A decision at an Extraordinary Meeting of Council has set in train a process that will mean it will be up to the new Council to decide what ultimately goes on its Akuna St/Mitre 10 site.

In a 6:3 decision (Reilly, Honey, Sloan, Rice, Way and Westhoff for; Steel, Brown and Watson against), Council decided to:

• complete the Town Centre Development Control Plan (DCP) which will include site specific controls for the Akuna Street prior to undertaking any further work or negotiations relating to the sale of the property
• continue to develop a masterplan for the Akuna Street site which includes options for a supermarket, open space, residential and commercial uses, and parking
• confirm that any potential future sale of this site is to be undertaken within a competitive tender process
• investigate the development of appropriate covenants and documentation required, including an appropriate policy for any potential future sale of this and other sites, following the finalisation of the required planning controls.

"I would have loved to have a resolution before this Council winds up, but the circumstances over the last couple of years have really not allowed us to get to that stage,” says Mayor Mark Honey.

“Basically it gives the community an opportunity to have some input into what goes there.

“We keep getting opinions about how valuable it is and yet you really can’t put a value on it until you actually have a plan for it.”

The Director of Environmental Services, Jessica Rippon, cannot say how long the whole process will take.

“The first thing we need to do from that resolution is finalise the DCP,” she says.

“We have a draft that is nearly completed and we are expecting to put that up to Council prior to the end of their term, so it can go on exhibition for the community feedback.

“I expect the final endorsement will happen after the election.

“It has a bit more detail in it than a normal DCP to give more guidance and show the standard and direction we want for the town centre.”

The DCP will include site specific controls for Akuna Street and other key sites, which could include elements such as its height, the setbacks, public space requirements, landscaping and more.

“The decision gives us the opportunity to set the controls that the community want to have in place for the site,” says Ms Rippon.

The work is being informed by the Town Centre Study and the yet-to-be finalised Traffic Management Study.

An image of a future envisaged by the Town Centre Study, which is available on Council's website

“We want to get something that is appropriate for the site and appropriate for the future of Kiama town centre,” says Ms Rippon.

“The competitive tender process will allow it to be put back on the market, which has changed over time, and will ensure we get fair value for a community asset.”

Councillor Warren Steel says, “I’m very disappointed by the decision.

“We all stood on a ticket to get this through and now it is going to take years.

“I thought the revised proposal from Daoud was excellent.”