I'm glad you asked! M$40 that's 40 million of your and my own ratepayer funds Kiama Council staff (they assure us past staff) and Councillors have overseen the loss of during the Blue Haven Bonaira debacle. Surely, no way, you've got to be kidding, haven't we just sold it for M$95? Read and analyse the 222 page Forsyth Report dated 28 June 2022, adjusted for net settlement proceeds, and tell me I'm wrong (in round numbers, give or take a few million here and there because, who really knows) and remember full settlement does not take place until over two years from now so the pain will not fully go away on the so-called settlement date of 1st November. Something for you to contemplate when next paying your rates, complaining about something council has not done or will not do - or is that just me - or re-electing councillors who have been in place over the period from conception to completion of build. Dennis Robertson

Kiama council has in their wisdom decided to cease funding the Sharps Disposal Unit Service as of the 1st of August. This service provided free sharps containers to the Kiama community, as well as provision of bins in local pharmacies for collection and safe disposal.  From the 1st of August there will be nowhere within the Kiama LGA for residents to take their sharps for safe disposal. The nearest drop off point will be Shellharbour hospital. We have gone from best practice to worst practice. I have major concerns about how sharps will be disposed of going forward, and suspect we will see increased dumping of sharps in public waste collection and red bins. I have voiced my concerns with Jane Stroud at council. I have put forward alternate suggestions, that council should as a minimum consider continuing to accept community sharps returns at the recycling depot in Minnamurra. I would be more than happy to continue collecting them on councils behalf, and even drop them off to the recycling depot. This I believe would address most of the issues, however I was informed that Council had made their decision, case closed. I have lobbied Gareth Ward on this issue, but thought the Kiama community need to be made aware. Hopefully we can persuade Council to reconsider its decision.Concerned Kiama resident

After visiting the council recycling centre at Minnamurra it felt like an episode of “Yes Minister.” I needed to use some polystyrene, for a raised garden bed. Rather than contributing to the production and waste of this product, by purchasing it, I headed to the recycling centre. I thought what better way to recycle waste than to reduce the waste left there and take it home to use. Alas, this was not possible! No waste products can be taken to be reused. Isn’t the recyclable waste left there meant to be recycled? The reason was OH&S. How can my health and safety be at risk by taking some polystyrene but no problem with leaving it there? Bureaucracy gone crazy!Frustrated Kiama resident

Bugle under fireBecause I read an article in The Australian about how the Bugle newspaper was being investigated for bias, I read the newspaper. It is surprisingly well-written, well informed and topical. Congratulations on an excellent newspaper!Michael SweetCQUniversity

Opinion by Allan Holder, KiamaSo, a return to the rate payers of $26 million is lauded by Mayor Reilly as a wonderful outcome for the community {sale of Bonaira}. Well Mayor, did you ever think of it in these terms - obviously your General manager didn't! The land you have just given away is worth conservatively $50 million - conservatively - nice windfall for Hall and Prior there! Now if you had have just sent the bulldozers in and demolished everything {including Barroul House}, the demolition costs may be $10 - $15 million, flog the land off for our supposed $50 million, and hey presto, the return to Council would have been at least $35 million - nearly $10 million more than our genius General Manager was able to achieve. As for pursuing the builder, well if that is not shutting the gate after the horse has bolted, I don't know what is? In the inimitable way of most building companies in this country, if they look like losing, they will probably just go into liquidation to avoid any liability, and emerge rebranded as someone else - and the rate payer will be forced to pay yet more legal bills - what a fabulous prospect we are facing, and well done to all concerned!

