continue to make in our community. At the beginning of September, myself and the Councillors got to workshop ideas with local students at our new-look Youth Engagement Meeting at the Pavilion, it was a fantastic experience and valuable insights were gained all round.At the other end of the scale, and equally enlightening, can you imagine witnessing an entire century with your own eyes? To have personally witnessed 100 years of life?For most of us, such longevity and the wisdom that comes with it is a dream. Happily there are quite a few people right here in our area with just such a long and delightful story to share. As it turns out, we have heaps of folks in their 100th decade. So, we believe it’s only right to recognise these centenarians (anyone aged 90+) with a great big party!This is part of one of the five pillars of our Community Strategic Plan: that we are part of a connected and liveable community.What could be more connected and liveable than to celebrate with people who have lived through some of the most remarkable events of human history? Their lives were shaped by the changing fortunes of time. Now, two-and-a-bit decades into the twenty-first century, we will come together at Barroul House Cafe to chat to those that have lived, learned, changed, forgave, forgot, and learned some more.If you have a friend, relative, centenarian (or anyone in their senior years for that matter) who wishes to celebrate with us, you will be welcome. Come along and join the ‘100 Club’ with us.Senior members of our community and their optimistic attitude, their glorious sense of adventure and wonder touch me deeply. I count us as very lucky to have such an excellent aged care facility as Blue Haven here in Kiama. Whatever transpires with our financial issues, I can guarantee that it will continue to be there as it is, whether owned by Council or not.Two wonderful centenarians I know well are Harold and Eunice West, both of whom I met through my membership of the Kiama/Jamberoo RSL Sub branch. Harold, the sly young pup, married an older woman, so Eunice (his wife) turned a hundred months before he is due to tick over the ton... on 16 September!You can meet Harold and Eunice at our ‘100 Club’ celebration at Barroul House Cafe on 30 September.Kiama Council and Blue Haven will be providing afternoon tea and entertainment and the event is free to attend but you must register at www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/100-club