There have been calls from the community for Kiama Council’s Mayor Neil Reilly and CEO Jane Stroud to publicly apologise for their treatment and invalid censure of Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang. The censure took place at the Council meeting on 21 November 2023, following an interview that Councillor Renkemba-Lang gave to ABC Illawarra on 21 June, 2023.

The interview covered the impending sale of Blue Haven Bonaira. At the time, Councillor Renkema-Lang said that she had heard numerous concerns from the community regarding the information that had been provided by the Council detailing the sale. 

In remarks to Kiama Community Radio on 5 December 2023, Mayor Reilly stated that he was responsible for instigating the investigation that eventually led to the now invalid censure. Mayor Reilly claimed that he also had heard from the community regarding Councillor Renkema-Lang’s comments and that young women had been left in tears. These concerns prompted him to begin the process of a Council-led investigation, which led to Councillor Renkema-Lang being censured in a confidential session at the November 2023 meeting. 

At the time, CEO Jane Stroud said, “I hold specific concerns and worry about the worsening functionality of the Council, when in such uncertain times and unchartered territory, what is really required is cohesive and collective effort to correct the course of the organisation.”

As a result of the censure, Councillor Renkema-Lang filed proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW seeking to set aside or invalidate the censure. A direction hearing on 22 April revealed that Council had admitted that the censure was invalid.

Council has yet to provide comment on this situation, and the media release detailing the censure has now been taken down. In addition, the formal and official minutes of the 21 November 2023 meeting have also been removed from the public record.

On or prior to 30 May, the Supreme Court of NSW will advise of its final determination of how the matter will be settled, and what actions Council must take. 

Local Government elections will be held on Saturday 14 September, and there has been no formal confirmation from any Councillors as to whether they will be running for re-election. 

Several key decisions of Council are supposed to be finalised by formal caretaker provisions commencing Friday 16 August, including finalisation of Council’s Communications and Growth and Housing Strategies. Given the controversy and complexities regarding housing, it is unlikely that the Growth and Housing Strategy will reach ‘draft status’ prior to Council shutdown. 

The Bugle has been inundated with comments regarding this mistreatment, and the paper’s view is in line and supports the community’s call for a formal apology by Mayor Neil Reilly and CEO Jane Stroud for their treatment and invalid censure of Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang.