I note many properties advertised in the Kiama and surrounding areas remain untenanted for many weeks, some well over eight weeks. A change in the landlords’ approach can and may resolve this easily with some creative forward financial planning and thinking. I also note the large numbers of people viewing Open Homes, showing the demand for good quality properties at a reasonable rental figure. Could it be the rental being asked is too high for what is being offered? I have seen some poorly presented properties at inflated prices. This is shown by the number of properties being empty for long periods. Note, figures are based on a 52 week period (not a calendar year):If a rental property is rented immediately as advertised for $700 per week, this gives a gross income of $36,400 for 52 weeks.If the property is listed at $700 per week and is empty for six weeks, the loss to a landlord is $4200 per the 12 month period.Amortised over a 12 month period, equals $80.76 per week loss while the property remains vacant.After the six weeks vacancy, the gross income for the 12 months is then $32,200 per annum or $619,23 per week.Suggestions and Possible SolutionsIf the property was rented after six weeks at a lower price at $650 per week, it gives a gross income of $33,800, being better than $32, 000 by having the property empty for six weeks before being rented. This gives a landlord a gain of $1,800 over the 12 month period by simply reducing the rent.And it only gets worse if the vacancy time continues … If the property is vacant for eight weeks, the sums start to get alarming. Property is empty for eight weeks at $700 per week loss. This equals $5,600 per annum loss over the expected income of $36,400. This gives a loss of $106.69 per week or $5,547 over the expected 12 months, giving an income of $30,853 per annum.If the property is rented immediately for $600 per week, this gives an income of $31,200 per annum with no vacant time. This is gain in income of $1,347 per annum rather than stick with the accumulating loss having a vacant property.This should allow for a landlord to negotiate a better rate at renewal time by having a happy long- term tenant or get the better rental return in 12 months’ time. Happy landlords and content tenants makes a happier community

Hi, I am a long term business owner in Kiama (>20yrs), and am very concerned with the lack of interest that the council shows towards improving the parking situation in the CBD. I am located near the Akuna street car park, the last remaining substantial parking facility in town. With the proposed development taking over this space, we will have no parking-specific spaces left in the main CBD of town. There are approximately 60 businesses from the Torys corner to the Red Rooster corner, so even with a low estimate, thats 60 car spaces required for the workers, minimum, without even considering our customers/clients/patients/tourists. Instead of focusing on builiding more housing estates and developments, our council needs to be held accountable and provide us with services to keep our town running. Recently there was a social media post from a fellow long-term business pleading for customers to keep them running. This kind of post is extremely sad, but unfortunately will be repeated by many businesses in town if we dont get more parking facilities. There are options, one significant option would be the construction of a large parking facility behind the "old firestation"/ambulance station. It is reasonably flat, and would provide access to the new park, as well as many of our CBD businesses. I have approached the council in the past, with very little outcome. I think it is time for your wide reach and readership to get this ball rolling. Im not sure how it could be done, but would it be something that you guys would consider shining the spotlight on, before its too late? Thanks for all you do for our great town, keep up the great work!Name Supplied

Just a quick note to say I think that the Bugle is becoming the local paper Kiama and surrounding towns deserve. You are doing a great job!Jenny England

Brett Robinson, CEO of Traders in Purple, when commenting on Kiama Council’s rejection of the Springside Hill development is quoted as saying that “it’s quite disheartening to hear them champion a petition that values a passing view of cows more than the aspirations for home ownership”. If that is Mr Robinson’s considered view then it reflects that he really has no understanding of the motivations of hundreds of locals desperate to maintain the rural atmosphere of the rapidly diminishing agricultural countryside that has been the appeal of this beautiful area for so many years. Will someone in the future champion a passing view of colorbond roofs? Charles Sugar

