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

Dear Editor, As a concerned citizen of Kiama, I feel compelled to express my disappointment with the recent rhetoric used by Yasmin Tatrai during her campaign for the upcoming council elections. At a time when our community is striving to recover from three years of conflict and negativity, it has never been more important for our elected councillors to see themselves as part of a cohesive team. Unfortunately, Yasmin’s comments stand out as the only ones in this campaign that have specifically targeted other candidates in a negative manner.Our council desperately needs a cooperative spirit, one that fosters collaboration and mutual respect. The last thing we want is for personal attacks, based on misinformation; to undermine the unity we need before the new council has even met for the first time. Is Yasmin implying that she will refuse to work with an elected Green? This kind of divisive rhetoric does nothing to serve the interests of our community.Furthermore, many of Yasmin’s comments simply do not make sense. She talks about eliminating "red tape" without providing any concrete examples of what regulations she considers unnecessary. Her statement about introducing a policy to "cut two regulations for every new one proposed" is not only impractical but also meaningless. It’s a slogan, not a serious policy proposal.Furthermore, while standing as independents, Tatrai and her team have been transparent about their political leanings. In her own words, "I want to be up-front and transparent about our political beliefs. Whilst we are all members of the Liberal Party, we are not running an official Liberal Party ticket so we can respond to local issues, but we want to be up-front about the values we represent." It’s essential for voters to understand this context when considering their choices.Yasmin also claims that the Greens "will always support more bureaucracy, more red and green tape, and make it harder for small business to work with Kiama Council." This is a baseless assertion. What specific regulations or policies is she referring to? Where is the evidence to support these claims?She goes on to state that "a vote for the Greens is a vote for higher rates, more budget chaos, and support for offshore wind farms." Again, this is misinformation. The Kiama Greens have never advocated for higher rates in their 30-year history, and the budget issues the council has faced are not the result of Green policies. Offshore wind farms are not even within the purview of local government.It’s essential that our councillors focus on the real issues facing Kiama and work together to find practical solutions. We need leaders who will collaborate, not divide, who will base their decisions on facts, not fear. Let’s ensure that our council is led by individuals who prioritise the needs of our community over political point-scoring. Warm regards,A concerned citizen

I read with interest your on line article yesterday about the need for more retirement village type accommodation in Kiama. There is a golden opportunity just begging at the moment in Havilah Place - the site of the old nursing home. That site is adjacent to Blue Haven Terralong Retirement Village, and the land it is situated on was donated to the Kiama Community for the Aged Council over 50 years ago, by a local developer, Mr Tony Freedman. Despite our local Labor Councillors attempt to foist a housing commission style development on this site if they were to be re-elected, surely in light of your story yesterday, it would make far more sense to develop Blue Haven Stage 6 on this site. I understand there are already services shared between the old nursing home and parts of Blue Haven Terralong. All we need now are Councillors with a vision of what could happen, to override the manic desire of the present Council administration to divest themselves of anything to do with 'old people'. Certain members of Council need to develop an understanding that this is the community they live in and get with it!Allan Holder

As a regular but rather bemused Bugle reader I was confused by the page 3 article “Cometh the hour, cometh the man” in the 24August - 6September edition of the Bugle. Whatever the origin of this saying (and it certainly seems to have been said on December 20, 1948, by Cliff Gladnet, an English bowler, when he came in to bat in a test match against South Africa in Durban in 1948) I fail to see how it relates to KMC Mayor, Neil Reilly!Mr Reilly has been a KMC Councillor since 2008 and Deputy Mayor since 2014, so he seems to have been in a unique position amongst current councillors to have asked questions as KMC lost many millions of dollars of its ratepayers money.The article lists “personal highlights” from Mr Reilly’s time as Mayor...KMC Ratepayers and Bugle Readers might produce a very different list with a lot of unanswered questions...and where did the “million dollars” that finally alarmed Mr Reilly and referred to in the Bugle article actually go? The article doesn’t say. Neither does Neil Reilly, although he claims to tell the “unvarnished truth”...perhaps just not enough of it?Far from “cometh the hour, cometh the man” others might say, “good riddance to bad rubbish.”G Letham

To whom it may concern, First time writer, definitely not first time reader/ listener. I just want to say a huge thankyou to all involved at the bugle. All the smiles and tears I've shed over oh so so many articles yet I can not stop returning to delve deeper into the what's hottest topics in my local community. Congrats on the addition of Lleyton Hughes in the team of talented operators. I have sincerely loved his content. Yours Sincerely Lyndon McDonald

We have received flyers from a Labor team and the Greens team. Not sure who the Liberals are? Hopefully there are candidates standing I can vote for.We want Councillors who are strictly interested in local issues, who don't bring Federal or State issues anywhere near Council.PeterKiama

