Community calls for accountabilityThis week’s letters to The Bugle address pressing issues of governance and transparency at Kiama Council, urging elected representatives to foster trust, accountability, and leadership as the community looks towards 2025.Dear Councillors,Hopefully this letter finds you fit and well for the New Year. It will undoubtably have some big challenges.However, I am hoping that you all as the newly elected Councillors for Kiama can foster community confidence for 2025 by releasing the letter from ICAC detailing the findings against the three elected Councillors of our previous Council.This would reinforce and display the newly elected Councillors commitment to transparency and fairness.Regards,V. SteeleThe letter from former Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang highlights an uncomfortable truth about governance at Kiama Council. At the recent local government elections, I spoke with several councillors about the need for an apology to Councillor Lang. One councillor’s response was particularly revealing: they claimed they had acted on the information provided to them, presumably by the CEO.This raises a critical question: who is steering the ship? Councillors are elected to represent the community, not to simply rubber-stamp information handed down to them. What steps have been taken to review the accuracy of the information they relied on, especially given the public fallout?This isn’t just about Councillor Lang. It’s about ensuring that those we elect stand up, speak out, and scrutinise decisions that affect the community. Weak-kneed responses to flawed advice aren’t good enough. Ratepayers expect—and deserve—better.It’s time for Kiama Council to reflect on its role, its responsibilities, and its accountability. Leadership means standing up for what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable. The community is watching.Alan Holder

I sat through the council debate about Jamberoo Community Preschool and couldn’t believe my ears when the CEO addressed Councillor Mike Cains. Her remark, “Because you’re new, I allowed it to go through,” felt condescending and dismissive. Here was someone passionately advocating for a vital community resource, only to be undermined by bureaucracy.The CEO explained Cr Cains’ motion didn’t follow the council’s rules. Motions requiring additional funding must identify a budget source or fit into an approved budgetary cycle. The CEO noted that the motion failed to meet these requirements, making it technically non-compliant. She argued that under the council’s code of meeting practice, the motion should not have been included in the business papers at all.Fair enough—rules are rules. But the way this was handled seemed less about guiding a new councillor through procedural nuances and more about putting him in his place. The debate was bogged down in amendments and technicalities, overshadowing the heart of the issue. A preschool built with the blood, sweat, and tears of the Jamberoo community is at risk, and the council needs to help.Councillor Cains stood his ground saying "The Jamberoo preschool is such an important asset to the community. We must provide them with every assistance we can to get them to the point where they have a shovel-ready project that can be submitted for grant applications. This is about supporting a community resource that is so vital to families in Jamberoo."The preschool serves 67 children, with over 100 families on its waiting list. Yet, its future hangs in the balance due to flood risks and a lack of funding for long-term planning. While Cr Cains pushed for tangible action, the motion’s most significant element—developing a “shovel-ready” project plan—was ultimately removed. The CEO insisted that without identifying a funding source, the motion couldn’t proceed as written.What frustrates me most is the contrast between priorities. The council has allocated $260,000 for council building renovations, yet the preschool struggles for support. As Councillor Cains rightly pointed out "We’re flagging to them that they’ll have to vacate the very premises they built with their own contributions. Where are the council’s priorities?"This isn’t just about the rules—it’s about leadership. Watching the debate, I was struck by the difference between Cr Cains’ heartfelt advocacy and the bureaucratic tone used to justify inaction. The preschool doesn’t need another lecture on procedure. It needs real support and a clear path forward.The amended motion was passed, committing to advocacy for grant funding and ongoing flood mitigation efforts, but the issue of long-term planning remains unresolved.M - Concerned citizen

Recommendations for Kiama Council:Visitors who drive into Kiama, park, bring their own food, and either dispose of their rubbish in bins or leave it behind, often contribute little to supporting local businesses or the town's economy. Meanwhile, Kiama residents are left to bear the cost of the substantial clean-up efforts required after these visits.To address this imbalance, a small fee could be introduced for visitors to access and enjoy local attractions, such as the Blowhole. This would ensure that tourists contribute directly to maintaining these wonders while alleviating the financial burden on local residents.K Greeff - Local Resident