I really enjoy reading your regular newspaper. I was however, a little horrified to see in the most recent edition on ANZAC Day the famous Australian and New Zealander biscuits referred to as ‘cookies’ on page 25. While I’m sure not deliberate, it is saddening to see that such an Americanisation is so ingrained into some writing that neither writer nor editor thought it was a problem when reporting on this most Australian of days. This term is actually protected by Australian law and has been since 1921. Anzac biscuits must always be called such and so they should be. Hopefully in the future such American language won’t creep any further into your wonderful publication, particularly when reporting on Australian events. And perhaps we can protect our Australian language and key cultural events for a little longer.Protecting the word ‘Anzac’: dva.gov.auPlease keep up your great workKind regardsClaire

In the Bugle article of 19 April 2024 focusing on the generous support provided by Kiama Lions Club to Kiama High School, the club’s generous donation to the school’s Breakfast Club was highlighted and rightly so. However It should be noted for the record that while Lions is one of a number of supporters of the Breakfast Club, the project was initiated, funded and staffed by accredited volunteers from the Combined churches of Kiama and Gerringong, under the supervision by Wycliffe Onyango, who is the full-time scripture teacher, at Kiama High School. The club operates every Wednesday in term from 7.30am to 8.50am. Students are offered fruit, courtesy of Woolworths Kiama, fruit juice, cereals and toast with jams or vegemite. The club is held in the Food Technology classroom so students can eat while sitting at tables and take the opportunity to socialise. There is no charge. Feedback from students has been positive, especially from those who do early morning sport, and arrive needing to top up their energy stores for the school day. Rev. Steve Everist

 The disgraceful action by Mayor Reilly to try to silence Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang has been discredited through her court appeal, and Council has now agreed that their censure motion against her was invalid. At a time when the community is questioning unacceptable gender-based intimidation and coercive behaviour, Cl Renkema Lang should not have to endure this harassment, let alone go to court to defend herself against it? But let’s be clear, those who instigated and supported her censure are rewarded. Cl Renkema-Lang has been more hesitant to scrutinise Council decisions, it has cost her personally and financially to defend her right to express her viewpoint, and she will think twice about putting herself through such bullying behaviour again. The CEO and Mayor have not provided a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace on Council where all councillors can contribute and represent their constituencies democratically. This is not okay and we should not accept it.  Howard H Jones

In Kiama, we are at a pivotal moment. As our community grows, so must our approach to agriculture, especially dairy farming, which is crucial to our local economy. Recently, some councillors proposed a 'Rural Futures Committee', a necessary step that we need to take seriously. Let's consider what this could mean for Kiama, particularly if we had properly used available funds after the 2020 Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS). This statement set out our goals such as sustainable growth and protecting our environment — big plans that are now waiting to be brought to life. Imagine if we had already started a Rural Futures Committee, backed by a simple yet effective communication strategy that kept everyone up-to-date. Picture a Kiama where updates on community projects are shared not just in council meetings but through straightforward articles in the local paper, posts on familiar social media platforms, and easy-to-use websites.Think about how a straightforward media effort could have helped everyone in Kiama feel more connected and involved. Simple videos showing local farmers at work, easy-to-understand diagrams explaining new farming policies, and regular updates could have made a big difference. This isn't just about sharing information; it's about bringing everyone together to support these initiatives.Transparency builds trust. If we had a committee focusing on our rural future, we could have shared every small win in improving our dairy operations or conserving our beautiful landscapes. Sharing these successes could help everyone see the value of their support and involvement.What if you could quickly check a basic website to see the real benefits of the projects happening around you? This could have shown how efforts are improving not just farming but our entire community, allowing everyone to give feedback and get involved.Too often, it seems councils talk too much without doing enough. A Rural Futures Committee could change this by moving from repetitive discussions to real, impactful community involvement. This means creating opportunities where our farmers and residents are actively engaged in shaping what happens next.By working together with local businesses, schools, and community groups, we could have made our agricultural projects more effective and beneficial for everyone.Starting a Rural Futures Committee could really change the game for Kiama, turning our plans into reality. It's high time we match our discussions with decisive actions and clear communication. This isn't about keeping things as they are; it's about making sure our community thrives now and in the future.Let's not just keep talking about what we could do; let's start doing it. Kiama deserves an approach that really puts plans into action and includes everyone in the process. Let's work together for a prosperous, sustainable future that makes all of us proud.