The Kiama community is celebrating a win in waste sorting, with over 99% of households getting our food organics and garden organics (FOGO) sorted right. That’s a big thumbs up for the community! But with new EPA guidelines rolling out, keeping up with what goes where can start to feel like trying to crack a code.So, how do we make sure we’re all in the loop? The answer might be simpler than you think—visuals! Those colourful, easy-to-follow guides from the council are like having a cheat sheet for your bins. They break down what goes in your green, red, and yellow bins, making it way easier to avoid those little mistakes that can mess up a whole batch of compost.The best part? You don’t need to be an expert to get it right. Just pop the visual guide on your fridge or near your bins, and you’re good to go. It’s like having a friendly reminder every time you toss something out.Kiama, you’ve got this! Let’s keep using those visuals to stay informed and keep our community clean and green—without needing a degree in waste management.

I would urge all voters to keep in mind that the 4 incumbents standing for re-election (Brown, Croxford, Draisma and Larkin), are presumably 4 of the 5 who voted to censure Karen Renkema-Lang last year. Now as has been revealed via the Court process, information was withheld from those Councillors in making their decision, by, as we have been lead to understand, the Council CEO. The resultant court action initiated by Karen cost Kiama rate payers the best part of half a million dollars. So I think all rate payers, before casting their vote in the forthcoming election should be asking themselves, firstly, what action has been initiated by your candidates against the CEO for this totally unnecessary cost to rate payers; and if no action has been taken, then why not? In any other organisation, this would be a matter that would cost those involved their job. Why is Kiama Council any different?Allan Holder.

When we first bought a place in Kiama, the shopping was lovely. There was the hardware store that not only sold hardware and paint but also lovely household items. In the terrace houses, there were quality household items for sale. Leather & Hide, another example of quality products. Just three examples of quality, which are all gone now. We no longer shop in Kiama, now we must travel to other towns for the quality. Why has Kiama gone downhill? Why hasn't the Council stepped in to stop all the 'junk' shops? Surely adding extra homes in the Kiama area is a very good reason to up the standards in town.Cheryl

I watched the Kiama Councils live stream of the General Meeting on 13 August 2024. I noted with interest and amazement when Councillor Reilly said that he has never put in a Code of Conduct against any other Councillor. If you listen to his Kiama Community Radio interview on 5 December 2023 and read the subsequent reporting in the Bugle, he put in a complaint about Councillor Renkema Lang because 3 other Councillors had put in a complaint to him. In that interview the Mayor Reilly also stated that the vote to censure Councillor Renkema-Lang was 5 for and 2 against. That is 4 Councillors including the mayor. If 4 made the complaint how many participated in the vote? Memory loss or misplaced truth???? A recent report in the Illawarra Mercury quoted the mayor as saying it was cowardly to put in a Code of Conduct against other councillors. This was also remarked on at last night’s meeting. I also noted Councillor Brown waxed on about him categorically never making a complaint against another Councillor. Don't you just love the openness and transparency - I jest!R. L.

In our local government, accountability should never be an afterthought. The voices of our community must be heard, not silenced, especially when decisions are being made that impact our lives. Community groups play a vital role in ensuring that everyone is informed and engaged. These groups act as the backbone of our community, providing essential information and organising efforts to hold our leaders accountable. By staying informed and participating through these groups, we can ensure our local government truly represents our collective values and interests. Let’s continue to speak up and work together to keep our community strong and vibrant.Signed:Community Voices.

Well done Bugle and all its writers.It is wonderful to read your forthright articles and Editorials regarding Kiama and its citizens and their access to Kiama Council.This is a rare thing in this "Woke Age" where open discussion and personal expressions are put forward as the Bugle does. Only to be damned, disregarded and put down by those who were elected to represent the citizens who seem to make their judgment based on Political Party lines and not their own as happens more and more in society today. Their voices are not their own, they merely repeat what they are told to say by anonymous men/women in dark out of sight places.Candidates who run for office must be fully independent and not echo petty party lines as seem to be the case in Kiama.This follows through to the election of a mayor as is the case in Kiama who is elected by the political whims of party hacks and not in the interest of those they claim falsely to represent. The citizens must vote for an Independent, unbiased mayor not Council members.. Public access to Council matters must be allowed with open forums on a regular basis with open and frank discussion at all times so the mayor and council are fully aware of the mood of the citizens they supposedly represent.What is happening is biased local government and not in the interest of the wider population of the area they represent. It is only in the Interest of those who dictate to Council members based on their ideals, not the councilors own thoughts. They must be based on the interest of the community they claim to represent only.Please keep up your writing to show just who really cares what goes on in the closeted Council Offices. It is refreshing to see your efforts to let people know what actually goes on in their area.Keep it up, a voice like yours is needed.Name supplied

