At the Lions Club of Kiama’s dinner this week, Mayor Cameron McDonald reflected on his first 100 days in office.

His speech was warm, filled with gratitude for council staff, fellow councillors, and the Kiama community.

He spoke of his pride in Kiama, sharing personal stories about growing up in a household shaped by the Lions Club ethos.

Beyond the sentimentality, two key issues emerged. Both go to the heart of Kiama’s future.

The Mayor acknowledged that the funding model for councils is broken and that housing development cannot happen without the infrastructure to support it.

Mayor McDonald painted a familiar picture of local government finances.

Councils are expected to deliver essential services while being constrained by a system that does not work.

Rate increases are capped by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.

However, the cost of delivering services keeps rising.

Kiama is expected to deliver 990 new homes by 2029 and 3,770 by 2040.

As the Mayor pointed out, building houses without proper infrastructure is a recipe for disaster.

The Bombo sewage system is one example.

Sydney Water says it has capacity until 2040, but with state housing targets accelerating growth, those numbers are already looking shaky. Roads are another issue.

Kiama’s access points are under strain. More housing without transport upgrades will only add to congestion and safety concerns.

It is easy to say that infrastructure should come first.

The good news is that there is movement on that front.

The council’s Draft Local Housing Strategy (Draft v2) outlines key measures to ensure development does not burden ratepayers.

Developers will be required to dedicate stormwater corridors, parks, and public-use land at no cost to council. A long-term funding strategy is also being introduced to prevent future financial risks.

To further strengthen planning, council is taking steps to reduce legal battles over rezoning. A structured, pre-approved housing plan will guide development.

This will limit speculative applications and avoid costly court disputes. Early engagement with Sydney Water, Transport for NSW, and Schools Infrastructure aims to ensure essential services are in place before development begins.

Mayor McDonald made it clear that he has been busy meeting with ministers, pushing for funding, and working to stabilise Kiama’s finances.

His speech offered a reassuring picture of progress, but residents will be watching closely to see how these plans unfold.

The framework is there. The council has outlined strategies to minimise financial risk, ensure infrastructure planning, and prevent legal disputes over development.

The focus must now shift to delivering on these commitments.

Mayor McDonald is right. Funding models need to change, and infrastructure must come before housing.

The real test of his leadership will be ensuring that the policies in place lead to real, tangible improvements for Kiama’s future.