To Whom It May ConcernI am reaching out to ask for your consideration in supporting what can best described as the saving of a Kiama Harbour icon, the MV SIGNA.The MV SIGNA is a timber cruising boat, built between 1968-70, with a history of providing a wide variety of fishermen and pleasure cruisers with a daily charter experience over a period of almost 54 years.In 2021 a prohibition order was placed on MV SIGNA by Maritime Services of NSW after she deteriorated over a number of years.She languished in Kiama Harbour until July 2022 when she was purchased by a group of 6 pensioners aged 62-84 with the aim of restoring her to her former glory.Two and a half years and some 14,000 hours later, MV SIGNA has been returned to Kiama Harbour and has undergone the final internal cosmetic tweaking and sea trials. She looks amazing and is an attraction in the harbour for visitors and locals alike.As part of the restoration program, the crew had the dream of cruising to Hobart, Tasmania for the biannual International Timber Boat Show to be held in February, 2025. The application was submitted early in 2024 and approval to be part of the show was received in late September. As we now understand, this is a huge honour since only 187 boats were selected out of a field of 400.The restoration has been a hugely expensive exercise and financing this trip to one of the world’s major boat shows is now in jeopardy. As a team of pensioners and retirees our financial resources have been stretched beyond capacity.We are seeking approximately $10,000 to achieve the goal of travelling to Hobart and showcasing this beautiful boat and Kiama to the rest of the world. The major cost is fuel and harbour fees along the way.Her return to Kiama Harbour, following worldwide exposure provides tourists and locals the opportunity to share in something quite unique.Your consideration in assisting the MV SIGNA team and the local community would be greatly appreciated.Thanking you in anticipation,John HansenTeam LeaderEditor's note: The Bugle is helping with this project and you can make a pledge here. 

As Halloween gains popularity in Australia, there’s a unique chance to make it less commercial and more meaningful, rooted in family, community, and local celebration.Here are three ways to turn Halloween into a true harvest fest that supports local producers and brings everyone together - ideas for 2025 and beyond!Farm-to-Table FeastTransform Halloween into a community meal that celebrates local food. Families gather to enjoy dishes made from regional produce, dressing in costumes inspired by Australian food production, farms, and our farmers. This farm-to-table approach supports local farmers, minimises waste, and connects everyone with Australia’s seasonal flavours.Scavenger Hunt for Local GoodiesHost a Halloween scavenger hunt in a park or community garden where kids search for locally sourced treats.. Add educational clues about local crops and sustainable practices to make Halloween both fun and informative. Kids will build connections to the land while enjoying healthier alternatives to candy.Glow-in-the-Dark Farmers MarketTurn the farmers market into a Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween event with vendors offering Halloween-themed versions of their products—think ghost-shaped bread, local produce displays, and spooky arrangements. With glow-in-the-dark decorations and costumes encouraged, this night market becomes a unique, family-friendly Halloween celebration that promotes local food and businesses in a festive atmosphere.

It's heartwarming to see such passionate dedication to the well-being of our furry friends that even our elected officials can’t help but jump in to "lend a hand" in celebrating this long-awaited dog park!Of course, while we thank all sides for their “invaluable contributions,” let's pause to give real credit to the Jamberoo community and the Jamberoo Valley Ratepayers and Residents Association. They’re the ones who put in the hours, knocking on doors and gathering voices for the surveys, petitions, and kitchen table chats that made this dog park a reality. It’s a testament to community power in action.Now, as for the political sparring over who gets the spotlight... maybe the dogs can settle that one when the park opens. With a bit of agility equipment and shaded seating on hand, it’ll be the perfect spot for everyone to see just who can jump the highest! Paws and Applause, Jamberoo!

