Kiama has welcomed six new councillors, with Labor councillors Imogen Draisma and Stuart Larkins, along with former Labor Minister Matt Brown—who ran as an independent this term—being the only returning members.

The new council includes Cameron McDonald, Erica Warren, and Melissa Matters (Independent Group A), Matt Brown (Independent), Imogen Draisma and Stuart Larkins (Labor), Melinda Lawton (Greens), Mike Cains (Independent), and Yasmin Tatrai (Independent).

The Cameron McDonald ticket led the polls with over 5,000 votes. McDonald has pledged to prioritise getting the council coinpurse in order.

“With the current financial strain that council is under, we need to be financially acute and aware.”

Ratepayers have put their support behind independent candidates, a decision backed by Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward.

“The surge in the independent vote shows locals want people who don’t have divided loyalties between their community and their party,” Ward says.

Melinda Lawton expressed her disappointment at young Greens candidate Jordan Casson-Jones not acquiring a seat on council, but says she will continue to seek his advice around youth issues. 

She plans to attend community meetings with fellow councillors to make sure neighbourhood issues don’t fall by the wayside.

“It’s not just the big things we need to look at, it's a lot of the small things as well that will make up the big picture.”

Ward has congratulated the councillors, but warns them not to be complacent with decision making.

“The most important currency in politics is trust and I know the community has invested that trust and confidence with their vote with these councillors...It’s important to not be anyone's rubber stamp.”

Returning Labor councillor Stuart Larkins wants to continue with his initiatives from last term, including management plans across safety, traffic, parking and pets in the municipality

Kiama has rejected the idea of popularly electing the new mayor, with almost 55 per cent of voters against the change. Councillors will continue to be responsible for making the decision. 

When asked if they would put their hand up for mayor, Cameron McDonald said he will be a contender in the race and Stuart Larkins said he would consider the position. 

Matt Brown, Erica Warren and Imogen Draisma were unavailable due to conflicting commitments. 

The first meeting of the full Council on October 15 will see the swearing-in of councillors and the election of a new mayor and deputy mayor.