In Kiama, like many other places, the community engagement cycle can sometimes feel like a never-ending merry-go-round. In 2020, with a great deal of input from the community, the council decided on key priorities ranging from managing sustainable growth to protecting our environment. So, you might be wondering, as I am, what exactly the council hopes to achieve with its recent call for more community engagement. Haven’t we already established our priorities?Let's face it, the true elephant in the room isn't a lack of community insight or ideas; it's funding—or, more precisely, the lack thereof.We've extensively discussed and agreed on what needs to be done: balance housing supply and demand, support our rural landscapes, develop a resilient economy, and more. These aren't just whimsical ideas but essential actions that have been put on paper, debated, and planned out. These plans, like protecting viable agriculture and championing architectural excellence, are meant to lead us into a sustainable future. Yet, here we are, spinning our wheels, discussing what has already been discussed.The notion that we need further consultation is frankly bewildering. It suggests a disconnect, not just between the council’s activities and the community's pulse, but between planning and action. One can't help but feel that these rounds of engagement are, unintentionally perhaps, a means of biding time—time during which the pressing issues we face continue to evolve without resolution.What the community needs now is not more talk but the money to make these plans a reality. It's time for the council, and indeed all stakeholders, to acknowledge this gap between our aspirations and our capabilities. We need a shift from ideation to execution. Securing funding, whether through governmental assistance, private investment, or innovative financial models like public-private partnerships, should be our paramount focus.We must also hold our local government accountable for not just drawing up plans but also implementing them. It’s crucial that the council prioritises obtaining and allocating resources to where they're most needed, as outlined in our Local Strategic Planning Statement.So, while community engagement is undoubtedly valuable, it must not be an exercise in futility. Let's ensure it is a prelude to action, not a substitute for it. We have the roadmap; now let’s get the car moving. And to the council, it’s high time we address this elephant, don’t you think? It's time to stop going round in circles and start making strides towards the future we've all agreed upon. 

In the quiet corners of communities like Kiama, the whispers of urban development are often met with scepticism and resistance. The recent refusal of the Springside Hill project by the community and council, despite its promising proposal, underscores a pervasive issue: the deficit of trust between developers and the communities they serve.Developers, historically sitting low on Roy Morgan's list of most trusted professions, face an uphill battle in convincing communities of their intentions and capabilities. This isn't merely a local phenomenon but a widespread sentiment reflecting years of promises made and not kept. Given the position of developers on the trust spectrum - consistently ranking near the bottom alongside car salespeople and politicians - it begs the question: how can communities confidently believe that developers will deliver what they promise?The Springside Hill proposal seemingly offered everything the Kiama community demanded: a diversity of housing types, affordable housing options, and substantial infrastructure improvements and job creation. Yet, the community said no. This decision may appear surprising at first glance, but it's deeply rooted in past disappointments.Consider the statistics presented in the Springside Hill proposal:·       88% of locals acknowledge housing affordability as a problem.·       77% are concerned about locals moving away due to high costs.·       64% note a lack of sufficient housing supply.The developers responded with a pledge to set aside 25% of the development for affordable housing, aiming to meet an estimated 50% of the identified needs for such housing. Additionally, they promised over 9,700sqm of commercially zoned land and significant job creation during and after construction. On paper, the project aligns with the community's needs and desires. Yet, the shadow of distrust looms large.This situation illustrates a crucial lesson: trust is the cornerstone of any successful development project. Without it, even the most well-intentioned proposals face rejection. Trust is not built overnight nor through promises alone. It is earned through consistent, transparent actions and a demonstrated commitment to the community's well-being over time.Developers must go beyond the blueprint stages and actively engage with the communities. Regular updates, open dialogues, and clear evidence of following through on commitments are essential. Community trust can be fostered by involving local stakeholders in the planning process and ensuring that their feedback genuinely influences the project.As communities continue to grapple with growth and development pressures, the role of trust becomes even more critical. It’s not just about building houses and infrastructure but about cultivating an environment where people feel heard, respected, and valued. Only then can developers hope to transform their image from the least trusted to reliable partners in progress.In the end, embracing transparency, prioritising consistent communication, and delivering on promises are not just strategic moves but moral imperatives. If developers wish to succeed where others have failed, they must recognize that in the world of community development, trust is just as crucial as the concrete used to build homes.

