Welcome to 2023, a new year of opportunity for your council and your community. Kiama Council is an organisation of people who are deeply devoted to the community we serve.

Some of us are councillors, some staff, and others volunteers.

We all continue to believe in the promise that together we can pull out of our current short-term issues and create great goals that will be rewarded by great results.

This year, councillors will determine the best strategic use for the proceeds of the Akuna Street sale, adjusting our ratios to a more normal setting and in doing so, hopefully calm our bankers and other keen observers.

The process of the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira will also evolve into an open and transparent strategy that retains a healthy suite of aged care offerings in the district but shifts Council’s focus from an aged care business into a council with a retirement village as one of the many strings to its revenue bow.

The past year has not been all doom and gloom. We have in fact achieved victory over many aspects of council’s performance, and this year we will achieve even more.

We will move from a strategy of divestment into a strategy of sustainable revenue.

Building a robust financial strategy is about far more than crunching numbers, good financial monitoring and demand management. It is collaboration, communication, ownership, vision and trust, especially between council staff and elected members.

This year I know we will be mindful of the past, but our eyes will be on the future.

There will be new life in the heart of our commercial and retail centre: the construction of a new Woolworths-anchored mini-mall and, together with the right contractor, an iconic revitalisation and unique makeover for Hindmarsh Park.

We may also see the beginnings of what will be built on the Akuna Street site.

The rejuvenation of these three major locations will result in quite the makeover for central Kiama during the next year or two. I’m looking forward to seeing the transformation.

I have found great value in keeping the mayoral door open. I plan to enrich this in 2023 with additional opportunities to improve my accessibility, create an open flow of communication and maintain closer relationships with the community.

Now, with the end of our financial issues in sight (note, I didn’t say over!), culture within our council is noticeably enriched and we can build on this with increased vitality.

A new year offers a fresh perspective and opportunities. Rather than resist and hide in the old, I hope you’ll join me in welcoming and shepherding in the new.

Together we shape the future of our Local Government Area.