I enjoy nothing more than a good old-fashioned supernatural horror film—something that keeps me in suspense and offers a little shock value. However, there’s something that fills me with more dread than the price of cheese this week, and that’s Halloween.It’s not the idea of some skeleton climbing out of the Blowhole or the thought of a witch circling the tower of the Kiama Post Office. No, it’s the notion that Halloween is approaching and whether I need to have a bag of candy—sorry, lollies—beside the front door, just waiting in sheer anticipation for that knock from a group of children greeting me with “Trick or Treat.”Let me share my fear and pose a question: wouldn’t you be scarred like I am if you found yourself in a similar situation?I lived on a relatively quiet street in Nowra until I received that fateful knock at the door. It was a calm evening, and I was preparing dinner for my Cattle Dog X General, about to settle in for a classic episode of Gardening Australia, when I opened the door. Before me stood a group consisting of a little devil, a zombie, a princess, and someone in yellow, which I think was an attempt at a character from Pokémon. As I looked into their eyes, sparkling with anticipation and smiles on their faces, they held out their little buckets, waiting for something sweet to drop in. Fear set in as I realised I had nothing—zilch—because Halloween is not a holiday I observe.As the smiles began to turn to frowns on the children’s faces, an idea struck me. I ducked back into the kitchen and rummaged through the pantry. When I returned, I triumphantly held various packets of cup of soups I had been saving for a rainy day—literally a rainy day.Fast forward twelve months, and my partner and I were ready. We stocked up on various packets of fun-sized treats. Like clockwork, a knock came at the door, accompanied by the familiar chant of “Trick or Treat,” and we happily distributed chocolates, bringing smiles all around.Eventually, the kids grew older, and the Halloween tradition slowly disappeared, leaving our quiet street to return to its former self—like spirits and ghouls returning to their graves as the clock strikes midnight.But to this day, as October 31 rolls around, that fear strikes me like a pitchfork stuck into my derriere. Will this be the year I finally have a bag of flavoured snakes beside the door, or can I tempt another year with those packets of chicken noodle soup sitting in the kitchen cupboard? 

A new initiative is set to energise the Kiama community as Electrify Kiama officially launches their community survey this week. Following in the footsteps of our Northern suburbs neighbours, Electrify2515, this exciting community group is focused on increasing take-up of efficient electric appliances and vehicles, to save every home money and reduce our carbon emissions.70% of Australia's domestic emissions occur at the household and business level. To meet our emissions targets, we need to rapidly replace the fossil fuel machines that sit in homes, driveways and businesses with efficient, electric versions powered by renewable energy. According to Rewiring Australia’s research and projections, by 2030, Australia’s households could be saving over $40 billion a year, which is close to - and in future could overtake -our export earnings from coal. The most economical path to powering our everyday lives is to significantly increase rooftop solar take-up and fully engage the associated storage capacity in vehicles, house-batteries, and thermalsystems, including hot water. (Castles & Cars Discussion Paper, Rewiring Australia)Here, in the Kiama LGA, people are already keen and on board with this switch. There are 41% of households in our municipality with rooftop solar so we are sitting well above the NSW state average of 36%. When it comes to electric vehicles, as of July we are ahead of the state but at 1.8% there is still lots of opportunity to increase take-up of EVs across Australia and in our local community. “One local resident told me they recently took their Tesla on a 2,300km road trip to Phillip Island and back. They said they spent $170 on chargers and they were mainly on the highway section. They never encountered a broken charger or had to queue. The car was amazing and they said the autopilot is a must for long-distance driving.”“As a group, we want to understand where people in our local community are at with electrifying their households and share information that will support further take-up and action, so we are launching with a survey to understand what people already have and what their needs/interests are.” –Alexandra McPaul, Member of Electrify Kiama. The survey for people living in the Kiama LGA includes questions about people’s current use of electric appliances and what types of additional electrification, information or events they are interested in. Fill in the survey now by following this link. “The electrify movement is all about encouraging and supporting people to install rooftop solar, replace gas with efficient induction cooking, use reverse cycle air- conditioning (rather than gas), use heat pump hot water (or electric with solar), switch to electric vehicles and use home or community batteries for back-up power.”“Often people feel powerless to make a difference as individuals, this is about coming together as a community to make a difference and share information and knowledge.There are people in our community who have already made the switch, and others who are sitting on the fence, or unsure. Through sharing people’s experience and learnings, we hope people will feel more confident to take that next step,” said Alexandra McPaul, member of Electrify Kiama.We are inspired by a vision of creating a more connected and forward-thinking community. Some of the opportunities we plan to explore include:facilitating conversations with industry experts on the latest advancements in technology,sharing local and global trends, andrunning educational workshops/events to promote change that benefits both the environment and the local economy.“Our goal is to connect local residents, professionals, and enthusiasts with the tools and information they need to embrace a more energy efficient and sustainable future. Join us as we work together to make positive change.” For more information about Electrify Kiama and how to get involved, follow their updates on social media. For more information about the overall approach check out Rewiring Australia. For further information contact: [email protected]

