Kiama Table Tennis Club is inviting players of all skill and ability levels to join now that it has secured a new table tennis table for wheelchair players.The purchase was made thanks to a grant from Table Tennis Australia, bringing the Kiama club’s total to nine tables. The new table allows wheelchair users to push much further under the table to reach shorter shots than a standard table.The Club only has one wheelchair player now, Joy Boyd, an Order of Australia Medal recipient, and Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist, who founded the club in 2003 with her husband Tom. The Club is keen to have more players with disabilities join now that they can accommodate them. Players meet twice a week at the Kiama Leisure Centre on Mondays and Thursdays between 12pm - 3pm. Players are provided with bats, balls and afternoon tea, all for $7.Kiama Table Tennis Club mostly caters to senior players, but is open to players of all ages, with more than 70 registered members on the books. The Club’s oldest player, Ken White, recently turned 90 this month, so there’s no excuse not to give it a try!

With the annual NAIDOC Awards fast approaching, Kiama Council is encouraging the community to place their nominations which will recognise outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our region.The Awards acknowledge their talents, excellence and significant contributions.After the success of local Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week events, Mayor Neil Reilly says it is an ideal time to consider those who deserve recognition.“In the spirit of those events, let’s now turn our minds to those indigenous people, be it neighbours, family friends, workmates or teammates,” says Mayor Reilly.“You can make a nomination based of their achievements in their own right, as an individual or an organisation, young or old, for their work or volunteering efforts.”Last year’s Award ceremony recognised 17 year old Kiama High School student Alira Morgan as the Aboriginal Young Achiever of the Year (female) [Alira recognised as Young Achiever].She was awarded for her ongoing efforts to promote indigenous language, art and dance.There are five additional categories in the Award’s including Aboriginal Elders of the Year, Aboriginal Worker of the Year, Aboriginal Community Volunteer of the Year, Aboriginal Organisation of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Reconciliation (Aboriginal or Non-Aboriginal).The Awards are a joint initiative of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven councils.Make a nomination via Council’s website before Sunday 30 June. The Awards ceremony will be hosted at Kiama Pavilion on 29 July.

With the draft Community Engagement and Community Participation Plan (2023-24) on exhibition for feedback, the Kiama Alliance of Precincts and Associations (KAPA) has expressed its support for the review of the Community Engagement strategy.Community engagement is vital for Kiama Council to achieve its objectives, according to KAPA spokesperson Alan Woodward. While recent focus has been on re-establishing itself as a financially sustainable and responsible entity, Mr Woodward emphasised the importance of addressing community expectations and demonstrating its willingness to work with the community to regain its trust. Involving the community in decision-making, councils can consider diverse perspectives and discern preferences that align with the broader public interest. Highlighting the relevance of the International Association for Public Participation principles mentioned in the draft strategy, Mr Woodward observed that engagement with those affected by decisions is not only a democratic duty, it leads to better decision-making. To emphasise the significance of community engagement, he referenced recent public hearing on the reclassification of land at Blue Haven Bonaira. The author of the hearing report reinforced the seriousness of the council’s duty to explain its decision on this matter in a way that will not leave lasting fractures and discontent. Mr Woodward said ‘this doesn’t mean that the council must decide one way or another. That is indeed the job of the elected representatives. However, they need to consider the community’s feedback and have a way to address the community’s underlying concerns and questions’.Kiama might be considered uniquely diverse, given its regional variances within the LGA along with cultural diversity such as First Nations people, young residents, new  and long-term residents. KAPA proposes Council continues to use existing structures, such as precinct committees and local associations, as part of the community engagement process. Large sections of the community are regularly volunteering and contributing to a co-ordinated forum that gathers, investigates and shares information, unique to its local community. Finally, Mr Woodward praised council’s efforts at the June Jamberoo Valley meeting, with the attendance of two executives, Jessica Rippon and COO Joe Gaudiosi. “They were open and willing to take questions, and I’d make the observation that everybody who left that meeting went away with a little bit more understanding than they came into the meeting.”

