It’s a sad day when fear trumps public engagement, and yet that’s exactly what I’ve been hearing from many residents of our community. Over the past few weeks, as the deadline for submissions to the Council's draft Growth and Housing Strategy approached, I had countless conversations with people who wanted to contribute their thoughts and ideas but hesitated. 

The reason? Fear. Not fear of the Council or fear of change, but fear of backlash—from their friends, neighbours, or, worse yet, the faceless keyboard warriors who have made our public discourse increasingly toxic.

This should be a time for open debate, where everyone can share their vision for Kiama’s future. Yet, the rise of online hostility and a divisive culture has silenced too many voices. When people are afraid to speak up, we all lose—the Council misses out on diverse perspectives, and our community loses the chance to shape its future collectively.

We must ask ourselves: What kind of community are we building if people feel they can’t participate? The strength of Kiama lies in its diversity, and it’s crucial that our future is shaped by all voices, not just the loudest or most intimidating.

It’s easy to say that we should all stand up and be counted, to encourage more people to submit their thoughts and ideas without fear. But it’s much harder to change the culture that has made so many people hesitant to speak up.



In the end, our community thrives when all opinions are heard. Let’s not allow fear to silence the very voices that make Kiama unique.