LETTER TO KIAMA BUGLERe. Letter from Karen Renkema-Lang Sharing her Reflections on a Long Legal Process Involving Kiama Council  (Bugle 17 December )Thank you for printing this letter in its entirety. Ms Renkema-Lang’s departure from Council is a great loss to our Community.  Her determination throughout her tenure, to uphold principles of honesty and integrity, will be missed.Ms Renkema-Lang was vindicated by the Supreme Court, but still incurred great losses, both personally and financially.In contrast, those within Council who were instrumental in the decision to Censure, and then defend Council in court, did not incur ANY financial or personal cost.Then, the deplorable referral of Ms Renkema-Lang to ICAC was rightly dismissed as having no substance.  This was a vengeful and intimidatory act designed to silence not only Ms Renkema-Lang but two other Councillors who tried to stand up for open and transparent debate.All this at huge expense to ratepayers, yet NO-ONE in Council has been called to account.Linda BrazierGerroa

Dear Readers,The following is a letter from Karen Renkema Lang, sharing her reflections on a long legal process involving Kiama Council. Her account highlights important questions around transparency, accountability, and decision-making in matters of public interest.We encourage readers to consider Karen’s experiences thoughtfully and reflect on the broader implications for open and accountable governance.– The Bugle Team Dear friends and supporters,On 18 November 2024 I finally received a payment of $74,000 from Kiama Council to cover my court costs, five months after the NSW Court Order was made. The bottom line is that I’m still personally out of pocket to the tune of $8,000. Without contributions to my fund-raising campaign my personal costs would have been much higher, so thank you again to those who contributed.I think it is important that you, and the broader community, are aware of the actions I took to have the matter dealt with fairly prior to proceeding to court. As a matter of public interest, the community should be informed of who was involved in the decisions to proceed to court on Council’s behalf? What was the rationale for doing so? What amount was approved to challenge the case? How much in total did it actually cost ratepayers? Why were the opportunities offered to avoid court action, as detailed below, not acted on?I did attempt to have the matter addressed by Council and the Office of Local Government very early in the process. These attempts were unsuccessful. Several people have publicly criticised me on social media assuming that I hadn’t. They were mis-informed.In addition, prior to lodging the summons at the NSW Supreme Court, I formally wrote to Council outlining my concerns and requesting that the censure motion be reconsidered. It is unclear to me whether any Councillors were informed of my correspondence or advised that reconsidering the censure motion could avoid court action and associated costs.The concerns expressed in my correspondence were the basis upon which the Supreme Court found the censure motion to be invalid. These were clearly articulated by the Chair of Public Integrity Anthony Whealy (retired supreme court judge) in ABC news report and radio interview (links below in comments.I have noticed recently that the news article that incorrectly reported that Council had spent over $400,000 on the matter (as at 30 March 2024) has been removed from Council’s website. However, before it was removed this incorrect amount was subsequently broadcast widely on social media and via ABC Illawarra, the Mercury Illawarra, and The Bugle Newspaper. As a result, I was subjected to much criticism and online abuse – based on inaccurate information. In spite of this, Council has made no public statement correcting the error.This recent Sydney Morning Herald article "Council Staff must not stifle the role of public debate and scrutiny” demonstrates that what I have experienced is not an isolated case. I have also been contacted by several Councillors from other NSW Councils detailing similar experiences.On a positive note, while this has been a very long and difficult journey, I’m pleased to have some closure on the matter, and I am now contemplating how I can use the lessons learnt over the last three years to advocate for more open and accountable Governments, and to prevent code of conduct complaints and ICAC referrals from being politically weaponised.I wish you all a peaceful and restorative holiday, and a new year filled with hugs, laughter, and surprises that inspire and challenge you.My sincere best wishesKaren Remka Lang

With less than two weeks until Christmas, The Smith Family is encouraging people to consider giving the gift of education by donating to its Christmas Appeal, to help change the life of a child in need.“The countdown to Christmas is well and truly on, but for many Australian children the festive season marks the end of another year where they’ve struggled to keep up with their education, due to the impacts of poverty,” says The Smith Family’s CEO Doug Taylor.“For children in this situation, we know that effort doesn’t always equal reward.” “Many families are continuing to struggle with the rising cost-of-living, and this is impacting their children’s ability to do well in school, despite trying their hardest.”The Smith Family is hoping to raise a total of $4.91 million to provide more children in need with its tailored out-of-school learning and mentoring programs. With less than a month left to donate, there are still 4,532 students in need of support.“Everyone is feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, but it is not felt equally. Today in Australia, one in six children are growing up in poverty, limiting their ability to make the most of their education,” Taylor says.“As this is the season for giving, we encourage all those who can, to give generously.”To donate to The Smith Family’s Christmas Appeal, visit the website

