Almost $500k for Gerry Emery upgrade Woolworths starts redevelopment

Kiama will soon have to deal with the reality of there being only 60 car parks available on site at Kiama Village from February to December, down from the usual 200, as the redevelopment gets underway.

An extra change that will take some time to get used to is that, from 2 February, customers will no longer be able to access Kiama Village Shopping Centre via the Terralong Street roundabout.

construction work, only Woolworths, BWS and the pharmacy will continue to trade.

During that period, Woolworths is introducing a 60 minute limit for parking and will be ensuring its retail and construction team park offsite.

The Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, has announced a NSW Stronger Country Communities Fund grant of $466,000 towards the update of female and accessible clubhouse facilities at Gerringong’s Gerry Emery Oval. In making the announcement, Mr Ward congratulated club stalwart John Trevenar for his hard work and perseverance in getting this project across the line.

“This money is not a campaign promise,” Mr Ward said, “it’s money in the bank.

“I’m really pleased that the State Government could make this contribution and I now hope that the Federal Government will match it.”

Past President of the Gerringong Breakers Soccer Club, Javid Sadrnia, put in the grant application the minute approval for the Development Application was received from Council last year.

The money will go from the State Government directly to Kiama Council, who will administer the project, as part of $160 million distributed in Round 5 of the fund to 530 successful projects across regional NSW.

The cost of the whole proj-

Chamber appeals to Minister

ect is in the region of $1.3 million, and John is hoping that by end of January/early February Gerringong District All Sports Inc will have $600,000 plus.

“If all the locals pay $1 for a brick, we could raise thousands,” he says.

In addition, bidding closes on three items donated by sporting stars – an Australian Socceroos 2022 signed Qatar jersey, a surfboard owned and ridden by champion Sally Fitzgibbons and Mick Cronin’s 1983 match work NSW Blues State of Origin jersey – on 1 February at 7pm.

View and bid on the items in the Sports Memorabilia section of allbids.com.au

John started this project 20 months ago and says he intends to project manage it until it’s finished, all as a volunteer.

“I’m doing all this for my community,” he says.

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The Kiama & District Business Chamber has written to the Minister for Regional Roads, Sam Farraway, expressing its concerns about there being no end in sight for the repairs to Jamberoo Mountain Road.

It claims that businesses in Kiama, Jamberoo and Robertson are experiencing around a 40 per cent reduction in turnover, and that it is time to focus on an upgrade of the roads connecting the coast to the Highlands – Jamberoo Mountain Road and Macquarie Pass.

The Chamber asks for the State Government to assist Kiama Council to expedite repairs, giving clear timelines; calls for Jamberoo Mountain Road to be a State road; asks for compensation for affected businesses; and calls for scoping studies for the upgrade of the two roads to be made a priority.

A temporary vehicular entrance further west will provide access to the reduced parking area until May, when Stage 1 works are expected to be completed (see right). This will mean that many cars wishing to enter the complex will have to navigate the small Havilah Place roundabout, due to the median strip.

The existing pedestrian access will be maintained during the work, but the path fronting the site will be closed for safety reasons for the duration of the work.

With most retail tenancies having already vacated the centre, either temporarily or for good, Woolworths has installed site fences and hoardings around work site.

While the centre will be open throughout the

Workers and Village staff are being asked to use the Leisure Centre carpark during the entire construction period.

In a letter delivered to neighbouring properties, Woolworths is encouraging customers to consider shopping during off-peak times, walking whenever possible and utilising home delivery or Direct to Boot services available at its nearby stores.

Many will shop out of town.

While the changes listed above have required planning approvals rather than being matters for the Traffic Committee, Councillor Stuart Larkins, who sits on the Committee, says, “I’ll certainly be monitoring the traffic conditions in Kiama and always welcome people to contact me about Council issues including traffic and parking.”

Below: Constructing the new vehicular access

Stage 1: February to April

• works will be undertaken to build the new access road and the rear car park close to Meares Place

• customer vehicular access will be provided via a new access on Terralong Street

• safe pedestrian access into the store will be provided from Terralong Street via the existing pedestrian walkway; and from Meares Place via the existing stairs.

Stage 2: May to December

• works will be undertaken to build the new decked car park and the new Direct to Boot facility

• works within the supermarket will also take place, to allow expansion of the range and to provide a fresh new look

• the rear car park close to Meares Place will be open to the public for this Stage

• customer vehicular access will be provided via the existing roundabout carterferguson.com.au

• safe pedestrian access into the store will be provided from Terralong Street via the new access road; and from Meares Place via the existing stairs.