Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang has finally felt some reprieve following a public battle with Kiama Council over comments she made on a radio interview with ABC Illawarra on 21 June 2023. In the interview at the centre of the storm, Cr Renkema-Lang openly discussed her opposition surrounding Council’s intentions to reclassify land that the controversial Blue Haven Bonaira site occupies to enable it to be sold.

Based on allegations that Cr Renkema-Lang had acted unethically and improperly, and that her comments had potentially brought Kiama Council into disrepute, Council subsequently made the decision to censure Cr Renkema-Lang on 21 November 2023. At a Supreme Court directions hearing on 22 April 2024, Council agreed that the resolution to censure her is invalid.

Cr Renkema-Lang had sought orders from the NSW Supreme Court in February 2024 to revoke Council’s intentions to censure her based on the grounds of failure to follow the procedures for assessing allegations of misconduct, denial of procedural fairness and apprehended bias.

In the court orders issued on Tuesday the conduct reviewer also agreed that the final investigation report, and recommendations and determinations within it, is invalid. Kiama Council has undertaken to remove the public statement regarding the censure motion originally published on their website on 22 November 2023. 

The proceedings are listed for a hearing on 30 May 2024 in order for the NSW Supreme Court to consider each parties’ evidence and submission and formulate a final determination regarding how the matter will be settled. In the meantime, all parties have agreed that the Court may make orders without a hearing if it rendered it appropriate. 

Kiama Council currently have no comment regarding the matter.