Residents, creatives, councillors, venue operators and businesses in the visitor economy have been invited to join together on March 16 to talk about how Kiama’s evening economy, arts and cultural development can be supported by the new Kiama Town Centre Development Control Plan (DCP).

The draft DCP has been developed over a number of years, and is on exhibition for comment until March 28.

Council says that the purpose of the DCP is “to make Kiama a dynamic and activated place to live and work in.”

The community meeting has been jointly called by Fillmore’s, ‘The G’ Grand Hotel and the Live Music Office, and will include contributions from key stakeholders and members of the community.

Fillmores’ Morgan Lewis says he hopes the forum will be beneficial for all sectors of the community to “help us work towards the future healthy growth of our beautiful town where we can stimulate the hospitality industry and the arts and culture creating jobs and a town we can all enjoy.”

One of the guest speakers at the forum will be John Wardle from the Live Music Office.

Established by the Federal Government, in partnership with APRA AMCOS, the Live Music Office was set up to review the impact of policy frameworks on the Australian live music sector.

Its scope includes planning, licensing and regulatory policies, as well as cultural, audience and market development strategies.

Mr Wardle played a leading role in shaping the 2020 NSW night-time economy legislation

He says, “Let’s use this DCP review as the trigger for a conversation around the evening economy in Kiama.

“The Town Centre DCP consultation addresses key themes but is missing the opportunity not just to look at the character statements – the facades and building heights – but to ensure that planning for the town centre is fit for purpose and has a balance where residents, businesses, the visitor economy and the evening economy can coexist in a sustainable manner.”

Mr Wardle says that the DCP needs to be guided by local businesses, artists and the community.

“There is an opportunity for Kiama to build its evening economy to be a healthy safe and creative place and grow its visitor economy, while still respecting the residents living in town.”

He says that the night-time economy legislation passed by the NSW Parliament in 2020 allows councils and communities to do things – particularly cultural things – that haven’t been possible in NSW previously.

“This provides for quite an exciting environment in which to do interesting and fun things.”

Wollongong is cited by him as an example.

In 2013-14, a City of Wollongong Live Music Taskforce saw 42 actions passed by Council to help create more vibrant and respectful arts precincts throughout the local government area.

The document states: The Wollongong City Centre and Town Centres play a key role in accommodation, cultural, sporting and business uses.

A key to the revitalisation of these centres is to build on these aspects through greater activation and investment beyond 5pm through an evening economy.

Future residents should be aware that these uses may generate noise, odour, traffic and have longer hours of operation, which is part of living in/near a commercial centre.

“Wollongong has smashed this,” he says.

“It has standing planning approvals on all live sites in the LGA, which means that there is an approved DA in place so that when a fun run, music event or circus comes to town, they can look at these live sites which have all been approved for these events.”

The Events Team then checks the proposed events against the consent conditions,much like a certifier. If they are happy then they issue a license.

Other actions included requiring all residential development in the CBD to ensure residents is designed for evening economy areas (double glazing etc) and a coordinated noise complaints process.

“Wollongong got things done because they did an evening economy strategy – avoiding a 24-hour economy – and this is applicable for Kiama. These things do have to work for everybody,” says Mr Wardle.

“We will look at the DCP and also at a range of other measures that can be undertaken to ensure a safe and vibrant evening economy that’s creative, will make visitors happy and keep residents comfortable.

“These are the conversations we are going to have at this meeting.”

The meeting is on Wednesday 16 March, Uniting Church Hall, 48 Manning St, 6pm