Kiama & District Business Chamber hosted the annual Mayoral Breakfast at the Sebel Hotel 14th November. Eighty chamber members and invited guests attended to hear the inaugural address from the newly elected Mayor Cameron McDonald.  

Mayor McDonald opened his address by sharing how his role now demands balancing addition responsibilities alongside his business and family commitments - a true juggling act. However, he declared emphatically that he is up for the challenge, a sentiment echoed by other councillors. Mayor McDonald stated that he is committed to making Kiama the best place it can be.

With six of the councillors having gone to school locally, it does feel that the sentiment is shared by the whole team. A betterment of our local community to continue for the next generation - which includes infrastructure to sustain thoughtful development. 

To that end, Mayor McDonald shared with the business community some breaking news. A unanimous vote by the councillors two weeks ago which led to the purchase of the Big River site on Shoalhaven Street for $6.3 million, the terms to be paid over 3 years. This site backs on to the Kiama Council Depot covering an area of about 1.5 hectares between Shoalhaven Street and Belvedere Street.

Being ensconced in a residential area, this site will now be combined and developed to create residential dwellings to fall in line with the state government’s mandated quota targets for new housing developments. The land will first have to be rezoned and then repurposed. 

As Mayor McDonald noted, the site previously housed a gasworks, which has left contamination issues to address—potentially at a cost of $8 million. However, he considers this investment worthwhile, given that the development could bring in estimated revenues of $50 million for the council through the sale of residential units.

The Kiama Council Depot, operational since the 1960s, has served as a focal point for staff but is now considered unsuitable for current needs. Plans are underway to amalgamate this facility with the Minnamurra Depot, which will be upgraded to provide a purpose-built, safer working environment. The cost of this relocation has yet to be determined.

So it is bold, strategic moves for our new Councillors - just off the ranks! 24 days in! The Mayor McDonald continued to say that there will be further sites studied to determine best fit for purpose - for example the leisure centre.  

Councillor Mike Cains acknowledged that the councillors have put great faith in the CEO Jane Stroud and Mayor McDonald for leading these initiatives.

The mayor also confirmed the council satisfaction with the audited financial statements which will be presented in the ordinary Council meeting on 20 November with the Auditors Report for the year ending 30 June 2024. (These can be viewed on the Council’s website and any person can make a submission in writing to Council with respect to them. The closing date for Council to receive public submissions is 27 November 2024.)

Cllr Melinda Lawton with Michelle Springett and Rita Sullivan at the business chamber breakfast

The mayor is meeting with Minister Scully when he is attending the Country Mayors Association meetings in Sydney this week with Council CEO Jane Stroud. The advocacy programme is key and the Council is determined to get a share of the financial injection on offer as infrastructure is paramount for the growth of our area. This includes our sewerage capacity and road capacity. 

Cllr Melissa Matters with Rita Sullivan from Knickerboxes and Cllr Stuart Larkins

Mayor McDonald also shared that the Councillors would be releasing a roadmap of where they want to go for the next two years. As Councillors the document is a way to hold themselves accountable moving forward and to create an open and transparent approach to their roles.

Mayor McDonald declared that the team as a group was relishing the challenge before them and he was deeply proud to represent the community.  

Catherine Lyall hosting the Councillor panel at The Sebel Mayoral Breakfast

He was joined by fellow Councillors in a panel discussion after the address - Councillors Mike Cains, Melinda Lawton, Melissa Matters, Stuart Larkins and Erica Warren in attendance. Their hidden gems in the LGA highlighted the fabulous spots we can boast of and showed a personal side of them. Questions relating to their goals and legacies, support of local business, a recurring theme, with a suggestion of Brand Kiama to underpin our services and products. With a plethora of business acumen in the make up of the new Council, one would hope for an improved outlook for Kiama Council and the community. The mood at the Sebel was light and celebratory with an air of expectation of great things to come.