For the third time in as many weeks, the volunteers who look after Peace Park in Manning Street, arrived last Tuesday to find more of the rose bushes had been stolen.This selfish illegal act deprives all residents from enjoying in coming months the rose display n the park.As we are about to commence this seasons planting , we have halted this while we seriously consider our future involvement with caring for the park. It seems pointlesspurchasing new rose bushes just to have them stolen.Most of us who volunteer do not live near the park. We do not have the enjoyment of seeing it every day. We only enjoy the park during our weekly working time there.Among the latest roses removed was a rare miniature donated by the late Robert Curll and a Pierre de Ronsard donated by Elizabeth Burnett to replace an earlier stolen one. If the Rose Bushes in Peace Park continue to be stolen thereseems little point in continuing with the Volunteer work in Peace Park.Colin HollisCoordinator, Peace Park Volunteers

Responsible Future (Illawarra) is excited to announce an upcoming rally against offshore wind in the Illawarra on Sunday the 28th of July at Reddall Reserve from 11am. The event will feature speakers such as Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O’Brien, Independent Shellharbour Deputy Mayor Kellie Marsh, Lobster Fisherman Mark Horne, local community members and local politicians across the political landscape. Following the recent announcement of the Illawarra wind farm zone, it is clear that the Labor party has let down the Illawarra community despite their years of loyal support. Responsible Future urges the Illawarra community to come together and resist this project in Labor's Stephen Jones' seat of Whitlam. Minister Bowen and our local Labor representatives failed to take on the community’s concerns. Let us demonstrate to them the 65 percent of the community that rejected this project. We refuse to witness the industrialisation of our oceans, which would harm local industries like Commercial Fishing and Tourism. Tourism in the Illawarra alone employs 15,000 individuals, generating $2 billion in annual revenue and seeing 5 million visitors a year. We will not permit the government or foreign companies to ruin our coastline for profit, funded by significant taxpayer subsidies, including the running of transmission lines through Lake Illawarra and Killalea. This proposed energy plan lacks thorough consideration and fails to make economic and environmental sense. Join us in defending our coastline, our communities, and our future. Let us show the Labor and Greens party that we will not tolerate the exploitation of our environment for a large scale experiment. Together, we can stop this project with a change of government. Event Details:Date: 28 July 2024Time: 11amLocation: Reddall Reserve Lake Illawarra, 1 Reddall Parade (South side of Windang Bridge, ocean side) For further information, please reach out to Responsible Future (Illawarra) at www.responsiblefuture.com.au Let us stand united and fight for what is right. Thank you for your support.  Mr Alex O’Brien

I would like to offer a sincere thank you to readers who gave to The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal.In recent times, charities have been significantly impacted by the rise in the cost of living, affecting the number of donors able to give, while increasing the number of those needing support. The Smith Family has certainly been no exception to that trend.In terms of donations, we were facing a 40 per cent shortfall with just a few weeks remaining during our Winter Appeal. But thankfully, we were very fortunate to receive some generous support from the public and our fundraising target was reached.Donations from supporters will make a world of difference to 17,200 students experiencing disadvantage. Each will be able to receive the extra help they need during the final terms of school this year.Our ability to deliver our flagship education support program Learning for Life, that assists almost 63,000 young Australians nationwide, depends on your donations. And they really do make a difference.Just this week we received an email from a student to the people who had sponsored her through Learning for Life. She had had just graduated with a Bachelor of Science and was writing to thank them.“Please accept my sincere gratitude for your belief in my potential and for your unwavering support throughout my educational journey and believing in us students that need the extra support,” she wrote.“Your generosity has inspired me to strive for excellence and to give back to others in the community.”This is a real demonstration of how education enables children experiencing disadvantage to create opportunities that change their future and equips them with the tools and knowledge to successfully navigate our increasingly complex world.Thank you again to all those who supported The Smith Family.Doug TaylorCEO of The Smith Family

Dear Bugle- always look forward to your balanced coverage about what is happening around the place- god knows what KMC would be up to if we did not have you to shine a bit of light on things- they dont seem to care anyway! have been laughing out loud .... and shaking my head when reading the issue this morning- WTH is going on .... again! .... dodgy stuff bout blue haven terralong st, leakings of ICAC referrals, more $ legal costs no doubt etc .... and thats ignoring the "confidential" smoke and mirrors around the supposed sale/giveaway of BH Boniara - as usual its reading like a mix between a soap opera (a poor one at that) and a 3 Stooges episode (sorry to insult the 3 Stooges)- cant believe that they have dodged an apppointed Administrator over ALL THIS TIME!!!- yes i agree THE LOT NEED TO RESIGN - keep up your good work- cheersP. Potts.