The Kiama Seaside Market and Kiama Farmers’ Market have both received licences for five years from Kiama Council. Five years gives both markets assurance so they can spend more on creating a great experience for locals and visitors.Kiama Farmers’ Market is held every Wednesday afternoon at Coronation Park (Surf Beach) or in the grounds of Kiama Uniting Church during wet weather.Kiama Seaside Markets is held on the third Sunday of every month, with an additional four special occasion markets per year (eg. New Year’s Eve). Councillor Matt Brown has also put forward a Notice of Motion for Council to consider providing 3-phase power in Coronation Park, which will be useful for all community events held there. 

At its June Meeting, the Jamberoo Ratepayer and Residents Association (JVRRA) was relieved to hear from Council Executives Jessica Rippon and Joe Gauadiosi in response to a question from the floor that Jerrara Dam was not part of the Council’s asset divestment program.Following Councillor Warren Steele’s proposal for a report to be prepared to look at the site’s disposal at the April Council meeting, JVRRA had an extended discussion at its May General meeting, resulting in a letter being sent to Director of Infrastructure and Liveability to outline its concerns.The letter highlighted the dam’s environmental significance and the need for habitat protection, the lack of community engagement in previous surveys, and the potential value of passive tourism activities such as birdwatching.It also raised the willingness of environmental groups to be more involved in maintaining and protecting the environment. Council’s Jerrara Dam Plan of Management (1996) recognised Jerrara as ‘potentially one of the most valuable freshwater wetland habitats in coastal Illawarra’ and ‘the high environmental and scenic value of the site, there is potential for education and recreational activities such as bushwalking, picnicking, botanical research, birdwatching, and fishing.’Kevin Mills wrote about Jerrara Dam in the 2014 publication Illawarra Life Studies, “(its) an important local reserve for forest birds as well as wetland species. Four threatened birds have been recorded in the reserve, and several other species are considered rare in the lower parts of Jamberoo Valley.”Numerous studies, reviews, and surveys have identified the area’s unique flora and aquafauna, with over 178 bird species in the Jerrara Dam vicinity since May 2019.Neil McLaren, representing LandCare, expressed a keen interest in preserving Jerrara Dam under council ownership and restoring its natural habitat. McLaren suggested that the site could serve as an excellent outdoor education venue with cabins to accommodate school groups and visitors.WIRES submitted a Development Application to the Council to lease a portion of land at Jerrara Dam to construct a wombat rehabilitation enclosure. This project received unanimous support during the Council meeting in November 2022.In addition, Landcare Illawarra and WIRES have explored grant funding opportunities to support weed control initiatives and improve the habitat.Given the Council’s limited resources, JVRRA recommends Council prepare an updated Plan of Management, to incorporate and the preparedness of the community and environmental stakeholder groups to contribute to management of the site.

Kiama Council has released the Public Hearing Report on the reclassification of land at Blue Haven Bonaira. It is available on the Council website, at Kiama and Gerringong Libraries, in the Council’s Admin Centre foyer and at Blue Haven Bonaira reception. The Report is a statutory requirement, with the purpose of providing an independent record of the submissions which the Council is required to share with the public and use to assess its decision on reclassification. At the Public Hearing, 16 people made oral submissions (nine of whom also made written submissions) and Council received 21 written submissions. Most submissions were opposed to the reclassification. The concerns are summarised into three areas: • The reasons for reclassification didn’t stack up • Concerns around legal and procedural issues with Council’s decision-making processes to date • Deficiencies in planning proposal documentation and justifications for the reclassification As a result, the Report identified key questions raised from the community’s perspective directly relating to the proposal, being: • Can Council lawfully operate the existing facility on community land with a plan of management in place that enables leasing for specified uses? If not, why? • Can Barroul House and its curtilage be excised from the proposed reclassification? If not, why? • How will the proposed sale of the land and associated facility impact Council’s financial position (short and longterm)? • Has Council acted unlawfully by resolving to sell the land before the reclassification process has commenced and was complete? If not, why? • What additional information, if any, can Council make available to the community to explain the financial implications for the potential sale and other options it may have considered? • Has Council fully considered all interests, conditions, agreements and restrictions in the land, in particular: • The interests of the residents of the independent living units? • The restriction of use on the title?• Any conditions in funding agreements for the restoration of Barroul House The Report acknowledges the complexity of the planning proposal and the community’s recognition of the significance of Council’s decision on the reclassification. Further, the community will continue to be following the process and the future of Bonaira closely. It concludes with the observation that providing information on these questions may help address community concerns and ‘will need to be given consideration in furthering the reclassification process’.

