Sally makes surfing history
New Regional Plan p3
Bushman pays a visit p3
We’ve got great pies p7
Local conquers toughest race
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12 JUNE 2021
New CEO moves in Jane Stroud has started work as Council’s Chief Executive Officer (formerly known as the General Manager). “While financial sustainability is my number one priority, I’d have to say it is followed closely by making a positive difference for our organisation and the staff here and really helping add some value to the work that we do for the community,” she says. Ms Stroud has already started visiting all of Council’s worksites to meet as many staff as she can in person, and is working closely with the executive management team to get to know the organisation and its projects. “I want to get out and about and meet our people first and foremost,” she says. “Our staff are part of the community as well as serving the community, and it is important that we are able and confident to do our jobs working in a really supportive team environment. “Then I would really like to engage with the broader business sector and the local community through visiting the precinct groups. “For me this whole first month is about listening, understanding and getting to know people and Kiama. “I don’t want to rush to make decisions and try to fix everything. People need me to listen to them first, to hear what they need and then to work with them to find a solution.” This action plan fits in with her assessment of what residents can expect from her. “I’m a very collaborative
Woolworths buys Village
kind of person,” she says. “I am quite energetic; and I enjoy working with people. “I would say the community can expect exactly the same thing the organisation will get from me: which is commitment, honesty and a good deal of hard work.” With a planning background, she has a passion for social planning and community engagement, and the desire to help the LGA negotiate the development challenges it faces. According to the Planning Institute of Australia, social planning involves planning for the needs and aspirations of people and communities through strategic policy and action, integrated with urban, regional and other planning activity. It is founded on the principles of social justice and aims to enhance community well being and effectiveness. “Bombo Quarry is an incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity,” says Ms Stroud.
“It’s the perfect time to stop, think, look around, see how other people have done it and advocate for what’s right for your community.” She comes from a role as Director Sustainable Development at the Southern Downs Regional Council in Queensland’s Darling Downs, where she focused on economic development and innovation, with agriculture a prime focus. “I have enormous respect for our agricultural sector,” she says. “I think they do an incredible job and sometimes I think we forget how important they are. “The green rolling hills are as vital to our future as our iconic coastline.” After the September election, Ms Stroud is looking forward to the consultative process that is undertaken to create its new plans for the next four years. “It’s incredibly important to me that it’s done in partner-
ship with the community because we are public servants, and our job is to work for you.” While there are many similarities between the Qld and NSW local government governing legislation, there are some differences – particularly in planning. “I’m busy learning,” she says. “There is significant planning reform being undertaken at the moment and I’m really having a look at how statutory planning fits with DA assessment and the role of local government in that space. I am very interested to see how that pans out.” Ms Stroud hadn’t been to Kiama before her interviews, but loves what she has seen and is looking forward to being part of the community with her husband and six year old twins, a boy and girl. “They are full of beans, so they aren’t here at the moment but will come down in about three weeks to start school in the new term,” she says.
Super fund ISPT has sold Kiama Village shopping centre to Woolworths Ltd for an undisclosed sum. Woolworths is proposing to submit a development application to Kiama Council in the coming months, with plans to renew and improve the shopping centre. The redevelopment will inject more than $10 million of investment into the local area, creating 80 new jobs during construction, a fullline modern Woolworths Supermarket and online Drive Through, Pick Up facility, additional car parking for customers and an improved specialty retail area. In making the announcement, Woolworths Regional Development Manager Tony Pratt said, “For the past 37 years our Kiama supermarket has been providing an essential and convenient shopping experience for local residents. “We’re delighted we now have the opportunity to not only deliver a brand new modern supermarket but also a vibrant neighbourhood shopping destination that aligns to the character of the Kiama community. “We appreciate there will be strong community interest in our proposal, which we are encouraging. While it’s early in the planning process,
we’re keen to hear directly from the people of Kiama to help inform our future plans for the project.” Woolworths says that community consultation will include phone and email communication to residents, letterbox drops and local community information sessions in the near future. “We want to work with our customers, retailers and the community to deliver a contemporary shopping centre that the people of Kiama can be proud of,” said Mr Pratt. “We are confident we can deliver a high-quality development, with a full-line modern supermarket that meets the unique needs of the Kiama community now and well into the future. “We are in the initial planning phase for the Kiama Village Centre, but at this stage it is not our intention to expand the site to accommodate another supermarket. “We look forward to engaging with the local community on our plans, ahead of lodging a development application.” In July 2020, ISPT’s DA for the $18 million redevelopment of Kiama Village was being knocked back unanimously by councillors after a damning report by planning staff, particulary about parking and traffic proposals.