The Bugle 27 August 2016
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
What to do with $2.5m? Seven of these eight people wish to be re-elected to Kiama Council. Soon after that, amongst many other things, they will have to consider what to do about $2.5 million of developer contribution funds that have been set aside for the extension of the Council administration building. Contributions collected through Section 94 and 94A Plans raise a significant amount for Council’s annual works program. For a variety of reasons, a review has recommended that all of the funds should be collected through a new s94A plan, as it will be more flexible and simpler to implement. When this happens, around $3.5 million in funds being currently held will have to
be reallocated, within certain parameters and constraints. As the $2.5 million earmarked for the extension of the administration building is not yet in the works budget, it is possible the new Council could consider re-allocating the money to other appropriate uses. The move would be subject to a number of statutory regulations and obligations to do with the purpose for which the money was raised. That said, we asked each of the tickets for their thoughts:
World Juniors: time to check out the surf p3
Councillors at the August Meeting: Neil Reilly, Mark Honey, Mark Way, Kathy Rice, Andrew Sloan, Warren Steel, Dennis Seage (not seeking re-election) and Gavin McClure
“While there is no doubt money needs to be spent on modernising and enlarging our office space, I think this Mark Honey should be seen as an opporHoney/Westhoff tunity to consider moving “It is my understanding the the Chambers from the curplans for the hospital rederent prime site rather than velopment already include adding an extra floor. $1 million of this to relocate “There are a number of all of the community serpossible sites, and the sale vices staff there. would release even more
funds for community projects and put us in a really good position for Fit for the Future.”
“As regards the wider use of developer contribution funds I think it is appropriate to use those funds for not Mark Way Kiama only the building of playMunicipality’s Independents grounds, paths etc near the The new Council should development, but also for consider firstly whether to application to major infrarenovate the existing build- structure, like the Minnaing or perhaps consider an- murra Board Walk and other site to cater for all Cycleway, a Cultural Centre administrative staff. Continued on page 10
Small business pops up in old Mitre 10 Rather than being an empty shell in the middle of Kiama’s town centre while it awaits its new fate, Council has agreed to lease the Mitre 10 building to a small business incubator run by Emily Gough. Emily has run the Pop-Up Co-Op in Collins St along similar lines for almost 18 months. The idea facilitates the subletting of space to small businesses who collectively work together to operate the retail space and grow their businesses. “My goal is to give these people a step in-between operating a market stall and establishing their own shop or website,” she says. “We’ve had nothing but positive feedback from Collins St about the concept.” She sees it as an opportunity to add more life to the street during
Inside this issue
the period before the redevelopment that is to happen now the building has sold. “This size shop in a location like this comes up so rarely,” Emily says. “It is just perfect.” The lease is expected to begin on 1 October, with a grand opening of The Collective Kiama, being planned for 8 October. There is room for thirty-two small businesses, ranging in size from 3x3m to 2x2m, and half those spots have been reserved already. The Collins St site will continue to operate until the end of the year. The Terralong St space will be available until the building’s buyer has its DA approved and the sale is completed. It will be open 9-5, seven days.
Meet the people next in line on the election ticket p3
Whale watching platform opens p7
Elsie turns 100 p9
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