The Bugle Nov 19 2022

The Minister for Local Gov ernment, Wendy Tuckerman, issued a Performance Improvement Order (PIO) on Kiama Council on 8 November.

The issuing of a PIO is usually the first step on the road to administration, but hopes are that the work done so far to report and improve the situation will avoid this.

In her letter issuing the Order, and appointing a temporary advisor, Minister Tuckerman’ said, “In decid ing to issue a PIO, I have had particular regard to Council’s use of restricted funds for purposes other than the restricted purpose, evidence suggesting Council may not be able to pay its debts as they fall due, and the deteri oration of Council’s financial position.

“I recognise that Council has undertaken work to address these issues. I note Council has entered into a contract for the sale of land in Akuna Street and that Council has resolved to sell part of the Blue Haven Aged Care facility. However, I am not satisfied that these actions will fully address the fundamental issues of concern.”

Council is now focused on the action required to improve performance by June next year. Its temporary advisor during that time, Peter Tegart, has already begun going through volumes of

background information on its financial situation.

In addition to a ninety min ute call with the CEO Jane Stroud, he briefly introduced himself via video to the coun cillors during the November Meeting (in confidential).

A spokesperson for the Minister for Local Govern ment says, “Peter Tegart has been appointed as financial advisor to the Council.

“Mr Tegart is a Fellow CPA with 20 years’ experience as a CEO in local government and the Commonwealth public service, including almost seven years as CEO of Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.

“Mr Tegart will work with the Council to improve its fi nancial performance and will remain as financial advisor only as long as is necessary.

“The Office of Local Gov ernment will continue to work closely with Kiama Municipal Council during this process.”

CEO Jane Stroud says, “I am looking forward to work ing with him on the items in the Schedule.”

On announcing the impo sition of the PIO, Ms Stroud said, “I respect the Minister’s decision. Local Government is an instrument of State, and our focus must relentlessly be on only core local govern ment services and remaining financial sustainable.

“Hundreds of staff and our ratepayers depend on our ability to pay our bills, week

in, week out. I’ve worked tire lessly to unearth and address these issues since starting in the role, and that effort won’t stop.

“We must improve the business, address the items in the Performance Improve ment Order and retain our local government for the people of the Kiama local government authority”.

At the November Meeting, Councillor Mark Croxford had an amendment passed that, in addition to noting the PIO, Council would refer the PIO to the Independent Com missioner Against Corrup tion as an addendum to its self-reporting to ICAC.

This was so that there was no doubt ICAC was aware of the Minister’s concerns on the same matters (which have not been made public by Council).

“We owe it to residents, ratepayers and business owners to do everything pos sible to get to the bottom of why we find ourselves in this situation,” he said.

“It is a matter for ICAC to determine whether they reject or accept a referral.

“We should provide them with as much information as possible.”

The November Meeting also revealed that significant year end adjustments have taken Council’s initial oper ating deficit of $4.5 million for year ended June 2022 to a surplus of $1.2 million, as

shown in the 2012/2 Annual Report.

Performance Order issued: what now? Jamberoo Mt Rd closed for summer

Blue Haven’s Interim Chief Operating Officer Joe Gaud iosi, whose role has recently expanded to overseeing Coun cil’s finances, warns against seeing this as an indication a corner has been turned, while noting it better aligns with the $1 million surplus expected in the budget.

“Council is still in a precar ious cashflow situation,” he says.

“The budget result is clear ly important but the reality is the cashflows also include upgrading costs that aren’t reflected in these figures.

“We are currently $3 million down in our unre stricted reserves and we are effectively borrowing against restricted internal reserves for general operational ex penditure.

“It is all out in the open and there is a plan to do it for a short period of time until di vestment income comes in.”

Mr Gaudiosi is happy the fig ures for the September quar ter are in the black ($312,000) but says it is too early in the year to read too much into the $1.8 million positive variance against the budget.

In confidential session at the November Meeting, Council declined a request from the purchaser of its Akuna St holding, Level 33, to vary the terms of the set tlement. Settlement is due on 2 December.

Repair work to Jamberoo Mountain Road has been further delayed. It will now start in January, and is expected to take sever al months.

This is a blow to res idents and businesses who had been counting on an earlier revised commitment for the work to start in Novem ber and be open in time for Christmas.