I refer to your article about the young people from Gerringong urging Kiama Council to consider redevelopment of the former nursing home located in Havilah Place. Whilst I have sympathy for their housing problems, I don't believe that the site they have identified is an appropriate solution. As I have pointed out on previous occasions in writing to your paper about this site, the land on which those buildings are located was donated by a local developer, Tony Freeman, in the 1970s to the Kiama Aged Care Council. I have unfortunately no detail as to how and why ownership reverted to Council (if indeed it has); but I am aware that some services currently in existence in that building, are shared with the residential retirement village known as Blue Haven Terralong. Given that your paper has also identified the dearth of residential aged accommodation in this community, and given the circumstances of the initial gift of this land and the purposes for which it was donated, a reasonable person could only conclude that any future development of the site would be a logical extension of the existing retirement village - in other words Blue Haven Stage 6. If you look at the history of the development of Blue Haven, as documented by Nick Hartgerink in 2019 for Kiama Council, you would note that when the most recent Stage of Blue Haven was developed, Council received a windfall that enabled the construction of the Pavilion, on the showground headland. A properly functioning Council should be able to identify this business opportunity, and any subsequent profit could then be used to create 'social housing' elsewhere within the municipality.A. Holder Kiama

Bombo Sewage Treatment Plant continues to emit a strong lung-filling odour. Contrary to Sydney Waters's claims back in 2023 that they would fix the smell emanating from the plant, an almost daily stench is spreading much further into local streets. I'm calling on our local council and our local state and federal politicians to get onto Sydney Water to solve the problem. So far their efforts have only made the stench worse. The Environmental Protection Agency has strict guidelines under which the Bombo Sewage treatment plant must operate... what are they doing???R King

The latest update by Kiama Council on the stalled 'sale' of Bonaira, is both concerning and not unexpected. It would appear that the 'sale' may be very much a 'Claytons' sale - you know - the sale you have when you haven't really got a sale. Two delays in settlement now, and remember, this is only the down payment - $1 million, as we have been led to believe, the balance payable 18 months later. That pushes back the final settlement to almost 2027. So how will the remaining T-corp debt be funded? One cannot help think that yet again the community has been sold a pup. I have also asked Council the question on what basis has the commission to Stuart Brown Advisory been calculated? You know, they belong to the same stable as Stuart Brown Chartered Accountants who were given the task of advising Council whether it should sell, retain or lease both Bonaira and the Terralong facility. No prizes for guessing what their recommendation was, and again unsurprisingly in accord with the recommendation given to Council by the General Manager. Of course the response by Council to my query was far from transparent - but then again just about everything else this Council has done in this whole sorry mess, has suffered from the same problem. Good luck to our newly elected Councillors in sorting out this debacle!A. Holder

One cannot fail to notice the scaffolding in place in various areas/buildings at the Bonaira site at present. This is obviously indicative of ongoing remedial work being undertaken on defects in buildings in general. It is amazing that these buildings are only 5 years old, but remedial works seem to have been going on there since basically the facility was opened. How could the present administration have taken to market such a flawed facility (in building terms), and ever to have hoped for a reasonable sales price outcome as a result? Imagine putting your house up for auction with half a roof missing! What sort of sales outcome could you expect? Yet this is what has happened with an asset that is/was by far the most expensive asset this community owned. It seems to me that our Council administrators spent more time pursuing vendettas against recalcitrant Councillors on the outgoing Council, than attending to things that mattered, such as holding the builder to account for what has happened at Bonaira. This is shameful conduct on behalf of those who are (highly) paid to shepherd the assets that belong to this community. Certain people in our Council administration need to take a good long hard look at themselves and their motives. I certainly hope that our incoming Council and Councillors will take note of this abject dereliction of duty!A. Holder

"Not in My Backyard” is understandable, but if not here, where? If not now, when?During a recent trip to Barcelona—once a Roman settlement and now a thriving metropolis—it struck me how urban development shapes the character of a community. Cities evolve, and growth is inevitable. Barcelona is just one example of how development, when done thoughtfully, can preserve heritage while supporting a thriving, modern population.But when we say “not in my backyard,” are we simply protecting the status quo, or are we denying future generations the opportunity to live where they grew up? At some point, someone allowed the development that gave us the homes and communities we now enjoy. So why are we now saying no to houses for our children?It’s understandable to want to protect what’s familiar, but are we waiting for someone else to solve the housing crisis? Are we expecting other areas to take on the burden while we cling to our current landscape? Growth doesn’t have to mean destruction—it can be carefully managed to maintain the unique character of our communities while still addressing real needs.If we don’t act now, then when? If not here, where will our children live? These are questions we must ask if we truly want our communities to thrive for generations to come.L. Strong

