Still baffled by the decision to approve South Kiama for rezoning, Kiama Council is inviting the Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes, and a senior member of his Department to explain the reasons for the decision.

Cllr Brown and Councillor Neil Reilly beefed up the recommendation from staff for the October Meeting to include the invitation, highlight the disappointment felt and detail the specific concerns as being ‘impact to traffic, access to highway, impacts to local schools, impact on rural landscapes, and the inadequacy of current infrastructure for the development and future residents’.

“We are firmly of the view that the basic infrastructure of our town cannot cope with the size of this development,” said Councillor Matt Brown.

“We are making it clear to the community that we aren’t just going to throw it to the Government and say it is your problem, you deal with it.

“We as a Council think that by being in the tent we can make this process better. Our staff and our community know this land better, and by being there we can make it better.”

The reasoning for the decision is yet to be released.

“It is impossible for us to speculate on what grounds the State determined that it passed the strategic merit test,” says Council’s CEO Jane Stroud.

“I’m hopeful when it comes out there might be a little more detail.

“Discussion with department staff could be very constructive so that we can understand their reason for doing it.”

Councillor Andrew Sloan agrees, “It is important that the councillors get to have time with the Dept of Planning so that they get to understand fully what our concerns are and we can find out how we can work with the Department, even though they have made the decision in complete opposition to what this community wants.

“We want to try and make this a workable and liveable community.”

Clllr Reilly said, “The Kiama Urban Strategy is being used as a basis for merit, even though the Government refused to endorse it and it has been discarded by Council.

“We must accept the State ruling, against our better judgement, and try and mitigate the negative impact this is going to have on our community.”

Councillor Kathy Rice is keen for the talks to lead to building in a corridor as an access point to the Highway.

She is also concerned that another two planning proposals – Campbell St and Henry Parkes Drive – are in train at the same time.

“In our Urban Strategy, South Kiama was land that was only to be made available if there was no other potential urban release area. Now we have everything out there together, which is a very poorly sequenced and undesirable situation.

“They tell us we do have a say in community consultation, and we don’t. I dread to think what happens when you don’t have a say.”

Councillor Warren Steel believes stronger action is warranted to show the State Government we mean business, as happened during the fight against amalgamation.

Councillor Don Watson said, “I don’t want to see another Calderwood on that site, with no infrastructure or amenities.”

The Government’s decision means that Council will have to fit the development of a site specific Development Control Plan into its already full strategic planning work program.

“At ratepayers’ expense,” says Mayor Honey.