Although Kiama no longer has a dedicated taxi service in this region after Kiama Cabs closed their business to the general public in May, there are still some transport options that locals and tourists can use. The Illawarra Taxi Network, Uber and Driving Miss Daisy are available for booking via a phone call or through their websites and apps.The Illawarra Taxi Service has 136 vehicles, with 12 wheelchair accessible vehicles and 12 maxi taxis. Check the Uber app for availability of local drivers, with more availability on weekends and holidays. Driving Miss Daisy, a franchise based in Shellharbour, is a pre-booked driving business which now services the Kiama area. It offers to drive people to and from social gatherings, appointments and to assist people in running errands. But Shellharbour franchise owner, Tony Orth, says they are not a taxi service and instead require bookings with as much notice as possible.Tony says since Kiama Cab’s closure he has received an increase in demand for his services.“You don’t notice something until it’s gone,” he says. According to Tony, the Nowra franchise will cover Gerringong and is expected to open in July or August.

The undeveloped carpark on the high side of Akuna St could soon go under the hammer for as much as $4 million. Colliers Wollongong, the marketing agent for the site at 14 Akuna St, Kiama, confirmed to The Bugle that guidance for the carpark ranges between $3.5 million and $4 million. Guidance is based on the potential of what the site could be used for. Selling agent Simon Kersten told The Bugle that it was Colliers’ opinion that the most value could be extracted by building “shop top housing” on the site similar to those at Akuna Court on the same street.  Shop top housing refers to buildings with commercial shops on the ground floor and residential buildings stacked on top. However, Mr Kersten said the potential for Akuna St has meant that Colliers has fielded interest for a range of uses, including retirement housing and hotel and motel accommodation. “It’s a rare site for Kiama because it’s a simple site that’s clear and able to be developed quite easily,” says Mr Kersten. “It’s elevated so it has lovely views. It’s got a lot going for it as far as sites go.”The site is a 2400sqm parcel of land that stretches across four lots, with a maximum build height of 11 metres. The property is being sold by tender following an expression of interest campaign which closes 28 June 2023. The final sale will still require approval by Kiama Council. The lot at 14 Akuna St is the latest divestment by Kiama Council after it sold its landholdings on the opposite side of the street to Level 33 Property Group for $28 million, the single biggest commercial transaction in the council’s history. 

Kiama has lost an artwork that celebrated the town’s connection to jazz & blues after it was painted over on Wednesday. The mural, simply titled ‘Jazz’, was painted on a lane wall adjacent to the St Vincent de Paul Society shop on Terralong St. The work was painted by local artist Mikey Freedom in 2017 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Kiama Jazz & Blues festival that year. As an avid fan of jazz himself, Mikey said the mural was directly inspired by the vibrant album artwork associated with the genre. However, the mural has since been covered by a layer of beige paint as part of renovations to the Vinnies store.The Jazz Alley mural on Wednesday afternoon Mikey told The Bugle he was disappointed his mural had been erased, which had originally been gifted to the town for free. “I’ve been painting murals for over three decades, and I know they can be costly at times, but I don’t like that to be a hindrance,” says Mikey. “I like the idea of investing in where I live and not making it all about money, so it’s about giving freely what I do and what I love doing so I can enhance where I live.” Kiama residents and visitors can still see Mikey’s work around town, including on the side of the Scout’s Hall at Black Beach, and Little Earth Cafe near the Little Blow Hole.Mikey said giving back to the community was an important part living here, whether it’s an artwork or any other assistance. “Everyone has something to provide, something to give their community. They just have to look first at what’s in their hands, it doesn’t have to be up in lights or out of the ordinary, it can just be whatever is in yourself to do.” “If we only think in big picture terms, I think we miss what we’re able to contribute. It just so happens that I’m an artist that paints murals, but I’m sure there are people that do amazing things that they don’t see what they’re doing is special. Just by virtue of sharing it, they add to who we are and where we live.”