To the Editor,Can you please provide an update on the Jamberoo sewer pump debacle? Recently, several sewer pump alarms were going off around Chapel Lane, Jamberoo. If you are anywhere near them when the alarm sounds, it is piercing—even inside your home! My neighbor's pump went off a few times, as did others in the area. On this occasion, mine didn’t go off, but I had to keep running downstairs to check, as the sound was so close.I’ve had numerous problems with my own pump over the years and recently had to pay for a new one. I’m now extremely worried it might break down again. Sydney Water has provided no information, and all I could find out is that one of the main pumps near the primary school has been a major issue. I’ve also heard from a local that no more connections can be made to the current system and that some residences might be pumping sewage into the stormwater drains. If true, wouldn’t that be illegal?I feel like residents are being kept in the dark about the capabilities of the sewer pump system. Many of us, including myself, had to pay for individual systems because the $30,000 Sydney Water fee was unaffordable. I am elderly, on a pension, and since moving to Jamberoo seven years ago, I’ve had constant issues with my pump—alarms going off, tank flooding, and expensive repairs.I was told these individual units were reliable and designed for this type of situation, but I’ve also heard tradesmen say the system is at maximum capacity here in Jamberoo. Sydney Water denied responsibility when my tank’s hoses blew off during one of their wastewater repairs, but it seemed strange that the issue occurred right when they were working in another street. This led to more costs for me—new floats, clamps, and a pump controller.In my opinion, the individual pump system in Jamberoo was always a cost-cutting measure by Sydney Water, and it urgently needs to be investigated.Sincerely, Leigh Eldridge

Thanks for your reporting on the noise camera trial. I very much hope that this technology can be used in Kiama in the near future. I live on a main, tourist road and the motorbike / hotted-up car noise is ferocious, especially on the weekends. Of course, it's a free country and people can ride motorbikes but there are noise regulations for a reason and this should be enforced the same as speeding. I don't understand the inconsideration of people who modify their bikes to be even louder or rev them in a residential area... for fun??! Do they assume that the rest of the world loves the obnoxious racket or do they just not care about being a nuisance? I recently returned home from giving birth to my first newborn and was greeted with the roar of motorbikes blasting into town at 6 am on a Sunday. I can't stand to be in my own home on a weekend, even when wearing noise-cancelling headphones. Some of us live with noise sensitivities and can't just pack up and move elsewhere. I'd love for The Bugle to keep the conversation going on this community issue.R Rauch

We would like to offer our compliments to Kiama Council on the delightful Christmas decorations adorning our town. Congratulations to all involved for keeping Christmas alive and making our town such an appealing place to visit! Christopher Minehan

It truly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Shops are brimming with festive products, the airwaves are beginning to hum with Christmas tunes and families are putting up their Christmas trees across the country. For the Salvos, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas too, but for a very different reason. For us, we are starting to see our busiest time of year come to fruition; we are seeing the need for our services increasing, more and more people calling up for Christmas support, the financial and emotional stresses of the festive period beginning to overwhelm people, and the threat of loneliness and isolation starting to creep into people’s lives. For many, Christmas is a time of joy, relaxation, sharing with family and friends, and hope. But for some, including many of those who The Salvation Army support every day, Christmas is a time of increased pressure, stress and loneliness. We have seen another devastating year for people financially in 2024. The Salvos have seen an increase in demand for our services. Individuals and families who have never reached out to a charity before are doing so for the first time this year. In fact, recent research from the Salvos found that 7 in 10 Australians are watching their spending more this Christmas compared to previous years. Shockingly, 56% of Aussies will be spending less money on food this Christmas. But there is hope. Throughout the Christmas period, The Salvation Army distribute hundreds of thousands of gifts and toys, food hampers, special Christmas meals and much more to those who are doing it tough in our community. We also provide safe places for community and connection. We often find that a friendly chat or a shoulder to cry on can be just as powerful as the practical support of gifts, meals and hampers. The Salvos want everyone to know that we are here for you this Christmas if you need support. No child should have to go without a present on Christmas Day, no person without a special Christmas meal, and no one without a place to go for community and connection. Reach out to us if you need a hand. We also can’t do this work without the support of the Australian public through our Christmas Appeal, which is aiming to raise $27 million this year so Aussies don’t have to go without this Christmas. If you need help this Christmas, or if you are able to donate to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal, please visit salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58). From all of us at the Salvos, we wish you a very happy and hope-filled Christmas. Colonel Rodney Walters The Salvation Army