It is of concern that some of your correspondents have as much financial expertise as the former Counsellors and staff who created the current financial crisis in KMC. Whilst the provision of retirement living facilities for local residents is an admirable cause, these facilities are increasingly complex to manage and costly to run. And the sponsoring Council and Councillors require considerably more financial expertise to manage than two decades ago. A more fundamental issue is whether Councils are best placed and sufficiently competent to establish and manage these facilities. Furthermore, Kiama is a small municipality that lacks the revenue streams to offer other than basic services. Over the past 2-3 years the Council has been presented with expert financial analysis and recommendations from both the Office of Local Government and its local Finance Advisory Group which they have chosen to reject. These recommendations, if accepted, would require courage and foresight to implement and Councillors’ solidarity to persuade their stakeholders of their necessity. The forthcoming Council elections may have influenced their lack of courage to take the tough decisions that are required to rescue our Municipality from administration. The solution must incorporate sharp cost reduction measures: staff and capital works reductions. This potentially unpopular step must be accompanied by raising revenue without selling assets, as directed by the Office of Local Government. As a last resort a special rate variation can be applied for but this does not resolve the fact that our costs are not covered by our revenue. Once again the Councillors kicked this challenge into the future when the problems might miraculously disappear or become someone else’s problem. That’s the day when the sun will rise in the west! These initiatives appear unpalatable. Clearly some residents oppose the sale of Blue Haven and other assets. Some blame the current CEO. Few seem willing to go back to the perpetrators who set up our Council to fail. Even fewer seem to acknowledge the effort and expertise put in by the CEO and her staff to analyse and diagnose the root causes of our poor financial position and to propose solutions that would enable KMC to recover. Whilst some of the current criticisms are well meaning, they are misguided. It’s time to put the facts before emotional responses to a situation that involves us all. Roger R Collins Gerroa 0408276430

Saddle Back Men's Table EntreeTuesday 20th August 2024The Coach Room at the Berry Pub6:30 pm for 7:00 sharp - 9:00 pmhttps://themenstable.org/saddlebackentree-tue-aug-20/The Men’s Table creates a unique, safe environment for men to share openly about their lives, their challenges, their highs and lows. Over dinner once a month, the proven format creates a sense of belonging, community, peer support and camaraderie that is lacking for many men, even for some who already have a group of mates.The Men’s Table entrée nights are information nights where men can find out if The Men’s Table is for them. There is one coming up in our area and interested men are encouraged to register to come along and experience the benefits that hundreds of men across the country enjoy every month.Find out more on The Men’s Table website or use this link to registerThere are space limited to 16 so please book your spot at the tablehttps://themenstable.org/saddlebackentree-tue-aug-20/Once you've been to the Entree', you'll be clearer about whether you'd like to be part of starting a new local Table, and we can help you with the relevant next steps.Visit the website to find out more – www.themenstable.org

The announcement by climate Minister Bowen that the offshore Wind Farm for the Illiwarra has been approved is a call to arms ! I think most Australians are fed up with this Labor Government not listening to the people and head in the sand attitude to our power crisis. The Hipocrisy over power supply is so maddening as Australia is blessed with every mineral there is under our feet and we had the cheapest power in the world and now ,,, a lot of Australians can't afford their power bills !!! Australia produces 1 Pc of Carbon Dioxide which is plant food and we have tens of millions of trees! If we were so concerned about C02 we wouldn't ship Millions of tonnes of Coal to to China but we need the money we receive for Hospitals and pensions! Last time I looked we all live on the same planet China who produces 30 PC of Emissions has No requirement to reduce them !! But silly Australia will ruin our pristine Coastline with 300 wind Turbines because we are good citizens !!! We will never been told what this destruction will cost ,,, and we will be forever told the wind and Sun is free !!! I urge constituents of Gilmore to Vote for anyone but the incumbent member! We will Rue the day we don't stand against this destruction of our natural environment! Denis Walford Kiama