On the 24 February you published an article on the repair of the Bombo staircase suggesting it would take six weeks. I walk my dog there regularly and all I have seen is a crew there 2 or 3 days in the last 2 months and it seems the repairs have gone nowhere? After all the time and resources spent on this project it seems there is still no outcome. Paul Henley

Why are some local people so intent on supporting the destruction of our beautiful environment? Unspoilt beaches, lush rolling hills, famous blowholes, world-class waves, ancient rainforests, and a warm welcome is how the official Kiama Tourist website describes our area. Greyleigh farmhouse accommodation (owned by the proponents of the Springside development) themselves describe it as 200 acres of beauty…..that blends country and coast with wildlife and green rolling hills. Hills that they intend to replace with 60 acres of colorbond roofing. Where do we stop? At what point will we say enough is enough? Surely it is time to draw the line and stop unfettered development from changing our delightful area (to be lost forever to future generations) into yet another example of packing humans into a sardine-like existence. Charles Sugar  

Parking on Girrawheen Avenue, when the AFL is playing or training, weeknights or game days, ask any resident it’s a dangerous task driving past the oval with cars and Ute's parked on both sides of the road, especially the bend near the playground, you have less than a few centimeters between side mirrors and the fear of kids coming out behind parked cars is a constant fear. If there was a fire there is no way a fire engine could access past these vehicles, the other week a tourist in a camper van got stuck with no option to reverse back to turn causing traffic chaos. When we had the Kiama Beach Tag all cars were instructed by a parking Marshall to park on the sidewalk creating a easy and safe passage for all traffic. I support the local AFL teams, but I fear a serious incident will occur unless they follow the lead of beach tag parking plan. PS Bugle reporters feel free to travel down Girrawheen on training , or day night games with your dashcam to experience the issue.Concerned Kiama dad

You guys need to do a story on how council is killing the town with no enforcement of parking limits!I am one of the businesses that is suffering because of a whole bunch of apathy!I've got emails to and from council with no action. It's a joke.They are sending customers to other towns. Escape spending is out of control.I've been here 20 years and have never seen anything like this before. I just noticed a community page thread where locals are openly saying they don't shop with us purely from parking. We'll be shutting doors if it doesn't get any better. Council are uselessD Longbottom

We are writing re large Cleanaway garbage bins located on southern end of "Bathers", 65 Manning St, Kiama - in a NO STOPPING ZONE - opposite Silica Restaurant.These bins area a constant eyesore in a prominent tourist part of town - more so when one or other of them is packed to overflowing as is the case at the moment, and has been so since last week. They are situated over a drain where a lot of debris gathers which can't be cleared away by street cleaners. Cleanaway have the responsibility of emptying these bins which service MOIST N GLAZED, a business located in Unit 2/28 Bong Bong St.We have contacted Council on more than one occasion (and Cleanaway also) wondering whether the bins could be relocated, but have been told they were moved to Manning St because there was nowhere to place them in Bong Bong St near the shop mentioned above. They were previously located on the premises of the Mower and Repair shop which was sold.The bins are used by the public and visitors alike who stuff anything in them, including soiled nappies and large bags of garbage, even when the red bin in particular is full well past its capacity. The smell emanating from the bins is not pleasant for passersby.We were wondering if there is any way the Bugle could highlight this situation which perhaps could result in these bins being relocated to another area. We have seen a utility stop by on occasions and drop off rubbish. Presumeably this comes from MNG and therefore the possibility exists for MNG's rubbish to be taken to another nearby location. This could perhaps prevent the bins being exposed to the public in general.We would be very appreciative of any assistance you could give us in this matter. Joan and Bill