Jamberoo is set to get a dedicated dog park in the next financial year, which means dog owners no longer need to do 20km round trips to Minnamurra, Bombo, Gerringong or Gerroa to legally walk their dogs off-leash. This news comes after years of lobbying and advocacy by the Jamberoo Valley Ratepayers and Residents Associations (JVRRA). At their June meeting, Kiama Council Executive’s Jessica Rippon and Joe Gaudiosi confirmed that monies had been allocated for the dog park in the 2023/24 budget. A dog park's significance extends beyond our canine well-being; it fosters inclusion, community engagement and improved social welfare. Local resident and JVRRA member Kate Troy says, “It will be a wonderful resource for the community, and a great way to build new relationships between residents and their animals.”Over the past decade, the community and Council have prepared reports, reviews, and surveys to address concerns specific to the Jamberoo area, such as environmental impacts on native wildlife, flood plains and the risk of being struck by golf balls.A June 2022 survey led by Kate Troy, collecting 223 responses, showed that 65 per cent of residents would use the dog park a couple of times a day to multiple times per week. The survey also identified preferred locations for a fenced dog park: between the tennis courts and the golf course and two specific areas along Hyams Creek opposite Gibson Crescent and Peace Park. This information was shared with the Council via Councillor Stuart Larkin.Kate Troy says, “It’s wonderful to be able to now let people know that Council has acknowledged the substantial community interest in such a facility.” While the survey investigated the possibility of unfenced dog park areas, Council guidance and community interest lean towards developing a fenced facility. Kate adds, “My hope now is the community will have input into the design of the park, to cater for breeds and size.”The approval of capital work funding for this long-awaited facility represents an achievement stemming from years of persistent efforts. It will create a secure environment for dogs to receive training, exercise, and socialisation and foster a sense of community and wellbeing among Jamberoo dog owners.

A local woman was hit by a Triton Ute while crossing the road at the entrance to Blowhole Point on Monday afternoon. The Bugle was first on the scene to get an account of what happened, because the woman was our new General Manager, Belinda Woodfield.The driver’s vision was obstructed by the sun on the last day of the King’s Birthday long weekend, causing the accident. The impact threw the victim sideways before she hit the asphalt, eventually causing a traffic jam throughout Kiama that backed up as far as Kiama Downs.Fortunately, two doctors, witnesses to the accident, one from London and the other from Wollongong, were present and helped until the police and ambulance arrived. Although Belinda sustained cuts, bruises and injuries, there was no serious injury.With hundreds of visitors in the area for the long weekend, locals tend to avoid tourist spots like the Blowhole, as she was told by an attending police officer. So, the lesson learnt is to stay home on public holidays, apparently! Drive safely and be mindful of your surroundings to prevent such accidents. A shout out to all those selfless onlookers, the ambulance and the police in their calm handling of situations in our community. Let no-one ever claim The Bugle chases ambulances; we ride in them!