What a fabulous newspaper!!! I've downloaded it and have skimmed through the various features. It leaves the Leader for dead doesn't it!!!!You have a plethora of talent and such interesting characters in Kiama. It's like a hub for talented people Today's reading! H. Hansen.Sydney.

Dear Madam/SirG,Maxwell asks in his letter in September Bugle 'what's happened to school buses'? I'll tell you. There are privately run school buses in Kiama. But, if you live less than 2.3 kms from a primary school or 2.9kms from a high school you can't get a free travel pass - you must pay $200 for a yearly pass. So most local Kiama kids attending the primary schools or high school aren't eligible for a free travel pass. But Kiama kids attending private schools in Shellharbour or Wollongong can travel free to school. There was a time when children were encouraged to attend local public schools - now public schools suffer from a lack of funding as more government funds go to private schools than public schools. Surely those parents who choose to send their kids to local schools should be rewarded for this by getting free school travel. Then more kids would use the buses and there'd be less congestion on our roads at drop off and pick up times.Yes G. Maxwell - let's bring back the free school buses for local kids. Perhaps this is something our local member and the new Councillors could take up with the State Government.K. DummettKiama

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to KCR for the council candidate interviews that you did, in collaboration with The Bugle. Without hearing from the candidates directly, as a new resident in Kiama, it would be almost impossible to get a handle on who the candidates are and what they stand for. You ticked so many boxes well; pointed, timed questions; short and easily consumable interviews (who can spend hours listening to candidates waffle). The mainstream media have a lot to learn from KCR and The Bugle - you absolutely put them to shame! I look forward to engaging with a lot more of your content.M Scheepers

Having just returned from my daily Kendalls beach to lighthouse walk, I continue to be dismayed by the presence of a tent set up overlooking Storm Bay, opposite the entrance to the Anglican church. This tent has been there for several months now. I am concerned where the owner toilets amongst other concern. I am concerned about the ongoing impact on the amenity of the area for residents and visitors. On reflection the area now has several long term residents that I know of including: a man in a white van, a man camping in the BBQ area of the rugby league club, a man camped on the front veranda of the Pilot's cottage, and a bumpy with blue tarp down on the southern cliffs of Storm Bay. Surely this is a community issue worth investigating. I spoke to the council 4 weeks ago & received a very poor and unsatisfactory response. Regards C Potter

Looking at options for the upcoming election : I could never consider voting for any candidate who has been sitting for a lengthy time. The reason is simple ... just look at the expenditure/revenue leaflet that accompanied your last rate notice. Anyone who sat on council year after year and could not grasp that 28% of expenditure allocated to aged care facilities and services was in need of a massive turnaround must have been asleep or without understanding. Probably the latter. Councils aren't for the establishment and maintenance of aged care at ratepayer expense. Council dollars just can't spread to that. The chamber needs a cleanout - we need people who can understand and manage and track our affairs. Be confident that those you vote for have experience and skills that are up to the task. R Murrell

