Surf Camp rolls with the punches
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Boardwalk in financial limbo
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Community rallies to show their support p5
Top surfers to compete here
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Mural livens Visitors Centre
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8 AUG 2020
Heritage protection gains momentum Kiama Council is working closely with the Kiama & District Historical Society to identify houses and other built structures that should be considered for heritage protection in the Local Environment Plan (LEP). The information gathered together will inform consultants who are being appointed by the end of the month to conduct a formal Heritage Review of central Kiama. While the recent demolition of 47 Thomson St has drawn community attention to the issue, the timing and funding for this Heritage Review springs from the Town Centre Study, endorsed last year. “We want to capture properties with heritage significance, such as Thomson St, and give them protection as quickly as possible,” says Council’s Strategic Planner, Ed Paterson. “The community has said in a number of different forums, including the development of the Kiama Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS), that heritage is really important to our character and we need to get everything squared away to protect it.” The last Heritage Review was conducted in 2007, in the lead up to the development of the 2011 LEP. “We are focusing on the items that were recommended for listing, but for one
reason or other weren’t when they went before Council,” says Mr Paterson. 47 Thompson was one of these. “It is not uncommon for heritage listings to be a controversial thing,” says Mr Paterson. “Ultimately it is up to the councillors to decide which properties should be listed.” Speed is of the essence, given that unless properties are listed in the LEP, or governed by an interim heritage order, there is nothing stopping a private certifier issuing a complying development certificate for their demolition. No DA needs to have been lodged for this to happen. At least 20 properties have already been identified by Council and the Society as being worthy of more consideration for listing. “Some people are worried that a listing will devalue their property, but it doesn’t,” says the Historical Society’s President, Sue Eggins. “Often houses with history are the most sought after, as they give a connection to the area.” Information collected by the Society for its 2017 exhibition, A Closer Look: Lost and Found Treasures of Kiama, has proved a valuable resource. The Study will be completed by the end of the year, continued p12
Kiama & District Historical Society’s Sue Eggins with Council’s Strategic Planner, Ed Paterson
FROM THE EDITOR
Focus on mental health Saddened by the number of people in our community taking their own lives, locals are rallying to show their support. Everybody wants to do what they can to help. Our report on page 5 outlines the additional support being provided by Council’s Youth Service and the High School, as well as new communitydriven initiatives that are getting off the ground. The Bugle is well aware that talking about suicide has long been a taboo subject, but we believe it is time for sensitive discussion of the topic, especially given the extra pressures on people of all ages in these strange times. In future editions, we will let you know how these initiatives develop. Our community will be stronger for them.
First Traffic Study underway Kiama Council is currently conducting a traffic study as part of the overall implementation of the recommendations of the Kiama Town Centre Study. Director Engineering and Works, Mike Dowd, says it is the first time such a comprehensive study has been undertaken on traffic and parking in Kiama. “The exciting part of this work is that it will provide
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us with our first proper traffic and parking model with baseline data showing current traffic and parking conditions. “The study will capture traffic and parking information over a range of periods.” The Town Centre Study was developed by Council, with extensive community involvement, to help balance growth in the Kiama town centre while also retaining
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its historic character. A key community concern was traffic congestion and parking, especially in the busy summer tourist season. “The work we’re doing now will help forecast our traffic and parking needs for the future,” says Mr Dowd. “This will help plan a redeveloped and revitalised Kiama, which is the intention of the Town Centre Study. “It will also predict what
pedestrian, cycling and public transport systems will be required in the future.” The traffic study was originally scheduled for earlier this year, but delayed due to the traffic downturn during the COVID-19 lockdown. A report on the findings of the Traffic Study is expected before Christmas. A Kiama Town Centre Economic Study has already been completed.
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