Chatterbox Marketplace has closed its Kiama shopfront, along with four other locations in NSW citing a difficult trading environment for its ethical, sustainable and handmade goods and gifts.Founder Natasha Cuevas took to Instagram to announce the company’s closure, saying that the company had turned over close to $10 million in its four years of trading despite “fires, a pandemic, a war and ongoing economic struggle".“Despite the team’s massive efforts to continue trading and supporting over 70 local small businesses and 20 plus staff over five locations, after four years of trading, we have not remained immune to the challenging times we have faced,” Natasha said.The Bugle understands Natasha planned to sell the Chatterbox stores in Kiama and Nowra, but those plans were dashed two weeks ago. She also told The Illawarra Mercury she would pay all stall holders renting spaces in Chatterbox stores what they’re owed, and that all employees have been compensated.The Kiama store was opened in 2021 at the start of a second lock down for the region, a difficult time for any business to start trading. Both the Kiama and Nowra stores are closed as of 1 June, but Chatterbox will sell its remaining stock from its Thirroul Plaza store between 3 and 10 June.Chatterbox was approached for comment.

There is still a chance for you to join Kiama Council’s Infrastructure and Liveability Advisory Committee or the Sustainable Communities Advisory Committee. This is a great opportunity to help shape the place in which we live. The deadline to apply is now midnight, Sunday June 18.  The Committees are a forum in which local people can represent the interests of Kiama's residential and business community, contribute advice directly to the relevant Executive and Council members and guide decision-making for the municipality. Mayor Neil Reilly says that Kiama needs “people with boundless enthusiasm, capable of injecting our committees with a surge of energy, contagious excitement ... people who can manage a wide range of disciplines, have an open mind … (and) have a sense of priority'. He says we need “strategic thinkers; masterminds who can see the big picture”.  “We need a committee system that not only drives our community's shared vision for the future but is representative of our community as well.”Each Committee has six members, three being community representatives. The role is to provide expert advice and make recommendations to the Council on developing specific strategies. Each Committee has significant agendas; some of the considerations for the Infrastructure and Liveability Advisory Committee include:Developing a regional response to supply affordable housingFacilitate development that is respectful of the local characteristics of the municipalityInterconnected roads, pathways and cyclewaysManage land use planning to retain distinct towns and villagesAnd some of the considerations by the Sustainable Communities Advisory Committee, include: Provide facilities that enable us all to participate in social, cultural, recreational and sports activitiesEngage with local and regional First Nations Peoples; seek knowledge with the intent to learn, share and protectHeritage advice on development applications, council projects and requests for informationLand use planning assessment considering biodiversity and Municipal Vegetation Study Committee meetings are held bi-monthly in Council Chambers. As the Committees are new, there will be an initial learning curve for all the members. Have a story? Contact [email protected] Sustainability Committee application:https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/Public-notices/Join-our-Sustainable-Communities-Advisory-Committee Infrastructure Committee application:https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/Public-notices/Join-our-Infrastructure-and-Liveability-Advisory-Committee 