I am really cranky—no, scratch that—I am livid.Why? Because Kiama Municipal Council has taken it upon themselves to include two of my articles in their report to the Australian Press Council and, as if that wasn’t enough, they’ve demanded that another one be taken down altogether.Let me give you some context.On July 9th, 2024, I wrote an article titled “Toxic times as council discredits dissent.” In it, I addressed what I saw as an ongoing campaign by our council to discredit dissenting voices within the community. The Council’s response? They claimed that my article didn’t provide a “fair and balanced representation of the facts” because they weren’t contacted for comment. As if that’s the real issue here.Then, there’s my July 6th article, “Courage and integrity.” This time, the Council’s beef is that I didn’t reach out to them regarding court costs in a Supreme Court matter involving Cr Renkema-Lang. They conveniently gloss over the fact that this same Council has wasted over hundreds of thousands of dollars of ratepayers’ money trying to silence a dissenting voice—a fact that somehow doesn’t require “balance” in their eyes.This week, my concerns have been verified in the most frustrating way possible.Kiama Councillors Jodi Keast, Kathy Rice, and Karen Renkema-Lang are demanding that Kiama Council release a letter from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which informs the Council that ICAC will not investigate them. You read that right—the ICAC found no grounds to investigate, yet the Council has kept that under wraps, all while keeping a media release on their website proclaiming that these Councillors had been referred to ICAC. This is nothing short of a strategic move to suppress dissent, using the very systems meant to protect democracy to undermine it.This situation is a textbook example of what’s known as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP)—a tactic where those in power use legal threats, or the burden of potential legal costs, to intimidate and silence critics. It’s not about winning the case; it’s about wearing down the opposition until they have no choice but to back down. The fact that our local Council is engaging in this kind of behaviour is not just disappointing—it’s downright infuriating.SLAPP suits are a plague on democracy. They are used to stifle free speech and quash public discourse, turning the legal system into a weapon against those who dare to speak up. And make no mistake, this isn’t just about me. It’s about every single person in our community who has the courage to stand up and say, “This isn’t right.”This latest episode, where the ICAC referral was quietly dismissed and yet kept from public knowledge, is just another layer of this toxic cake. Councillors Keast, Rice, and Renkema-Lang have every right to demand transparency, and the Council has every obligation to provide it.What we’re seeing here is a clear attempt to silence dissenting voices, to suppress the truth, and to manipulate the narrative to maintain control. It’s not just unethical—it’s dangerous. And it’s exactly why we need to keep fighting, keep writing, and keep speaking out. Because if we don’t, if we let them get away with this, we’re handing over the keys to our democracy to those who would rather keep us in the dark.So, yes, I’m livid. And I won’t be silenced. Not now, not ever.

Good Morning,My wife and I are doing a new thing for Kiama and the community. We have two kids and were worried about social media as they grow up.We read books and spoke to experts on the subject and it alarmed us the dangers of mental health through social media use.We decided to see if we could change the way we look at social media and educate the community. Overtime we realised it takes the community to reconnect and start talking not through a screen.So we started Kiama Unplugged. We will run workshops for kids and adults about what happens to the brain with social media and how we should be encouraged to play outside in nature and talk to people.We have our first event in a few weeks. It will be hosted by Fillmores who as you know is a great community space and cafe! They have been so supportive. On the 19th September we will host the first of many we hope unplugged nights.People will turn up with no smart phone and we will have games and activities and spaces for them to open up and talk to each other again.I know that sounds terrifying to some but that shows how engrained the systems are to our addictive pathways.We have found there is a growing desire for this from parents in the area and we hope over time we can start to make a difference to peoples lives and the community.Thank you Ian and JaneHere is a link to the event

Dear “Bugle" I have been following the Bugle article on the ICAC letter, waiting for the addition of the response from Council. I now note that the Council has responded with: Kiama Council were contacted for comment, and said that they "cannot comment on current Councillors or candidates during caretaker period, as per our Local Government elections (caretaker period provisions) policy.” I have downloaded the Caretaker period provisions and can not find any clauses that would prevent more detailed information being made public or at least the letter being released to the people who were referred. The ICAC matter has nothing to do with campaigning, none of the people involved are current candidates and the matter is not related in any ways to DAs, policy matters, Council meetings and briefings, social media, community consultation and engagement and any of the items considered in the Policy. Will this end up being a case that the people who were referred have to apply for the document under the provisions of the GIPA (Government Information - Public Access) Act. How appalling. Howard R Jones

Well, well, well! Now there's a surprise! ICAC has chosen not to investigate 3 outgoing Councillors - a sensible outcome and victory for commonsense. This community should, and must start asking questions as to why this 'referral' ever took place? Whose interest was it in? From an outsiders perspective it would seem that it was a nasty and spiteful way of getting back at those members of Council who didn't toe a certain line or strategy recommended. The community should be demanding to know who leaked names to the press! If the CEO cannot identify who was responsible, then surely questions need to be asked about her ability to manage the internal workings and affairs of her own staff. The disgraceful and unedifying incident that cast a pall - unfairly - over three good women, must rank as just about the lowest point this Council has sunk to in many years. There are several people in Council, both from the elected class, and the administration, who should hang their heads in shame at this very vindictive action!A. Holder