Would the developers of the proposed Springside Hill please put in writing how they are going to “guarantee” that 25% of all homes will be set aside for key workers and 1st home buyers? Are they setting the prices of the houses at well below a million $??S. GriffithsGerroa

The Kiama Municipal Council has rolled over like a docile Labrador and won’t ask non-hosted short-term and vacant property owners to provide long-term rental accommodation to families, local workers, and the needy. As the rich get richer from Airbnb and Stayz income and 100’s of Kiama holiday homes lie empty for much of the year; as intergenerational tension rises and rents soar like gulls over the Kiama lighthouse, where is the compassion and self-sacrifice Australians were renowned for? The Council has no legislative power to compel owners to put their properties on the rental market. No government has the power to do that, which is right and proper. But as the writer Anatole France said, “The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.” We need to build more affordable houses but we also need to ask the owners to rent their properties for a couple of years through a reputable agency, so people can live and work locally. Many owners would do so because it’s the right thing to do. The Federal and state governments are spending billions of dollars on housing and social housing off the tax base, while thousands of non-hosted short term rentals and holiday homes lie vacant on the south coast. Non-hosted STRA owners who ignore pleas for help, may find the taxation powers of the Federal government harder to ignore.  M King

To whom it may concernDuring my investigations of Thomas Huxley I noticed a piece in The Bugle of 1 February 2023 concerning Huxley, within which several errors occur.In the interests of correctness, I attach my notes on the subject.RegardsKevin MillsThomas Huxley in the Illawarra – setting the record straight.The name Thomas Huxley (1825-1895) looms large in 19th Century science, while his descendantsfor generations contributed to science and other pursuits in many ways. Huxley arrived in Sydneyon the ship H. M. S. Rattlesnake as Assistant Surgeon in July 1847. A visit by Huxley to theIllawarra and Jamberoo in particular during his Australian stay is sometimes cited.An article in the Sydney Morning Herald of 26 January 1935 about Thomas Huxley includesseveral errors. The piece states “Huxley and his companions remained several weeks in the district[Illawarra], and investigated its resources.” While Thomas Huxley did have a connection withIllawarra as he would later marry a Jamberoo girl, Henrietta Heathorn (1825-1914), he nevervisited the district as far as is known.The Sydney Morning Herald piece is also incorrect in stating that Huxley had “met his bride-to-be at a hotel at Jamberoo”. A paper in the Royal Historical Society Journal by Jervis (1942) againsuggested that they met “at the little inn at Jamberoo.” Beale (1973) and later McCalman (2009)and Bashford (2022), through proper research, correctly point out that they first met at a party inSydney, where Henrietta had lived for several years in the house of her married sister. The pairmet several times at balls in Sydney and Huxley regularly visited Henrietta at her home and soondecided to marry. Further, he married Henrietta Heathorn in London on 21 July 1855 (Bashford2022), not in 1849 as stated by the newspaper, the article going on to contradict itself by stating,correctly, that it was the engagement that occurred in 1849.The following quote is taken from the book Green Meadows – Centenary History of ShellharbourMunicipality New South Wales, by Bayley (1959, p.27) and is attributed to “the eminent scientistProfessor Huxley”.