If COVID hadn’t postponed the NSW council elections again, to 4 December, we would now know the make up of the new Kiama Council.

Instead, we have given all of the groups that have thrown their hat into the ring the opportunity to make a direct pitch to you.

Team Reilly

Team Reilly will launch a better council by ensuring that we retain the character of our area, make council more responsive and become better listeners to our community.

Unfortunately, we have a Council with a deficit. We talk about this in financial terms, but that is not the deficit that scares me.

The most significant deficit in our council today is a deficit of collaboration.

No councillor can claim any achievement without collaboration between councillors, staff and the community…that’s the truth.

A collaborative approach based on trust, reputation and respect is central to Team Reilly’s vision. Our point of difference is that we are clear how we will achieve our goals. See our website at www.neilreilly.com.au

I am leading a real team, where any one of the members could be elected to council and immediately bring excellent skills, collaboration and common sense to the work.

Second on the team is Julia Roso who runs a successful agri-business in Jamberoo. She is an environmental engineer who managed strategic infrastructure-planning at Moreton Bay Council, one of Australia’s largest and most successful. Julia will bring a working lifetime’s experience to council.

Next is Steve Vann who worked in Kiama council for twenty-three years. Steve has an open, no nonsense approach. He advocated for council workers with such fairness and ability, he not only gained the respect of the workers, but of senior staff. He is an active listener and a great win-win negotiator. As a result, he was invited to work with councils all over the state.

Candy Andersen spent 12 years running the largest and most successful serviced apartments business in town. She combines business and language education management skils and is experienced in international relations and policy.

Pamela Baxter speaks the dialogue of democracy. As a former senior member of the Australian Electoral Commission, she worked in Cambodia and has been instrumental in emergency education management in a range of world trouble spots.

As an independent councillor, I have achieved a good measure of success… elect Team Reilly, and this success will multiply community benefit. That’s collaboration.

Authorised by Neil Reilly, 4 McFaul Place, Kiama

SAFE Kiama

These elections are an opportunity to put things right. We urge you to vote mindfully, to be aware of candidates, their affiliations & their policies. A vote for S.A.F.E. Kiama will result in well researched and evidenced based policies addressing issues that matter to you.

My name is Karen Renkema-Lang, I am the lead candidate for the S.A.F.E. Kiama independent group, running for a place on Kiama Council. Standing with me are Sarah Marlan, Dan Balding, Madeleine Scarfe and Denis Balding. Sarah, Dan and Denis bring the kind of knowledge that only comes from being in a community for many decades. Madeleine and I bring a wealth of professional experience in governance and planning.

The elections may be delayed, but S.A.F.E. Kiama has continued to consult with the community to ensure our policies properly reflect what is most needed. We all want a Council that works cooperatively, under strong leadership, to make fair decisions that will deliver a more promising future.

While S.A.F.E Kiama published our comprehensive Policy Document in July, it’s now been expanded to encompass the issues of most concern. This includes our recently published Mental Health Statement, and a soon to be released Families Policy.

This week we are releasing our Housing Policy. S.A.F.E. Kiama’s housing policy is informed by community concerns, providing a balanced and well-planned approach to determine when, where, and how housing developments take place. We will not sit back and let property speculators and “market forces” take over our land. Our housing policy identifies proactive initiatives ensuring parking, traffic and infrastructure are not overloaded but are delivered in step with development. It includes pragmatic and sensible approaches to improve the quality of housing, preserve the charm, character and heritage of our area, and to prevent marginalisation of the homeless and disadvantaged.

Vote 1 for Karen Renkema-Lang & S.A.F.E. Kiama for a Council that is Sensible with money, Accountable in decision making, delivers Fair planning outcomes, and is Environmentally responsible. You’re in S.A.F.E. hands. Find out more at safekiama.org or phone 0452 426 390 anytime

Authorised by Karen Renkema-Lang, 4/20 Dido St, Kiama

Kiama Greens

The Greens have an outstanding team of candidates contesting the 2021 Local Government Elections on December 4th. All are experienced community leaders who want to use their skills to benefit the entire Kiama community.

Over the years, Greens Councillors have shown a sensible and considered approach that reflects their thorough understanding of Council reports and their awareness of the community perspective.

We have and will continue to hold meaningful conversations with you and will listen to your concerns. We care about the park you play in with your children and the trees at the end of your street. We care about the playground you take your grandchildren to and if it’s accessible to everyone. We care about the ocean and river you swim in and the paths you walk to enjoy the view. We care about your health and wellbeing and will take responsibility to promote and improve positive mental health. We support cultural activities that give meaning to your life and will protect our built heritage.

We will help you to protect our agricultural land from urban sprawl, look after the environment and work to achieve net zero emissions and 100% renewable energy across our whole LGA. There are many more reasons to consider voting for a Greens Councillor and our policies show them clearly.

Councillor Kathy Rice notes that “Over the next Council term, Councillors will consider a range of important issues that include restructuring the Council with improvements to Council’s finances, studying housing needs and reviewing planning controls, responding to the challenge of Climate Change and considering new ways of strengthening community support”.

“I couldn’t have hoped for a better team to address these issues with” she said.

“Our backgrounds in finance, governance, planning, environment and community health will provide a great springboard for Council.”