Having closely followed the proposal by the current Kiama Council to sell the Council owned BlueHaven Bonaira retirement complex I feel it pertinent to make the following observations.Kiama Council has for more than 40 years (prior to 2020) conducted a very successful retirementoperation known as Blue Haven Age Care Facility (Nursing Home) and Retirement Village, TerralongStreet, with absolute minimum cost to ratepayers.This establishment was the pride of the Community and earned acclaim far and wide.Kiama’s reputation in caring for it’s community in Community Health and retirement living was suchthat Emeritus Mayor Sandra McCarthy was invited to speak at various seminars both in Australia andoverseas.Over 70% of those who were either living in one of 1 of 5 independent living buildings or wereresidents in the nursing home were Kiama Residents.Blue Haven Terralong was managed by key personal responsible to the Blue Haven Advisory Boardwhich in turn reported to Council. The Board included a number of highly respected local residents.In addition to the above mentioned Council provided a wide range of community services, includingCommunity Transport, Community Nursing, the Community Centre and Community Option advice,all under the same umbrella, making Kiama an ideal place for people to retire.Over the years a Blue Haven Auxiliary (‘Friends of Blue Haven’) worked tirelessly to provide variousitems for the nursing home not available through other funding channels. This volunteer group,through the Annual Blue Haven Fete and other activities raised an amount estimated in excess of$200,00 over the years for this purpose.Independent Living establishments, by virtue of the NSW Government Legislation under which theyoperate and the financial benefit obtained when units are on sold reflecting Real Estate priceincreases, means the establishment operates as a revenue positive business.If Council sells Blue Haven Bonaira it should certainly retain Barroul Houseand its curtilage.15 of 16 speakers at the inquiry to reclassification the land to enable it to be sold spoke against thesale with extremely strong opposition to the sale of Historic Barroul House.The Commonwealth Grant of $1.4m purpose of restoring Barroul House was explicit inthe future use of Barroul House and its curtilage.As taken from a previous letter to Council and the Bugle these included;a. The Proposal will maximise the public access to Barroul House providing a safeentrance and use, and enhance the community engagement of the project andunderstanding of Barroul house.b. The vision for Barroul House precinct is to be arts, cultural and community hub, helpingto overcome social isolation in our ageing population and provide opportunities for childrenand ageing to link together in a community setting.c. Council will liaise with the Local Wodi Wodi Indigenous people to create a sensory andindigenous garden that tells the story of the local indigenous community in a landscapedand engaging way. It would combine plants, landscaping ie pathways, story boards andopportunities for touch, smell, and taste our indigenous food.What a wonderful asset this currently is for Kiama.What a pity it is if this is lost.What does the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira really mean.A NSW Government condition included in the sale of the site to Council was that it was to be usedfor retirement purposes until 2027. This is now only 3 years away!The purchaser of the Blue Haven Bonaira would then be in a position to do as it likes includingbuilding several hundred apartments. Council would have no say.What a windfall!Should this occur, Kiama would be left without a nursing home for its predominately ageingresidents.Family and friends of those requiring nursing home care would have to travel to Gerringong (if a bedbecame available) or much further afield to visit their loved ones.164(?) nursing home beds would be lost in the Illawarra..--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Option 1 Council should retain ownership of Blue Haven Bonaira and appoint staff to manageBLUE HAVEN in its entirety.This is currently not a preferred option of Council.In summary, my proposal.Option 2 Council retain ownership of the Independent Living establishment, includingMatterson Hall, Barroul House and its curtilage and SELL the Nursing Home to a notfor profit registered retirement provider.The issues of access and parking could be accommodated on the Deposited Plan ofsubdivision.Barroul House ‘coffee shop’ could be leased with a committee appointed to overseethe activities proposed above.This would ensure Council own the major part of the site and would control the futureof the site. (This could readily be accommodated by Subdivision of the site.)Option 2 ;1. Ensures Council maintains control of the site into the future.2. Council receives a considerable financial return upfront through the sale of thenursing home and derive a substantial annual income from the remainder.3. Residents in Independent Living Units at Terralong Street and Bonaira are subjectto similar condition, both being in Council ownership. The occupants of Blue HavenBonaira ILU’s would be comforted knowing their future is secure.4. Barroul House and its curtilage meet the purpose of the Government Grant.5. Option 2 allays Council’s concerns regarding the management of a nursing home.6. Preserves a future Nursing Home facility for Kiama residents in their own town.7. Addresses the concerns of the United Services Union re its members employment.8. The Recognition of Local Indigenous is preserved and enhanced.I am committed to obtaining the best outcome for Blue Haven Bonaira and I feel theoption to retain ownership is the preferred option of the wider community.This is evident by the fact that 15 out of 16 prominent respected individuals spokestrongly against the sale at the inquiry to reclassify the land to enable sale.NOEL EDGELLFormer 14 year(1987 – 2000) Director of Engineering , Kiama Municipal Council.Footnote; Council could include the sale of the Nursing Home in current negotiations with thepreferred tenderer.