Jamberoo Pub’s Jamie Warren says it is terrible news for his and other businesses.

“It’s a big blow for what is usually our busiest time of the year. After COVID, the landslides have been another obstacle for us to overcome.

“It’s not just Jamberoo that will suffer, it will be the municipality as a whole.”

He thinks it is time to discuss what can be done to assist businesses in terms of a rebate, compensation or reduction in rates.

Natasha Deen of Jamberoo Newsagency, who spoke to

The Bugle in August about having to reduce her busi ness hours, is still frustrated at a lack of communication and support from Council.

“There has been absolute ly no communication from Council – not a phone call, visit, letter, email, not even a standard flyer, nothing.”

In a statement, Council says it has communicated to the broad community, which includes local businesses,

Mayor Reilly and Gareth Ward MP inspect some of the damage

WHAT’S ON

Kiama Farmers’ Market

Every Wednesday

Surf Beach or Kiama Uniting Church, 3-6pm

SENTRAL’S Open Mic

Every Thursday for local youth

SENTRAL Cottages, 5-7pm Art in Colour Exhibition

18-23 November

The Old Fire Station, 10-3pm Reef Flection Exhibition Until 27 November

Fern Street Gallery, Gerringong, 10-4pm Alan Fredericks Talk

Saturday 19 November Library Auditorium, 2.30pm Gerringong Rotary Market

Saturday 19 November in and around the Town Hall G'gong Memorial Hall Centenary

Saturday 19 November Gerringong Town Hall 4.30-7pm

Kiama Seaside Market

Sunday 20 November

Black Beach, 9-3pm

Kiama Ceramic Art Studio Exhibition 24-30 November

The Old Fire Station, 10-3pm Makers & Growers Market

Saturday 26 November

Black Beach, 10-3pm Jamberoo Village Market Sunday 27 November Reid Park, 9-2pm Nature & Environment Talk Monday 28 November see right

Guided History Walks from Friday 2 December more next issue

Pics & Flicks: The Lady in the Van Friday 2 December

Gerringong Town Hall, 8pm GLaM’s 1st Birthday Saturday 3 December see right

Discover Seven Marks

A stylish new contemporary art space has opened in Kiama.

The long held dream of internationally known local artists Cobi Cockburn and Chick Butcher, SevenMarks Gallery, is situated on Marks Street in the same building as their studio.

The opening saw the launch of an exhibition on a universally understood symbol, Circles.

The exhibition shows the works of nine artists who have explored the theme of circles in varying types of me dia, including glass, painting, jewellery, photography, medal and wood sculpture.

A new exhibition will be shown every six weeks.

Open Fridays 10-5pm or by appointment.

7 Marks Street, Kiama

What’s On is compiled by Cassandra Zaucer.

If you have any events coming up, please contact her at cassandra@ thebuglenewspaper.com.au or 0491 686 975.

Guests

GLaM turns 1

The Gerringong Library and Muse um (GLaM) will be celebrating a very successful year with residents and visitors at their first birthday party.

For a comprehensive guide to What’s On in our region, check out The Bugle App to find out about live music and events.

Download The Bugle App for free using this QR code.

A day of circus acts, magicians and live music is in store for people, with a photobooth, playmaze, craft, face painting, competitions and more.

Mayor Neil Reilly says the GLaM has been an instant hit with locals and visitors since opening in 2021.

“In the first 12 months, our GLaM staff have welcomed 28,705 visitors, issued 21,154 loans, and hosted 58 events and 11 exhibitions.

“Not bad for a library servic ing just over 5000 people!”

The free celebrations have been made possible with funding from the NSW Government Reconnecting Regional NSW – Community Events Program.

Saturday 3 December, Gerringong Library and Museum, 9.30-2.30pm

Focus on native trees

Find out more about the 217 types of native trees in the wider region at the next of Jamberoo CWA’s popular Nature & Environment Talks.

Renowned Jamberoo bot anist, ecologist and author Dr Kevin Mills will look into the reason for the large variety of species, where they are found and why the trees prefer to grow in their habitats.

“Amazingly, there are more species than in all of Europe,” says Dr Mills. He is currently involved in the regeneration of Minnamurra Rainforest and the rehabilitation of habitat on the Five Islands Nature Reserve.

