Before you click “submit,” on your Draft Housing Stategy V2 submission, consider this: what does “character” actually mean to you?

At the recent Kiama Housing Strategy forum, community housing expert Natalie Allan posed a quiet but powerful challenge to the room.

“When we talk about character,” she said, “we need to be honest about whose perspective we’re speaking from.

What is the character to a single mum working shifts? To an older person renting? To a young couple trying to stay near family? We need to define it before we defend it

”Our perception of who we are directly influences the way we act,” she added, urging attendees to move beyond “my view is my view” thinking.

She encouraged residents to see themselves not just as individuals with private interests, but as part of a collective. In her closing remarks, she returned to this theme, asking people to write submissions that reflect what is good for the whole community, not just what benefits them personally.

Architect and Greens councillor Melinda Lawton reflected on Natalie’s comments after the meeting.

 Cr Lawton described community as more than just proximity.

“It’s that sense of belonging,” she said. “It’s people knowing you when you walk into a shop. It’s people checking on people. It’s that village atmosphere.”

Cr Lawton pointed to Erskineville, a suburb in the heart of Sydney’s 5.5 million–strong population, as proof that a village feel is possible anywhere, but only with the right planning and commitment to connection.

All speakers challenged the room to reflect on what values are embedded in their vision of Kiama’s future and whose voices are too often left out.

With the strategy on public exhibition until 27 April, residents are being urged to share their views.

Not just about density, setbacks or streetscapes, but about the kind of community they want to nurture and the values that should shape it.

Listen to

• KMC Director of Planning present Draft Housing Strategy V2 at Housing Strategy Business Panel Discussion on 11 April here

• Business Panel Discussion here

• Housing Expert Dr Tony Gilmour discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here

• KMC Director of Plan Ed Paterson discuss the Draft Housing Strategy V2 with Bernie Hems on KCR here

Have your say

Kiama Council’s draft housing strategy is on public exhibition until April 27.

You can read it and share your views here.

If the current approach doesn’t reflect your priorities, you are entitled to contact your councillors directly and ask for changes that support a more liveable, affordable Kiama.

The forum was rich with insight, lived experience and bold ideas. The Bugle will be sharing more highlights and panel discussions on The Bugle app over the next two weeks.