Gareth Ward has urged Kiama locals to speak up while they still have the chance, calling on the community to make submissions to Kiama Council’s Draft Local Housing Strategy before the 27 April deadline.

In a fiery speech to Parliament, the Member for Kiama said it was time to put “Australians first” in the midst of a worsening housing crisis, pointing to long public housing waitlists, skyrocketing rents, and a growing number of people sleeping in cars or couch surfing.

He called on the community to get involved in shaping local housing decisions, rather than leaving the future of the area to “big Sydney developers”.

“The strategy anticipates that an additional 6917 people will call Kiama home by 2040, only 15 years away,” Ward told Parliament.

“The NSW Government has set a five-year housing target for the Kiama local government area of 900 additional dwellings. I want to see more homes, but they need to be in the right locations, and these locations should be decided by our community.”

Ward also renewed his push for the Bombo Quarry site to be redeveloped in a master-planned, community-led way, describing it as a prime opportunity to offer “a variety of different housing types” that reflect the needs of locals. He welcomed current collaboration between Kiama Council and the Department of Planning on this project.

But while backing new housing where appropriate, Ward did not shy away from criticising the NSW Government’s broader approach. He questioned the Government’s handling of immigration, foreign property ownership, and what he sees as a weakening of local planning powers.

“There are plenty of people in this place who oppose all development without offering a solution. I do not want to be one of those people,” he said, proposing a list of sites and policy changes that could be explored to help meet the region’s growing housing needs.

These included:

• Masterplanning the old Shellharbour Hospital site for key worker housing
• Rezoning the Nowra CBD to increase height and density
• Using Government-owned land for housing those delivering essential services.

Ward also took aim at the NSW Rental Commissioner, questioning the independence of the role and calling for more accountability and real action to help renters in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

“Growth needs to be balanced against the maintenance of village character and the need for people to have a say in the future of our urban and natural environment,” Ward said.

You can read the draft strategy and make a submission by visiting Council’s website. Submissions close Sunday 27 April.