We’re already a month into the year, and with school officially back, The Bugle has hit the ground running - covering the Lunar New Year, the Kiama Show, and local sporting feats. But would it really feel like the start of the year without another report on skyrocketing house prices?

Last week, The Domain House Price Report revealed a surprising statistic: Kiama’s median house price has now surpassed those of Byron Bay and Noosa. At $1.51 million, Kiama has edged ahead of Byron ($1.5m) and Noosa ($1.33m), making it the most expensive place to buy a home in regional NSW.

This might come as a shock, given that Byron and Noosa are renowned for attracting Hollywood A-listers - think Zac Efron, Chris Hemsworth, and Matt Damon - who have famously snapped up properties in those areas.

So, does this mean Kiama is the next celebrity hotspot? According to local Ray White Kiama real estate agent Michele Lay, it’s already happening. A-listers Hamish and Zoe Blake bought in Jamberoo during COVID in 2022, and other high-profile buyers - whose identities remain under wraps - are reportedly showing interest.

One can’t help but wonder what an equivalent "Hemsworth effect" - the property boom that followed Chris Hemsworth’s move to Byron - might do to Kiama’s housing market, especially given where prices already stand. Could the only way be up?

We have to ask ourselves what do we want for Kiama? We’re incredibly lucky to live in Australia’s best small town and NSW’s Top Tourism Town, but this raises an important question: Is this the future we want?

Of course, we can’t stop people from moving to Kiama, nor would we want to. But we can ensure that young families and essential workers can still afford to live here. The Bugle has previously highlighted concerns about the rise of short-term rentals and their impact on housing availability. While these rentals support tourism and local businesses, they also contribute to rising prices and reduced housing stock for locals.

That’s why it was refreshing to hear Mayor Cameron McDonald state outright:“We’d like to think we’re an area that’s affordable for, and welcoming to, everyone.” It’s a noble aspiration - and one that every Australian town should strive for. But achieving it will require real action. Council has already warned that difficult decisions lie ahead and that the community needs to rethink its expectations around growth and housing.

So, when it comes to A-listers or affordability, perhaps we should take a page from that old El Paso ad and ask:

Why not both?