The Bugle 13 February 2016
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
Public Inquiry into the merger:
Inside this issue
community presents united front
Focus on the merger p 6 and 7
In years to come, locals will still be talking about the day the NSW Government made concerned residents spend three hours in a tent in a carpark if they wanted to express their views on its proposed merger of Kiama and Shoalhaven councils. Prepared as an overflow venue for the expected large crowd at the Leagues Club, a last minute decision was made to shepherd everyone into the temporary structure. The poor ventilation, no easily accessible toilets, inadequate audiovisual screens and need for water to be handed out was rightly seen as an insult. The Mayor Brian Petschler said as much, while making it clear the Delegate was not
responsible for the arrangements. He let everyone know that Council had offered The Pavilion as a venue, and the offer was still open. The lack of amenity added to the passion of the event, where eighty-five people had registered to speak. Only 63 people reached the microphone, where they were given three minutes to speak rather than the five minutes many had prepared. One of those too far down the speaking order was eighty seven year old Elaine Pratt. “My mum has lived in Kiama since the Fifties and wanted to speak against the merger,” says Geoff Pratt. “She waited patiently in a stinking hot tent, no cooling,
no toilets, no water, lots of guards, for 3 hours. Then had to leave without getting the opportunity to speak. I felt very sorry for her.” The Bugle attended all three sessions of the Inquiry, two in Kiama and one in Nowra. The other two sessions were held inside clubs, not outside, so lacked the undercurrent of the first meeting. In all, over 120 people spoke, and all of them were against the merger. Two people at the morning meeting who were unable to speak before time ran out said they were for the merger, but they did not take Speakers approached the the opportunity to be given ten points under considerapriority to speak at the tion by the Delegate, Greg evening session. Wright, in different ways.
Burnetts expand into Mitre 10 vacuum p3
Many addressed Kiama’s sense of community and common interest, the lack of Continued on page 6
Lions’ plan to provide holiday respite for carers
Local Lions Peter Scifleet and Ray Redgrave discuss the extent of the renovations with Lions District Governor Sally Wilton.
Council has given the green light to the Lions Clubs of Kiama, Minnamurra and Jamberoo to renovate a disused house on Shoalhaven St as a respite centre for carers. Councillors unanimously approved the project, offering the house at a peppercorn rent, saying they were pleased a currently unused and deteriorating Council owned property will become an asset to the wider community. The ambitious undertaking will turn the former gasworks’ manager’s cottage into a spacious holiday house with three bedrooms (complete with ensuites), where carers can come to ‘recharge their batteries’. There is room for parking and disabled access out the back, and for a deck out the front.
Kiama Sevens almost here p 3
A number of local businesses, tradesmen and suppliers have already expressed an interest in assisting Lions with the refurbishment, which is expected to take a year to complete, including negotiating the lease and lodging a DA. The first stage will be to clear the ground surrounding the house and make it watertight. Carers Association of NSW is very enthusiastic about the project, as there are very few respite centres available for their members. “We just can’t wait to start,” says Ray Redgrave. “The house has good bones, and just needs some TLC. It is a project for the whole community to become involved with.” Anyone wishing to help should contact Peter Scifleet on 0414 973 388.
Lloyd Rees’ Legacy needs your help p5
Concerns over Manning St DA p8
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