Reading various FB posts, it has come to my attention that a certain councillor appears determined to undermine The Bugle. I am personally convinced that his behaviour is erratic, raising concerns about his mental well-being. It would be beneficial for someone close to him to provide some much-needed feedback - his credibility is rapidly eroding due to his frequent outbursts. He should consider refocusing his efforts on his responsibilities at council and utilise his time more productively.Diane Wadsworth

A message to Mayor Reilly. Dear Mayor, I am concerned about your continuing misuse of the English language. You were quoted in this paper as saying the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira was 'an excellent outcome'. Mayor Reilly, if I offered you say $750,000 for your $2 million Kiama property, and you were foolish enough to accept that offer - then that would be an excellent outcome - for me! Now you are very fond of telling this community how transparent you and your Council staff have been = though there is scant evidence to support that claim. Would you consider the Censure motion you moved against Cr Renkema Lang an example of your transparency? The NSW Supreme Court doesn't think so, but who is a Supreme Court judge to make such judgment?? You keep on insisting that your Council is cash strapped - and yet in defending your action against Cr. Renkema Lang you have cost the rate payers of this community half a million dollars in unnecessary legal costs. And you dont seem to understand the concept of conflict of interest.

While the invalid process behind the Mayor’s censuring of Councillor Renkema-Lang has been exposed through her Supreme Court appeal, the motivation behind this action is now up for speculation. In commenting on possible motives, former Judge and Chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, Anthony Whealy KC, didn’t hold back. In an interview with the ABC on Friday he said:  “The censure motion appeared to be an ill-considered measure to silence a dissenting councillor,” and “this censure motion strikes me as susceptible to an inference that it was really designed to shut her up.”  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-31/kiama-council-to-pay-legal-fees-over-invalid-censure/103915864 If Council’s leaders are unwilling to take responsibility for their now discredited actions, then the Minister should step in and appoint an administrator to return our council to a safe, respectful financially sound place, so our elected representatives can freely represent us without fear of harassment. Howard H Jones 

The recent Supreme Court ruling in favour of Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang against Kiama Municipal Council has prompted a pressing question: Is our current council structure fit for purpose? Given the council's decision to engage in costly litigation despite severe financial constraints, one must wonder if the time if well overdue to replace our councillors with an administrator. The case, which centred around an invalid censure motion, has exposed significant procedural flaws and resulted in adding a further $400,000 ( and rising ) in legal costs which have already exceeded $4.7 million this financial year, a burden that falls heavily on the ratepayers.On 27 May 2024, the Supreme Court of NSW, through consent orders, declared the council's resolution to censure Councillor Renkema-Lang invalid due to reasonable apprehension of bias in the independent report by Michael Symons. This report, which had been crucial in the council's decision, was found to have significant redactions that concealed previous involvement of the conduct reviewer in a complaint brought by Renkema-Lang against the Mayor. The court also ordered the council to pay all legal costs, further exacerbating its financial woes.The financial implications of this litigation are staggering. Legal costs have already surpassed $4.7 million this financial year. This comes at a time when the council's financial situation is already precarious, as highlighted by the NSW Auditor General’s reports and the Office of Local Government’s extension of the Performance Improvement Order.One cannot help but question the council's wisdom in increasing the financial burden on the municipality's ratepayers, who are now left to shoulder the costs of what many would consider avoidable litigation.The case has also shed light on significant procedural and transparency issues within the council. Councillor Renkema-Lang’s vindication by the court underscores the lack of transparency in the council’s processes. The redactions in Symons' report, which withheld critical information from the councillors, reflect a troubling disregard for procedural fairness. The fact that these redactions concealed a prior involvement that could have informed the councillors' decisions is particularly concerning.Renkema-Lang’s press release statement highlights her deep disappointment in the council's handling of the matter, pointing out that the council had ample opportunities to reconsider its approach but chose not to. This lack of reconsideration not only led to unnecessary expenditure but also called into question the council’s commitment to fair and transparent governance.At the heart of the matter is the principle of freedom of expression for elected officials. Renkema-Lang's comments during a June 2023 radio interview, which led to the censure motion, were based on publicly available information and her opposition to the reclassification of Bonaira land. Her right to express her opinion on council matters without fear of censure is fundamental to democratic governance.The ruling serves as a reminder that elected officials must be allowed to voice their opinions openly and honestly. It also underscores the need for the council to provide timely, relevant, complete, and accurate information to its councillors, enabling them to make informed decisions.The Kiama Municipal Council’s decision to engage in costly litigation against Councillor Renkema-Lang, raises serious questions about its financial stewardship and commitment to procedural fairness. This case serves as a cautionary tale for other councils about the importance of transparency, fair process, and prudent financial management. It is imperative that Kiama Council reassesses its approach to governance to prevent similar situations in the future and to restore public trust in its decision-making processes.  Lynne Strong

