Look who is riding in L’Etape p3
Council hires recruiter
Jazz & Blues Festival hots up p3
Bruce Elder’s magnum opus
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Funds flow from Makuta
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20 FEB 2021
Draft Harbour plan causes concern The Draft Kiama Harbour Revitalisation Framework, currently on exhibition, is causing waves within the community as locals analyse its impact. “The whole design is based on moving the boat ramp to the northern end, where the carparking and helicopter pad is,” says Councillor Mark Way, who is a keen boater and fisher. “It doesn’t make any sense at all. They are proposing a breakwater to protect it, but it will block off half of the navigation channel and make it impossible to get into the harbour at low tide.” Councillor Way has been involved with improving the harbour for many years, and says it is working well for everyone at the moment. “Sure it could be prettied up, but the basic layout is working perfectly – the boat ramp is in a protected place, close to the carpark, and the traffic works well. “What is proposed stops people using the rockpool from parking up there at all. “Traffic will be restricted to boat users and emergency vehicles.” Mila Evans is a member of the Crabs swimming group, and says she doesn’t understand why the character of the harbour is under threat. “I don’t think the people who put this together realise how much people love the
Deer control for the Valley
Councillor Mark Way believes this is no place for a boat ramp
rockpool, and how many locals and visitors use it.” A local boat owner detailed his concerns to us. “The harbour works well as it is. Moving the boat ramp makes no sense, as it will block the main deep channel and there will massive swells where the breakwall is proposed. “The basalt floor of the harbour means you can’t dredge a new channel. “I don’t think they have listened to anybody with any local knowledge.” The Draft is on exhibition, and residents are encouraged to make submissions. “Feedback is invited until 5 March and will help inform the final plan,” says NSW Maritime Acting Executive
Director Andrew Mogg. “No aspect of the plan will be locked in until all feedback is considered. “Transport for NSW has already consulted with manly local stakeholders for guidance on the draft plan, including Kiama Chamber of Commerce, Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council, Kiama Harbour Fish Markets, Kiama Precinct Groups, Kiama Boat Owners Association, 1st Kiama Scout Group, Kiama Game Fishers Association, and Kiama Historical Society.” Ms Evans says she has got to know a lot of people who use the harbour, and through talking to them has realised that there is little support for the changes.
“I thought the organisations listed as participating stakeholders must support it, but it seems that isn’t the case.” Councillor Neil Reilly shares the concerns of others and more. “My real fear is there are people who would like to see Blowhole Point highly developed. By a slip of a bureaucratic pen, they will use this unconnected document to do just that.” Full details at www.rms. nsw.gov.au/projects/kiamaharbour-revitalisation Information zoom sessions have already been held, but anyone wishing to find out more can do so at the Kiama Central Precinct Meeting, Tues 23 Feb, Joyce Wheatley Centre, 7pm.
With the help of funding from the NSW Government’s bushfire recovery program, South East Local Land Services is extending its wild deer management program into the Jamberoo Valley. “We’ve had reports of an increase in deer numbers across the Jamberoo Valley area, and this could be a result of the impact of last year’s Southern Fires on habitat further south,” says Senior Biosecurity Officer Liam Orrock. While the program has been running in the Illawarra since 2011, it will be the first
A Rusa stag in the Valley
time it has operated in the Kiama LGA. “Deer pose a significant risk to natural environments and agricultural production in the South East,” says Mr Orrock. “For this reason they have been declared a priority pest under our regional strategic pest plan. “Not only do they increase grazing pressure on public and private land and damage fences and other infrastructure, but they can also spread diseases – such as Leptospirosis – which affect animals
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Photo: South East LLS