Hello, I attended the Debate you coordinated last week in Kiama, I found it helpful. Many facts were uncovered as to the process, outcomes and 'what ifs'. I suggest there is a wonderful opportunity for The Bugle to develop a FAQ to assist the public get their head around this before the vote with balanced understanding. CheersName supplied

Dear Bugle Editor,The Council has responded on their webpage regarding the Bluehaven Terralong Independent Living Units. They stated their appreciation for a good story and mentioned the library is full of them. Personally, I always check which section I am in—Fact or Fiction.I served as the Maintenance Manager for Terralong from 1999 until recently. Despite the Council's continuous assertions that they are not seeking to divest Bluehaven Terralong, inconsistencies persist. After a vote to retain Bluehaven Terralong, a Council Officer was heard telling clients, "We are preparing Bluehaven Terralong for sale."Furthermore, I learned of a "Plan B" from a Council Officer, which involves selling Stages 1, 2, and 3 of Bluehaven Terralong separately from Stages 4, 5, and the old Aged Care Home—again, following the decision not to divest Bluehaven Terralong.The sale of units is to be conducted via email. Many potential buyers have inquired, only to be informed that there is nothing available. Council mentions other complexes coming online, but these are generally priced beyond the reach of the average local resident, making them hard to sell.Most residents bought into Bluehaven because it was a community initiative, started by the community for the community, and importantly, it was Council-owned and operated. This was a major factor in their decision.The long-term Manager was replaced by a highly experienced and competent individual. However, the working environment was intolerable, leading her to leave for a larger organisation.Council claims there are 17 units empty, plus 4 being renovated. My estimate of 23 empty units was based on information from March when the Maintenance Manager was told that renovations would start in three months. This coincided with the end of the financial year. The current renovations are on the lower-priced units, one of which has been empty for nearly a year. Personally, I would have prioritised mid-range units around $800,000 to $1 million, which could have been turned around in 6-8 weeks. Local tradespeople, who prioritise Bluehaven, would have completed the work promptly under the Maintenance Manager's coordination. I understand that some Stage 5 units require extensive waterproofing and fire rectification work, recognising that renovations are more than just cosmetic.Council also claims a high number of transfers, aligning with the industry average of 10% per annum for a 200-unit complex, equating to 20 units per year. When Terralong residents move to the BH Care home, the Council internally transfers sufficient funds to cover the accommodation bond. This is a policy decision, not a requirement, and applies only to our Care Home. With the sale of Boniara, this bond is transferred to the new owner, potentially skewing the financial appearance of different parts of the business, especially with Independent Living Units sitting idle.It is probably known that there are plans to sell the Leisure Centre and the Minnamurra waste depot, contradicting the original promise to focus on the “3 R's”: Roads, Rates, and Rubbish. Privatization often leads to increased fees for the community, as I have been told.Name Supplied.

Dear Editor,Reading about the recent anti-wind farm rally in The Bugle took me on a nostalgic journey down memory lane. Remember when powerlines first appeared, and we all thought our beautiful landscapes were ruined forever? Or when coal mines popped up like unwanted party crashers? Our initial reactions were much like the current uproar against wind farms—full of fear and scepticism.The placard reading "This Will Not Blow Over" at the rally perfectly captures the sentiment of resistance to change. It's as if we haven't learned from our past experiences! Barnaby Joyce, with his colourful (if somewhat crude) comments, and other high-profile speakers certainly added a dramatic flair to the proceedings. But, dare I say, their rhetoric might be better suited for a soap opera than a serious discussion about renewable energy.We humans are funny creatures, aren't we? We bristle at anything new, only to embrace it later on. Who knows? Maybe in a few years, we'll be giving directions based on the wind turbines—“Turn left at the third wind turbine and you’ll find the best coffee shop in town!”

Through your paper, I would like to again put questions I put over a week ago to the General Manager of Kiama Council. I have obviously had no response from that quarter, hence I am attempting to obtain some response via your publication. The questions surround the payment of commission on the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira, and presumably paid or slated to be paid to Stuart Brown Advisory. Your readers may recall that when the subject of the sale of Bonaira was first promoted by the General manger to Council, she was directed to seek a report from an 'independent' consultancy, on whether Bonaira should be retained, leased or sold. Not surprisingly, that consultancy came back to Council with a resounding affirmation that selling was the only option. Surprisingly, an adjunct of that firm that supplied the advice to 'sell', was engaged to handle the sale process. Conflict of interest? Not according to our Council boffins! So in the interest of transparency, I believe it is fair to ask the questions – how much will Stuart Brown Advisory be paid? And will that commission be on the $95million sale price trumpeted by Mayor Reilly; or will it be on the $26million, which I understand is the amount of cash that will actually change hands? I think it reasonable that all residents/ratepayers know the answer to these questions.Allan Holder