ENHANCED ENHANCE

I’ve recently taken to the road in our new Mayoral vehicle, which is an EV (electric vehicle). This has prompted me to think about sustainability.

Pillar two of our Community Strategic Plan (CSP) is: we thrive in a sustainable environment. But what on earth does that mean?

‘Sustainability’ can be challenging to define, yet to me, it is very real. It’s a lens through which I view all issues. I consider sustainability to be an inter-generational contract – basically living life to the fullest without compromising future generations' ability to do the same.

‘Environment’ is two

At Kiama Council, our net zero goals, as outlined in our Corporate Emissions Reduction Plan, are something we take seriously. My EV joins some hybrid vehicles in our passenger fleet and our new waste truck, which meets Euro V1 (6) emissions standards. On other fronts, we’ve also upgraded our street lighting to LEDs to be more energy efficient, and we’re working with Endeavour Energy on a project to install the first community battery in our municipality – every bit helps.

Financial sustainability is a concept that we talk about a lot in Council, and you’ll probably be aware that the Councillors and I have made

Cultural sustainability is another area Council works hard at. Preserving and celebrating cultural diversity is essential for sustainable development. Valuing and sharing diverse cultural heritage, traditions, and knowledge can enrich societies and foster a sense of identity and belonging.

We recently hosted the regional NAIDOC Awards and in November, we’ll host a new event: an Indian Festival, with input from the Kiama and District Business Chamber, the Consul General and the Indian community. It is shaping up to be a fantastic cultural, economic, and fun exchange.

Ethical sustainability: This aspect revolves around promoting ethical behaviour and responsible practices in

Recognising the importance of everyone’s well-being and emotional resilience as crucial components of a sustainable future helps build inter-generational sustainability. This is why I spoke to our Federal Member, Fiona Philips, who is working with us to establish a Headspace here in our LGA, to provide additional mental health support for our youth.

Finally, social sustainability means focusing on creating urban and rural planning that is inclusive and equitable. Where we plan for today, with tomorrow in mind.

This involves engaging with our community to ensure we understand our aligned vision and objectives. Our Local Strategic Planning Statement and Kiama Town Centre Plan goes a long way to achieving development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The Enhance Service station located at 35 Collins Street Kiama is currently closed as the site undergoes renovations, including replacing its fuel tanks.

The ongoing construction is affecting neighbouring businesses such as House2Home, who has been repeatedly impacted by nearby construction, including dealing with restricted parking for customers.

Kev Laves, proprietor of House2Home told The Bugle about his long-term frustration with construction workers that take all the parking spots meant for his customers and park their vehicles there all day.

“I have contacted Council numerous times about enforcement of illegal all-day parking by construction workers for more than two years, and nothing happens,” Ken says.

“I have customers regularly come in and say they couldn't park so they had to come in the shop another day.”

The service station will be closed for most of August. The Bugle will keep you updated with developments as they happen.

by Mark Whalan