Kiama Council has taken the next step that could change Kiama’s appearance, lodging two separate town planning proposals with the NSW Government’s planning portal: the Kiama Town Centre Planning Proposal and the Kiama Heritage Review Planning Proposal.

The Kiama Town Centre Planning Proposal was approved by Kiama Council back in September 2022 following extensive consultation with the community and has been substantially revised from its initial form.

The first provision is to increase the maximum permissible building height at specific sites in Terralong and Akuna Street.

Select areas on the southern side of Terralong Street between Thomson Street and Collins Street (the block across from the Kiama Leagues Club) will increase the maximum building height from three storeys (11m) to four storeys (14m). Kiama Council noted in its business papers at the time that the rising topography behind this area means that the additional build height won’t cause anyone to lose their view.

The Centrepoint Shopping Mall will also increase its maximum building height to four storeys, but only on the corner of the site while the rest of the site remains at three storeys.

The Akuna Street car park, which Kiama Council is in the process of selling, will be allowed to go even higher. Approximately 20 percent of the build area will have a maximum build height of six storeys (21m), five storeys for a third of the area (17m) and the rest will remain at four storeys. 

The Kiama Town Centre Planning Proposal will also increase the maximum floor space ratio for all three of these zones.

Next is the Kiama Heritage Review Planning Proposal, which will establish two separate Heritage Conservation Areas in Kiama. The first is ‘Smiths Farm’ between Shoalhaven Street and Collins/Belvedere Streets from Akuna Street through to Seaview Street. 

The second area will be the Kiama Town Centre Heritage Conservation Area which takes in sections of Manning Street, Terralong Street and Collins Street.

Kiama Council will also add a handful of properties as heritage items, including the Blowhole Tennis Courts and Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Heritage Conservation Areas take into account multiple properties within an area that contribute to its significance, whether historical or otherwise. It doesn’t necessarily mean every property in the area has significant heritage value, but adds additional steps that any future developers need to take into consideration when building in the area.

You can see the full list of proposed heritage properties on the NSW Planning Portal. While both plans have already been exhibited, you can still make submissions via the Planning Portal.