If you vote for a Greens Councillor, we will stand up for the things that matter. Find out more at kiamagreens.org.au/

Authorised by Howard R Jones, 407 Free Selectors Rd, Foxground

Your Community Candidates

Your Community Candidates are the only team contesting this election that has outlined our plan and charter with our local community. We believe in transparency and accountability.

If you elect our team, we will:

• Oppose over-development. Our team want balanced and sensible development that protects our environment and village character. We are sick of Councillors making excuses, ignoring community consultation and failing to properly plan;
• Keep downward pressure on rates, and ensure responsible use of residents funds;
• Deliver positive action to develop Bombo Quarry for future housing, industrial growth and community use. Whilst council has ‘talked’ about planning for the future, their lack of action on this major opportunity is inexcusable;
• Improve lifestyle and the liveability of our entire municipality by investing in activities for our young, families, and older residents. People love our community but we need investments that add value to why people love living here.

Your Community Candidates are all local people with real-life experience that are ready to provide the strong local leadership our council needs.

In 2019 Kiama Council spent 49 cents of every dollar of your money on staff costs. According to NSW Government’s ‘Your Council NSW’ website, councils in the same category as Kiama spent on average 32.5 cents on staff.

Kiama Council also spent 32 cents in the dollar on contracts and materials in 2019 compared to an overage of 27.3 cents of similar councils. This is the same Council that slugged ratepayers with a more than 16% rate increase!

Our Council can do so much better. But it needs the right leadership at the table.

Re-electing the current ‘mob’ will see more of the same. More excuses, more mismanagement, more rate increases and no vision.

It’s time for real change where the people’s representatives set the agenda – not the bureaucrats.

On December 4 you have two choices. You can reward poor performance, or you can vote for a team that has a plan with the energy and experience to get things done for our community.

Take our survey

www.yourcommunitycandidates.com.au

Authorised by Mark Croxford, 37 Henry Parkes Dr, Kiama Downs

We love Kiama Gerringong Jamberoo

First, finances. We are committed to creating a sustainable, safe, healthy and happy future for our community with mental health as one of our priorities. We should do this in a financially-responsible way. We should not rely on subdividing land, like Elambra, or raising rates above CPI, to keep our budget balanced and sustainable. 

A previous Council spent more than $10M purchasing the old Mitre 10 site in Terralong St (now The Collective) and the Akuna St site behind it for a second supermarket, extra car parks, units etc.

We need this money back, and more, to stay Fit for The Future. We need to ensure we get the best and most vibrant town centre possible, with proper spaces for art (including performing arts). We are committed to seeing this through.

Our team is as diverse as our community and come from all corners of our local government area. Our ticket has long-time locals and new-comers. We are all committed to our residents – aged, local families, youth and singles. 

In particular, we want to provide more support to the volunteers who are the “glue” of our communities eg. Surf Lifesavers, sporting groups, community groups, charities, etc.

Our policies to date include:

• Protect your property rights
• Support local jobs and businesses
• Make Kiama a Regional Events Capital
• Promote projects with construction and design which enhance the character of our towns and villages
• Upgrade of play equipment in our parks to make them better for children and tweens. Bring back The Rocket!
• Support solar along with other cost and energy saving measures
• Protect the quality and the pristine nature of our waterways, farm land and forests
• Reduce Council red tape and other costs as well as time spent dealing with Council
• Improve bicycle safety
• Find a solution to School Pick-Up and Drop-Off!
• Make Council assets more productive to reduce pressure on rates

Authorised by Matt Brown, 46 Bonaira St, Kiama

Kiama Labor

Our ticket aims to be representative of the community we will serve – something our current Council is not.

We stand for fairness, inclusion, true representation and for finding solutions to the issues our community raises. We will do our part to deliver essential services that support our young people, our ageing residents, our families, our frontline workers, and our local businesses.

Our team is made up of younger and older residents, working people and “retirees” (read: still working hard for the community), business owners, those who have previously served on council, and people with experience in government and policy.

All are community activists and advocates with strong professional track-records of listening to people and their concerns, and turning that into considered and prudent action.

We have the experience needed to set the Council back on track, both financially and with regards to the fundamentals of good, representative, transparent governance in the best interests of our residents.

If elected, the Kiama Labor team will:

• Reinvigorate the community’s ability to influence planning decisions in our beautiful LGA while respecting and protecting this precious place, our land and waterways, and act to set our region up for success and prosperity now while safeguarding the place for future generations.
• Work with our state and federal MPs to secure funding for essential services in areas of mental health, accessibility for older residents, improving youth services and facilities, holistically recognise all our history and heritage, and support the arts and creative sectors
• Develop policy to reinvigorate Kiama’s night time economy and create jobs for locals, post-COVID;
• Actively protect our unique coastal environment and work to make Kiama Council operations zero-carbon; work with local businesses and community groups to move swiftly to reduce their carbon footprint.

We are committed to transparency and up-front about our values and where we come from. We are a Labor ticket, unanimously endorsed by the Kiama Labor Branch, a motley bunch of true believers, still keeping the flame of fairness, equity, inclusion and a fair go for all alight. And the only people we will answer to are the community we represent.

Authorised by J. Cole, Shop 6/4 Tingira Cres, Kiama