This weekend marks the first King’s Birthday long weekend since King Charles III ascended the throne, and while it might take us a while to remember the new name for the public holiday, one thing you should never forget is road safety. The former Queen’s Birthday long weekend is typically one of the busiest times of year on NSW roads and this year will be no different.NSW Police and Transport for NSW have partnered to launch Operation King’s Birthday 2023, targeting excessive speed, alcohol/drug driving, fatigue, seatbelt and distracted driving across the state to prevent injury or death. Double demerit points will apply for all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offenses until the operation ends at 11.59PM on Monday night. Acting Assistant Commissioner for Traffic and Highway Patrol Command David Waddell has highlighted the impact fatigue can have on drivers.This year, 148 people have already lost their lives on NSW roads, with driver fatigue being a factor in at least 20 per cent of incidents. “Many people will be undertaking long distance driving to see family and friends and I would like to remind them to ensure they have had sufficient rest before undertaking these journeys,” Waddell says. “If you’re feeling fatigued, don’t fight it, just pull up and have a sleep or swap drivers.”“Driving fatigued is just as dangerous as driving impaired under the influence of alcohol and drug use, which we will also be targeting. On a daily basis, we are detecting drivers affected by alcohol and drugs.” Travelers are also encouraged to download the Live Traffic NSW app by visiting livetraffic.com to better plan their trips. Anyone that wants to report dangerous driving on NSW roads can also call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns will continue ignoring questions from Independent Member for Kiama Gareth Ward and has also said he will refuse to accept Mr Ward’s vote on legislation in the lower house. If Mr Ward does vote with Labor, a member of the Labor party would abstain from voting, ostensibly making Mr Ward’s vote not count.Premier Minns says, "I don't want to be in a situation eventually where the government could be brought into disrepute because we've been relying on Mr Ward's vote." He says that this practice will continue “until the criminal part of his [Mr Ward’s] court session and those inquiries are completed.” Mr Ward has been facing criminal charges last year, and was suspended from parliament as a result. He pleaded not guilty and his case will go to trial in April 2024.Mr Ward says he is “completely appalled” by Premier Minns’ actions. The Premier has already refused to answer Mr Ward’s questions in parliament on two separate occasions. “I don’t expect an apology from the Premier to me, but I believe he should apologise to my electorate of Kiama for his treatment of the issues I’ve raised and the decision they made to re-elect me as their local MP.” Earlier this week, the NSW Government’s Parliamentary Privileges Committee released a report which concluded that the Government could have “serious and negative consequences” and would risk legal action if it re-suspended a member of parliament that had been re-elected. The parliamentary privileges committee stated one of the risks the government faced if it re-suspended with “full public knowledge of pending criminal charges” would be culpable of “repeated denial of the electorate being represented in the assembly by their chosen member.”Even though the Premier ruled out moving to re-suspend Mr Ward, Mr Minns says his party will continue the practice of taking the MPs' questions on notice and replying to them formally in parliament so residents of the Kiama LGA can still have their questions answered. "He [Mr Ward] still faces very serious charges and while I make absolutely no judgement about those charges and the eventual case that needs to take place I'm also not going to pretend they don't exist," Premier Minns told reporters on Thursday afternoon. The report also stated that re-suspending Mr Ward would run the risk of compromising the presumption of innocence of a member by further demonising them before they’ve had their day in court. Premier Minns denied that he was jeopardising Mr Ward’s presumption of innocence. "A reasonable person would acknowledge that there is an inherent conflict of interest in him questioning the executive about particular issues, and the most appropriate thing to do is take it on notice and reply formally to his enquiries of the executive." Premier Minns says. 

Independent Member for Kiama Gareth Ward will not be resuspended from parliament after a government committee reported doing so could have “serious and negative consequences.” The NSW government’s parliamentary privileges committee released a report on Wednesday night detailing how the government can and should handle a scenario of when a member is suspended from parliament and then re-elected. The report didn’t mention Mr Ward by name but presented a hypothetical scenario almost identical to that of Mr Ward’s.  Mr Ward was hit with criminal charges last year, and was subsequently suspended from parliament, which barred him from voting on legislation. He pleaded not guilty and has stated he looks forward to demonstrating his innocence in court. Ward’s trial will take place in Sydney in April 2024He was re-elected to parliament in the March 2023 state election but has continued to face scrutiny in parliament, with Premier Chris Minns refusing to answer any of Ward’s questions. He claimed it would be inappropriate until the privileges committee handed down its findings. Now that those findings have been released to the public, it is highly unlikely that Ward will be re-suspended and will continue to represent the Kiama LGA in parliament once again. The committee reported that suspending a re-elected member would have “serious and negative consequences. The government would risk legal action if it suspended a member and allowed their constituents to go under-represented in parliament for a prolonged period of time. According to the report, voters who re-elected a member with “full public knowledge of pending criminal charges” would be culpable of “repeated denial of the electorate being represented in the assembly by their chosen member.” Parliament would also run the risk of compromising the presumption of innocence of a member by further demonising them before they’ve had their day in court.  Given no further charges have been laid since re-election, “the case for a further suspension may be regarded as weakened,” according to the report. The report concluded that should parliament decide to suspend an elected member in the future, it should refer the matter to the privileges committee and “seriously consider the possible consequences and risks.”Mr Ward welcomed the report’s findings while denouncing Premier Minns’ repeated refusal to answer any of his questions in parliament.“This report highlights that the decision of my local community, who know me best, should be respected,” Mr Ward said in a statement.“I have been completely appalled by the actions of Premier Chris Minns who has treated my constituents with utter contempt.”“I don’t expect an apology from the Premier to me, but I believe he should apologise to my electorate of Kiama for his treatment of the issues I’ve raised and the decision they made to re-elect me as their local MP.”

