The Bugle has offered all the candidates a final blog to let the local community know what they stand for. First cab off the rank is Mike Cains, Group F.

Mike Cains wants to secure Kiama's future

Time and again our community misses out on the opportunity for new and upgraded facilities and infrastructure because we don’t have our act together in relation to state and federal funding.

We deserve to have the facilities that a growing community needs for its future - but it requires planning and advocacy. It is an obvious truth that most councils don’t have the money to use ratepayer’s funds on big capital works – so we, like others, require state and federal funds in the form of grants to deliver critical projects.

It is acknowledged that the best way to achieve this is to develop a list of shovel-ready projects ready for grant submissions if and when State and federal funds become available. By shovel ready we mean where the approvals have been granted, the engineering plans done, the costings analysed and the machines are ready to roll. Such a plan means being pro-active, not reactive. Some councils call this an “Advocacy Plan.”

Whilst Shellharbour has a glossy well prepared 31-page advocacy plan, Kiama has a bunch of resolutions with dot points. Whilst Shellharbour is ready to be Johnny-on-the-spot, at the front of queue, hand out ready to pounce on inter-governmental grants we often scramble to respond.

An Advocacy Plan is crucial for project delivery across the Kiama Municipality. The projects within our proposed Kiama “Advocacy Plan” would support the Municipality’s Community Strategic Plan (CSP), and supports our aims to address community, cultural, environmental and economic challenges. The projects will be delivered through funding contributions from Council, Federal and State Governments and only where appropriate the private sector.

If we are organised, prepared and strategic we can deliver for the community without using our own cash so often. Think about some possibilities - a Dido St bridge upgrade, a new permanent home for the Jamberoo Pre-School with a fit-for-purpose facility, a foot-bridge from Bombo station across the highway to accommodate expansion of housing at Spring Creek and into the future Bombo Quarry, urgent upgrades to our regions sporting facilities, advance the revitalisation of the Harbour Precinct, finish and upgrade the coastal walk so that residents and visitors can walk between the mouth of the Minnamurra River to Shoalhaven heads, invest in renewable energy generation to bring our power bills down, tackle the ever-expanding proliferation of privet and lantana, urgent renovation and rectification works to Bluehaven Terralong and the upgrade the Havilah place sports precinct just to name just a few.

I have been careful not to make promises during my campaign, but I will make this one. If elected, with the support of fellow councillors, I will ensure that we have a serviceable Advocacy Plan that develops and delivers critical projects. A professional plan that improves the liveability of our towns and villages, supports job growth and economic development whilst also promotes sustainable lifestyles.

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