Short notice on The Bugle’s part, but here’s a reminder locals have until Sunday night to have their say on the playgrounds, open spaces and reserves aspect of Council’s first Open Spaces and Recreational Strategy before it is developed.

Extensive consultation has already occurred with sporting organisations, and Janet Peters of the Kiama Heights Resident Group is concerned that it hasn’t been as easy to consult with the wider community on the play spaces and parks.

The Residents Group was formed in 2020 to successfully fight Council’s sell-off of a reserve in Attunga St, one of the two in the suburb.

“We’ve encouraged all of our members to do the survey and put in a submission,” she says.

“The problem for us in doing the survey was it is asking about what you think of your existing local parks, and the problem for us is we don’t have any but these and they have been neglected by Council.

“Questions 44 and 45 at the end ask what do you think is needed, and I know a lot of people who gave up before getting there.”

Reserves throughout the LGA will be considered in the Strategy

The new initiative of Council will identify priorities for investment over the next decade.

According to Council’s website, “The Strategy will establish Council's vision, priorities and programs to enable future investment, supported by external funding assistance, in the highest priority areas for all Council-managed sporting fields, play spaces and open space recreational areas.”

Ms Peters says a wholistic plan should be developed for all of Council’s land in Kiama Heights, which they have only recently found includes land at Loves Bay.

“There has been substantial under-investment in our suburb for 65 years. It was not planned properly and nothing has been done to improve it since,” she says.

“Let’s look at what we can do to improve the amenity for everyone.”

The only access to East Beach was closed this week

This includes getting vacant railway owned land [over a tunnel] turned over to Council for parkland, and securing access to Easts beach.

“In the strategy there should be at least a commitment to exploring what options are possible. We want to have an acknowledgement that there is a problem, as there is no longer access across private land and the Coastal Walking Track is almost impassable.”

Earlier this week there was tape across the stairs stopping entry at the beach end.

Council’s website stresses that input by the users and community is an integral part of the development of the Strategy.

Once the Strategy is developed it will be put on public exhibition before being adopted by Council.

Have your say here.