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

Australians are back to spending big on holidays, travel and eating out since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The statistics should come as welcome news by Kiama business owners, where it's no secret how reliant the local economy is on outside visitors.The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its findings on household spending since 2019, finding that overall spending by each household grew six per cent in April compared to the previous year. Tourism, including hotels, travel and restaurants, were the big winners this month, with each household spending 13.4 per cent more in 2023 than in 2022.According to Destination NSW, an estimated 400,000 domestic tourists visit the Kiama LGA each year for at least one night, spending a total of $207 million, while day visitors spent another $48 million in the region alone.It’s not all green fields for the economy, however, as the increase in household spending is levelling out as the economy recovers in the wake of the pandemic. Tourist spending hit a peak of 69.9 per cent in August 2022, but this time frame also includes the busy Christmas trading period.ABS head of business indicators, Kate Lamb, actually pinned the relatively small overall growth of six per cent on the slowdown in hotel, cafe and restaurant spending, which will continue to normalise after the pandemic.With the King's Birthday long weekend and Winter Festival coming up soon, Kiama's small businesses are well poised to capitalise on the incoming influx of visitors headed our way.

A proposal to build up to 150 wind turbines off Kiama’s coast has been dashed in favour of a new location further north.BlueFloat Energy – the company behind the South Pacific Offshore Wind Project – has selected an alternative site to Kiama, which stretches 14 kilometres from Shellharbour to Clifton, north of Thirroul.The company had been investigating two sites, the other would have been between Kiama and Jervis Bay. The project will see up to 150 offshore wind turbines constructed, providing 1600MW of energy to the region which could power 825,000 homes.BlueFloat Energy Australian country manager Nick Sankey told ABC Illawarra this morning that the company reviewed both locations, and that it preferred the northern site due to its proximity to Port Kembla as well as the NSW government’s declared renewable energy zone. He added that BlueFloat will continue to refine exactly where it will construct the turbines throughout community consultation.Independent Kiama councillor Matt Brown told The Bugle that the change in plans was a win for residents of the Kiama LGA, which he says largely rejected the development.Councillor Brown listed a handful of major concerns stemming from his own consultations with the community. One of those major concerns is how reliant the Kiama LGA is on tourism, and whether the introduction of large wind turbines would disturb the coastal scenery. It’s not just aesthetics that need to be accounted for. Councillor Brown said one of the other reasons the move north makes sense is because it could potentially disturb the migration patterns of whales, a major drawcard for tourists in the region. Each wind turbine would require four large anchors to secure it to the coastal shelf.Finally, the issue of infrastructure. Councillor Brown says building turbines so close to Kiama would require significant upgrades to energy infrastructure like hire tension wires, which already exists in Port Kembla. Given one of the reasons for building more renewable energy sources is to better secure the NSW power grid, it would be more sensible to use the existing infrastructure we already have, according to Councillor Brown.He also took a moment to thank the Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips and Minister for Energy Chris Brown for listening to community feedback and reaching a compromise between introducing more renewable energy without disturbing the natural environment.Independent Member for Kiama Gareth Ward also welcomed the news while reconfirming his support for more renewable energy in NSW."Whilst I am pleased the focus for this project will shift to the north of the Kiama Electorate, I hope that the proponents remain focused on answering the questions posed by our local community," said Mr Ward.