The Bugle 29 August 2015
A fortnightly celebration of people and places on the Upper South Coast of NSW
Serving the communities of Kiama, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama Downs, Minnamurra and Gerroa and now at www.thebugleonline.com
ONE Dam holds firm til the end YEAR While Kiama held national interest with the story of the imminent collapse of Jerrara Dam, the call to evacuate properties downstream was more of a precaution while the situation was assessed. There is nothing like a The situation looked more fortnightly deadline to dire due to the wall having make a year fly. already been excavated as We’ve been thrilled part of its long awaited decommissioning. by the support we’ve “The decommissioning received from the comproject is two-thirds of the munity since our first way through,” explains edition. It confirms our Kiama Council General belief that people do Manager Michael Forsyth. want to have a vibrant “A section of the wall had local newspaper, run by been taken out, the channels locals for locals. The temporary spillway widened and the spillway What you see reflected lowered.” Mr Forsyth. back at you in these To do this work, the dam The evacuation notice pages is a community had been drained somewhat applied to ten properties, so that the water level was with two owners on higher that cares deeply about some metres below the new ground choosing to stay. the welfare of others spillway. Even with that low The students at Minnamurra (witnessed by the large starting level, the dam filled Public School were also sent number of fundraising quickly from its small but home due to its location near events we’ve encouraged steep catchment area. the river mouth. you to attend), a pride in “The project design for Given the tragedies caused each other’s achievethe decommissioning elsewhere by the speed of ments, a preparedness worked well, with all of the dam collapses, such precauto get in and make things factors working as expected tions were justified. happen, and a burgeonin such a scenario,” says The decommissioning of ing arts and local food community. This year has been stage one in The Bugle’s As The Bugle goes to press, results are coming in from development, and the various sources attending the South Coast Tourism coming year will see us Awards in Ulladulla. As far as we can tell, our region has done very well expand to include more with Jamberoo Pub winning the Winery/Pub award, news, features and colSouth Coast Holidays winning gold in its Holiday Rental umns. Services category, The Pavilion Kiama being judged the You can help this hapbest Meetings, Functions & Business Tourism venue, pen by telling businesses Gerringong’s Mecure winning the best Executive Accomhow much you enjoy modation, and El Corazon Restaurant being named the reading The Bugle, so best Tourism Restaurant. they can join our growing Our apologies if we have missed anyone in the exciterank of advertisers. ment. We understand a number of other operators and Once more, thanks! organisations, including Foodscape Tours and Kiama Show, won silver in their categories.
and counting
Inside this issue Kiama Art Society’s 37th Exhibition p 3
Date set for Orry-Kelly movie p 3
Jerrara Creek lapped the gardens of Terragong House
the dam is expected to be completed in four to six weeks’ time, at a total cost of $700,000. Until the arrival of this
East Coast low, August was shaping up as a dry one. In the first 24 days, we had 3.8mm of rain. In the next two, 248.4mm (9¾ inches).
Enrol in the Regal Regiment p 5
Local tourism operators impress judges
Jamie, Erica and Ross Warren with Jamberoo Pub’s award for the best Pub/Winery on the South Coast
Victory Dance photos p6