Obelisk goes on budget wishlist

annual energy consumption for 11 years

• saving 60,000kg of land fill which is enough waste to fill six garbage trucks

• avoided 120,600kg of CO2 emissions which is the equivalent of keeping 45 cars off the road for one whole year.

To organise a pickup from your home call Bruce Ray on 0429 027 631. Crates can be supplied if needed. by Perrie Croshaw

Kiama Council has supported the call from the Central Precinct Committee to provide protection for the Obelisk on Terralong Street, with it being referred for consideration in the 23/24 budget process.

• Environment: helping the community to participate in renewable energy and reduce their carbon footprint, programs that restore areas after a flood, fire or storm or help communities plan for a weather event

• Social inclusion: supporting inclusiveness, equity and diversity or increase energy literacy in the community.

Applications close May 21. Info at endeavourenergy. com.au/grants

“The sandstone survey obelisk was originally installed in 1861 outside the post office on the corner of Terralong and Manning Streets,” says Sue Eggins, President of the Kiama and District Historical Society.

“It’s a very important structure originally used by surveyors as the reference point from which all distances in the district were to be measured and to lay out the streets of Kiama.”

The Obelisk was moved to the opposite side of the street after being hit by a runaway truck in 1959.

Sue says that about 10 years ago there was talk of moving the obelisk to, say, close to Kiama Library, but it is in such as state of disrepair, it may not be possible to move it. It already has a metal cage installed to protect it. Kiama’s heritage sandstone specialist, Brad Rimmer from BR Stonemasonry and Heritage Services, says that – while it would be up to a heritage planner to determine whether the piece is moved – it would be possible to restore it even though it is pretty weathered.

“I’ve walked past the obelisk often and noticed that while it is weathered from wind and salt, it doesn’t seem weak. It would need to be taken apart very carefully and could be patched up to get rid of a lot of the weathering.”

by Perrie Croshaw