Once, the town’s noticeboard was sacred. A corkboard outside the general store or the community hall, covered with flyers for garage sales, missing cats, and the annual trivia night. It didn’t need algorithms or passwords. It just needed thumbtacks.Now, the bulletin board lives online. It’s faster, louder, and occasionally more dramatic. What used to be a single flyer about a lost bike is now a post with a photo, three hashtags, and comments debating bike locks and “the youth of today.”In some ways, it’s brilliant. Need a plumber? Someone on the local page has a cousin who knows a guy. Want to sell a fridge? Post it online, and you’ve got a buyer before you’ve unplugged it. The speed and convenience of these digital boards can make small-town life feel modern, efficient, connected.But then there’s the downside. A simple query—"Does anyone know why the bins weren’t collected?"—spirals into a conspiracy theory about council budgets. A post about a dog barking at night becomes a thread about whose dog it is, who’s a responsible pet owner, and whether dogs should be banned altogether. Inevitably, someone suggests the real issue isn’t the dogs but the people who own them—and suddenly, the thread isn’t about barking anymore, it’s about humanity’s fitness to share space at all.The charm of the old bulletin board was its simplicity. No arguments, no scrolling, just the facts. The charm of the modern version? Well, it’s not boring. It’s a soap opera, a debate stage, and a help desk all rolled into one.Maybe we need a mix. A little of the old-school patience and a bit less of the new-school outrage. After all, a community board—digital or not—isn’t just for complaints. It’s where we share what matters to us.And maybe that’s the point. It’s not about the board. It’s about the community behind it.

Please consider including children’s puzzles regularly in The Bugle. My 8 year old granddaughter enjoys this page very much as do her friends. She was very disappointed when these puzzles were withdrawn. Thanks. D. Emmett 

Even I … have realised: the end is near. And you all know me well enough by now, to be assured, that I don’t force you to sit through an entire evening of Jingle Bells and Rudolphs. Instead, I invite you to a festive reflection on your own year, while listening to live music. Don’t let me fool you with this photo, going against my image. For the music I will play, is directly from Heaven’s Angels: JS Bach, Brahms, Tchaikovsky… featuring special angels such as Irving Berlin, who wrote “White Christmas”. Yes I will play that.But since it is the most... hectic time of the year, we all just need “a moment”. To just sit, let music speak to us, let the mind wander, be allowed to feel whatever we want to, perhaps even be a bit sentimental together at Christmas time. If you would like to take this musical journey with me, then come to Classical Kiama’s “End of the year” concert 2024Sunday December 8 at 5 pm at the Kiama Anglican Church.

Has your neighbourhood been impacted by the growing number of large STRA? Has unreasonable noise/behaviour disturbed your peace? Is a house nearby advertising accommodation for 10-18 people?? If you answer no to the above, just be aware, it can change overnight.It’s time to discuss the increase of non-hosted STRA in the Kiama Local Government area, the impact of such development and the apparent lack of monitoring of The Code of Conduct.The evolution of Airbnb is causing concern, as a house that once housed 1 family can now turn into holiday accommodation to house 15 or more people. Sadly, with the ballooning of these (sometimes purpose built) commercial properties comes a myriad of problems and disturbances to once peaceful streets. We buy in residential zones to have neighbours, not businesses/hotels in the midst.Council is aware of our housing stock being used increasingly for tourist accommodation rather than permanent residencies. It stated in its submission to NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces:"It is particularly concerning in certain localities within our Local Government Area when developments are assessed through a Development Application process as residential accommodation only to once built be marketed and promoted as solely tourist accommodation.” What is council doing to stop this?What can council do to help permanent residents? Eight councils in NSW are now restricting STRA in various ways. If Kiama Council were to do so it would be a starting point and make us less attractive to the increasing number of STRA investors who are out to make money with little regard to the disruption of neighbours’ peace and comfort. NSW Fair Trading has a Code of Conduct for the STRA Industry can someone help residents to navigate it? You are encouraged to attend the South  Precinct Meeting, in Gerringong Town Hall at 7:30pm on Dec 5. The discussion is for everyone that comes under Kiama Council LGA”Concerned Members of the South Precinct

