The budget for Kiama's Heritage review, due to be finalised shortly and put before the July Meeting of Council, has been increased to broaden its scope.

"Council agreed to the consultants' suggestions to expand the existing Pheasant Point Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) by adding a couple of more properties; expand the proposed Manning St Civic HCA to pick up some other sites on Terralong Street and make it a Civic/Commercial HCA; and create a new Southern Residential HCA," says Council's Manager Strategic Planning, Edward Paterson.

"The Southern Residential area is an interesting addition, as it is demonstrative of the original street pattern and layout, and there are already a number of heritage items listed within it."

The new area lies roughly between Akuna and Barney Streets, and Shoalhaven and Thomson Streets.

Mr Paterson says that the report will be tabled with the proposed Development Control Plan Chapter, so that people will not only be able to see which properties have been assessed as worthy of listing, but also what that means.

"I am very aware that individual property owners will sometimes get quite frightened when they see proposed listing, whether individually or in an area.

"To ensure we can allay any fears, the report that will go to the July Council Meeting will not only include recommendations for amending the Local Environment Plan Heritage list, but also the whole new Development Control Plan chapter, so that the community can see what it means to be a heritage item by being able to read all the guidelines."

For those worried that only buildings over 100 years old have been considered, age is just one of the criteria for a listing. Other criteria include a building being a classic representation of that building style or technique or having cultural significance because of someone notable living there.

With Council going into caretaker mode in August, ahead of the September local government election, Mr Paterson says that his plan is to put the recommended changes on exhibition after the election.

"We were very conscious of the commitment we had to the community to have this document in the public realm by the end of the financial year."