Hear Hear Allan Holder! (letter 18 May)- yes the ongoing KMC financial mess has been smoke (mostly) and mirrors to us lowly ratepowers from "our" present Council, some of who were there when "we" got in this mess- you can only guess why the sale of Boniara is being dragged out I am guessing that nobody wants it at the mooted price .... of course it would be PR spin commercial in confidence.... and they are going to have to virtually give it away to get it off the KMC books. Anyway i know the Council is busy with more important matters ... like ridiculously penalising Cr. Renkema-Lang for not falling into a nice quiet line and shamefully, as an elected representative of the ratepayers of Kiama, rightly expressing her thoughts about the whole mess! Bill Potts

I would like to comment on your on line item about Kiama Council comes out swinging. I can only assume that the source of this story had to emanate from either the General Manager, the Mayor, or someone very close to them. Clearly, as anyone who has followed the whole saga of the 'sale' of Blue Haven would be aware, it has been the constant position of both the General Manager and the Mayor that Blue Haven in its entirety should be sold. At every vote on this matter taken by Council, the Mayor has voted in support of this - nothing new there. As far as I am aware, the last time Council voted on this matter was in August or September of last year, where it was determined by a 5 - 4 vote that Blue Haven Bonaira would be sold, whilst Blue Haven Terralong would be retained. This was against the advice received by Council from Stuart Brown Chartered Accountants, who recommended selling everything - oh and let's not forget, the beneficiary of that advice was Stuart Brown Advisory, who were to be retained to assist with the sale. Conflict of interest? Not according to Council staff - one wonders if they have any understanding of the meaning of that term! Now in the last issue of the Bugle you published an article about Council's 'green shoots'. In that article it referred a supposed loss of $2.54 million accredited to Blue Haven Terralong. Now we who live here at BH Terralong knew that that could not possibly be true. On checking with a senior Council officer we were advised that the Bugle had made an error, and that the loss was the combined loss of all the components of Blue Haven, including the Nursing Home. I would like your paper's view on this supposed error! Now we come to this most recent article - how can Council now trumpet the sale of Blue Haven Terralong when it hasn't been voted on by Council? What sort of dictatorship is the General Manager and Mayor proposing to foist on this community next? How can they possibly make this 'announcement? I suspect this is all part of the strategy that has been long playing, where the original advice of the GM to Council was to sell everything. As it would appear that the sale process for Bonaira has stalled, lets set our sights on the jewel in the crown, Terralong, and get rid of that! It intrigues me that for more than 40 years Kiama Council has and this community, have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with the entity known as Blue Haven Terralong. Yet an out of towner rides in determined to smash that relationship. Once it is gone, it is gone! But I think Council might have to rethink it's legal budget for next year - I can't see it going down!Allan Holder