In accordance with Section 418 (3) of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), Kiama Municipal Council advises that the ordinary Council meeting to be held on 20 November 2024 will include the presentation of the audited Financial Statementsand the Auditor’s Report for the year ending 30 June 2024.A summary of the Financial Statements and the Auditor’s Report is provided on Council’s website.In accordance with Section 420 of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), any person may make a submission in writing to Council with respect to the Council’s Audited Financial Statements or the Auditor’s Reports.The closing date for Council to receive public submissions is 4pm 27 November 2024 for the year ended 30 June 2024.Copies of the Audited Financial Statements and the Auditor’s Report may also be inspected at:Kiama Administration – 11 Manning Street, Kiama, NSW, 2533Kiama Library - 7 Railway Pde, Kiama NSW 2533Further information: Financial reports an unqualified success

Strong and thriving communities need effective local government. No other level of government is as close to the issues and people.The Councillor Conduct Framework (Framework) is under review with the aim to facilitate and support local decision making.Effective local government comes when councillors are visibly in control of their councils. How councillors act and how appropriately and transparently decisions are made at meetings is critical in demonstrating to the community that their elected representatives understand the consequences of their decisions, and then make the best possible decisions they can for their community as a whole.It is intended that the revised Framework will be based on the following principles of change:Council leadership and decision making is paramountFreedom of speech is fundamentalTransparency and accountability are maintainedIssues are dealt with at the most immediate or local levelA strong and proportionate local government regulatorJustice is timely and proportionateSignificant penalties should only be imposed by a judicial or quasi-judicial body OLG has prepared a Discussion Paper to seek the views of the community, key stakeholders and the local government sector about the proposed changes.Read the discussion paper here.Submissions will be accepted until COB Friday 15 November 2024.

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

Letter to the Editor In politics, disagreements are natural, debate is necessary, and differences of opinion drive progress. But there's one thing we should all be able to agree on: honesty and respect must be at the foundation of our discourse. Unfortunately, recent statements made by Gareth Ward fall short of this standard, spreading misinformation and creating an atmosphere of distrust. This isn’t just an issue of political rivalry—it’s about upholding the dignity of our democratic process and respecting the public we serve.In a recent release Mr Ward indicated that I am attempting to re-write history regarding the Jamberoo dog park, following comments the day prior referring to me as someone who is ‘irrelevant’ and ‘claims to be the Labor spokesperson for Kiama’.This is not the first time Mr Ward has attempted to discredit me, in February this year he referred to me as someone who is ‘allegedly a Member of Parliament’.As a Member of the Legislative Council, and Member of the Minns Labor Government, I have been appointed to the role of Labor Spokesperson for Kiama. My job in this role is to provide a conduit for information directly into the Government from the people of Kiama, and straight from the Government to the Kiama community. This role is a supplementary opportunity for two-way communication between the people of Kiama and the Government and is necessarily different to the role of Mr Ward who is not a member of the Government.It is through this role that I have been engaging with Councillor Stuart Larkins around a dog park for Kiama. Councillor Larkins has been advocating for this dog park since 2022 through motions and petitions he has presented to Council. He has also worked with Council since then to make this dog park a reality. In June this year he was pleased to move the motion for the draft Dog Friendly Spaces Strategy, which outlined that Council would use their grant funding for the Jamberoo Dog Park.This funding was recently signed off by the NSW Government. I was pleased to work with Minister Scully and Stuart to ensure this fantastic news was shared with the Kiama Community.My focus is keeping the people of Kiama across what the Minns Labor government is doing.Mr Ward’s comments are discourteous and disrespectful and this is not how we should be conducting politics. As a professional woman of my age it is not the first time a man has tried to undermine me by saying that I am irrelevant or incorrect. So this won’t deter me from doing my job.However, our communities are best served when we, as public officials, communicate openly, transparently, and accurately. The words of public officials have weight, and it is our responsibility to ensure they reflect truth and respect. I am calling on Mr Ward to commit to an honest dialogue and to cease sharing false or misleading statements. The people of Kiama and NSW deserve information they can trust, not convenient spin designed to sow division or distrust.Political differences should be resolved through respectful debate, grounded in facts. Mistruths have no place in this dialogue—they only sideline the issues, distort the facts, and further polarise our community. By returning to a respectful and fact-based conversation, we not only honour the truth but also show that we value the intelligence and trust of our constituents.This is not about avoiding criticism or expecting agreement. Vigorous debate strengthens our democracy, and the scrutiny that comes with public office is a necessary part of the job. But for it to be meaningful, for it to benefit the people we represent, it must be based on facts.Let us take this opportunity to refocus on what truly matters to our community and bring respect and integrity back to our political exchanges. The Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine MLCMember of the Legislative CouncilGovernment Spokesperson for Kiama

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