The Bugle 28 April 2018
A fortnightly celebration of people and places on the Upper South Coast of NSW
Serving the communities of Kiama, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama Downs, Minnamurra and Gerroa and now at www.thebugleonline.com
Golden Valley Rd: end or beginning? Rather than seeing the approval of a proposal to develop land on Golden Valley Rd in Jamberoo as the beginning of urban creep, Mayor Honey sees it as the end of the village’s expansion. He says the land was identified as a boundary in 1974, and this status was reinforced in 2006 and 2011. “It is a notification to periurban landholders that this is it. This is as far as the village goes.” Kiama Council narrowly endorsed the recommendation of its Environmental Services Director to proceed with the process of rezoning the rural land to residential at its April Meeting. The 10 acres in question is on the south-eastern border of Jamberoo, and is expected to yield around 47 building sites. The planning proposal to make the necessary alterations to the Local Environment Plan was identical to that rejected 8:1 by Council in December 2016. In the latest vote, the proposal was endorsed 4:3, with Mayor Mark Honey and Councillors Don Watson, Mark Way and Warren Steel in support. Councillors Andrew Sloan and Matt Brown were not at the meeting.
“The reason I voted against it originally was to give the community further consultation period,” says Mayor Mark Honey. He has been in the firing line from some Jamberoo residents since the vote was taken but says that overall the community has been supportive of the decision. The response of the Jamberoo Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association is given in full to the right. “I didn’t consider any political ramifications when casting my vote. We are elected to do a job, and some of the decisions we make not everyone is going to like, but you have to make decisions that are for the good of the whole,” says Mayor Honey. “I feel strongly enough that it is in the community interest for the subdivision to go through so it defines the boundary of Jamberoo. “The development will be in accordance with the new Development Control Plan, which the Jamberoo community strongly fought for to retain the village’s character.” Councillors Neil Reilly and Kathy Rice spoke passionately against the recommendation, citing community concerns and stressing that the Continued p12
Inside this issue Minnamurra Boardwalk takes step to reality p 3
John and Tony tie the knot p 4
Air show attracts record line-up p 7
JVRRA expresses disappointment The Jamberoo Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association (JVRRA), which strongly opposed the rezoning, released the following statement: “JVRRA Committee members met today and expressed disappointment about Council’s decision to support the rezoning of the agricultural land at Golden Valley Road, at the entrance to Jamberoo. The vote came despite the Councillors having voted 8 to 1 against the same rezoning proposal in
2016. Councillors had been presented with broad community evidence based on surveys, workshops and community meetings, that an overwhelming proportion of the Jamberoo valley community did not support the proposal. “JVRRA would like to thank all the community members who have put so much effort into this matter. The whole experience has been a lesson that it is important to keep engaged with Council strategic plan-
ning from the earliest stages.” “Going forward, JVRRA will continue to provide an open forum for the discussion of all matters that affect the Jamberoo Valley community. We will keep working to preserve the village atmosphere of our beautiful valley, and to support a viable local agricultural industry. We meet on the first Tuesday of every month, at 7.30 p.m. in Club Jamberoo. We welcome new members who would like to have their voices heard.”
Film fundraiser for health mission p9
Free melanoma screening p6