“From Wollongong to Jamberoo the road was a mere dray track through a forest oftropical foliage, gum trees 200 feet or more in height, gigantic Indian rubber trees withbroad shiny dark green leaves, lofty cabbage palms and many another kind of treetowered above us so that their tops made a twilight canopy impenetrable to thesunlight, save for an infrequent clearing in the forest made by the settlers axe. Hugelianas, some as thick as a man’s arm, hung down snake-like from the trees. Magnificentferns, clinging to the fork or trunk and branches were pointed out to me.”The above book by Bayley (1959) did no better with dates. The date of Huxley’s visit to Australiawas 1847, not 1843 as stated in Bayley (1959), therefore making it impossible for him to havevisited Illawarra/Jamberoo in 1843. Nor was he with his family and “as a boy ... taken to live ona farm at Jamberoo” as suggested; Huxley grew up in England (Bashford 2022). It was HenriettaHeathorn who came to Jamberoo as a teenager in 1843 with her family; her father took on theWoodstock Mill at Jamberoo.More recently, an article in the Kiama newspaper The Bugle of 1 February 2023 (pre current ownership) repeats themistakes and adds to them. As noted above, the marriage to Henrietta was in 1855 not 1854 asstated in this newspaper piece. That piece also suggests that “Huxley was visiting from Englandwith Charles Darwin”. Darwin had visited Australia in 1836 and never returned to the SouthernHemisphere, let alone with Huxley or anybody else in 1847. The strong connection betweenHuxley and Darwin would occur years later, Huxley becoming known as ‘Darwin’s bulldog’because of his staunch defence of the theory of evolution, which Darwin published in 1859.The truth is that it was Henrietta Huxley who had arrived in Jamberoo in 1843 with her family andwho wrote the above description of the forest seen by the family on the way to Jamberoo. Thequote comes from an article titled Pictures of Australian Life 1843-1844 that appeared in TheCornhill Magazine in 1911. This was many years after she left Australia in 1854 and 16 years afterThomas Huxley died in 1895. The full version of Mrs Thomas Huxley’s description is as follows:“From Wollongong to Jamberoo the road was a mere dray-track through a forest oftropical foliage; gum-trees two hundred feet [61 metres] or more in height, giganticindiarubber trees [Figs Ficus spp.] with broad, shiny, dark-green leaves, lofty cabbage-palms, and many another kind of tree towered above us, so that their tops made atwilight canopy impenetrable to the sunlight, save for an infrequent clearing in theforest made by the settler's axe. Huge lianas, some as thick as a man's arm, hung downsnake-like from the trees. Magnificent ferns, clinging to the fork of trunk and branches,were pointed out to me by my father, as affording water in their sponge-like formsduring times of drought of thirsty wayfarers.”In summary, Thomas Huxley never visited Jamberoo, nor probably even came to the Illawarra, henever met Henrietta in Jamberoo and he married in England not Australia. Mrs Henrietta Huxley(nee Heathorn) should be given full credit for her wonderful description of the rainforest ofJamberoo valley before it was almost completely destroyed in the decades after she had leftJamberoo.ReferencesBashford, A. (2022). An Intimate History of Evolution. The Story of the Huxley Family. TheUniversity of Chicago Press, 576 pp.Bayley, W. A. (1959). Green Meadows – Centenary History of Shellharbour Municipality NewSouth Wales. Shellharbour Municipal Council, Albion Park, Weston & Co., Kiama, 186 pp.Beale, E. (1973). T. H. Huxley and Illawarra – A Note upon a Non-event. Illawarra HistoricalSociety Bulletin, May, 5-6.Huxley, T. H. (Mrs) (1911). Pictures of Australian Life, 1843-1844. The Cornhill Magazine,December, 770-781.Jervis, J. (1942). Illawarra: A Centenary of History: 1788-1888. Royal Australian HistoricalSociety, 28 (3): 129 – 156.McCalman, I. (2009). Darwin’s Armada. How four voyages to Australasia won the battle forevolution and changed the world. Viking/Penguin, Camberwell, Victoria, 423 pp.

In the 9th March 2024 Bugle, we were treated to an excellent column by Lynne Strong headed Community Issues.I thought it succinctly set out every important Community issue that relates to any new Kiama development. Lynne states each issue, what is needed to resolve the issue and all those who have to be consulted for the right answers.It would, no, should be made a compulsory check list for developers, Councils and State Planners ETC.Tragically that won't happen, money, and money from donors to political parties, lobbyists, political agendas, spin doctors, corner cutting and self interested minority groups get in the way of what is right, fair and reasonable. The community, pretty much ultimately has no say. All we can do is hope for the best.Peter