Monday 28 November, Jamberoo Youth Hall, 7 pm. $5 adults, which includes light refreshments. Students free.

at the opening of SevenMarks Gallery Photo: Nerida Mcmurray

DA processing times must be improved

Given staffing pressures, legislative changes and government expectations, Kiama Council’s planning department is warning it will have to take a more pragmat ic approach to DA processing in coming months to keep its planning powers.

The ongoing focus on timeframes and process is necessary to improve DA processing times, which continue to be outside of Ministerial expectations.

In the July-September quarter, of the 84 DAs that were determined, only a quarter were processed in the required 40 days. Ten per cent took longer than 180 days and just over half took more than 40 days.

“From my perspective it is about conveying to the community and applicants that the time that we take to assess DAs really matters,” says Council’s Director Envi ronmental Services Jessica Rippon.

“Whilst there may be a de sire from both applicants and the community to continue to negotiate and work through additional information, this approach can last for months

and years. Our focus is on shortening the process by insisting on all the informa tion being provided upon lodgement.”

The way the State’s Plan ning Portal [where all DAs are now lodged online] is set up, the clock doesn’t stop when requests are made, which is leading to unaccept able timeframes.

“We are also faced with an industry wide shortage of planners, with our current planning team at less than 50 per cent capacity,” says Ms Rippon.

“This is creating more pres sure internally to be able to process applications and we are often faced with applica tions that require us to seek more information, which is a significant resource burden for our team.”

She says Kiama Council will be taking a more stringent approach to DA processing in coming months to reduce timeframes, including not accepting applications that are not of the quality required, are missing information, or don’t have the necessary approvals from other agencies.

“This is the approach that

many other councils take and we are no different. It is about ensuring that the applications we receive are complete applications with detailed information, as this allows us to then undertake the assessment as quickly as possible,” says Ms Rippon.

“Whilst it is important to achieve good outcomes we also need to focus on time frames.

“If we are continually seen as being too slow, there is a risk that the Minister will remove our planning powers and this will reduce the input the community has with the planning process.”

Despite efforts made so far to reduce timeframes and reduce the number of older applications in the system, timeframes are still too high.

“The biggest issue we are still facing is the quality of applications, and this is something we are going to be working on with our clients,” says Manager Strategic Plan ning, Edward Paterson.

“In August, 48 applications were submitted, and in 80 per cent of the cases we had to go back and say we need the information requested on our checklist. This is slowing down the process and is frus trating for all involved.”

He’s looking forward to the State making changes to the Planning Portal in the next few months that will make it possible to mandate documents that need to be submitted so the application can’t be lodged without them.

These timeframe improve ments are coinciding with continued changes in the State planning processes, including but not limited to the introduction of standard conditions of consent.

continued p10

Hindmarsh Park design finalised

Council has been given an extension until 1 February to start work on the redevel opment of Hindmarsh Park, now not to include improve ments to Black Beach due to cost constraints.

The $3 million project is being funded by the State Government’s NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program.

The tender for the final design has closed, and is due to be awarded at Council's December Meeting.

The final design incor

porates feedback from the community on the 35 per cent design. It has led to the inclusion of additional play space items – including ones with more height and for older children, additional tree planting, removing metal slides from the design and adding in more climbing and natural play elements.

As a statement from Coun cil puts it, "The play space final design is inspired by the indigenous and cultural heritage of Kiama including

its natural environment, the harbour and maritime heri tage, history of dairy farming and basalt mining.

"The playground is designed to be distinctive and proudly ‘Kiama’."

The centrepiece of the play ground is a bower (above), as the Satin Bowerbird is a totem of the Wodi Wodi people.

The redevelopment will also see the upgrade of the Orry Kelly stage, with a new roof, technical enhancements and stairs all around.

Changes to meeting practices

Council has updated its Code of Meeting Practice, which sets the rules for debate in the chamber.

“The whole thing is new, as it hadn’t been updated for seven years,” says Council’s CEO Jane Stroud.

“The Model Code has been refreshed twice in that time, and we haven’t kept up with that.”

Amongst other things the changes to the Model Code allow for attendance by

audiovisual link if necessary. Some of the changes to es tablished local practices are:

• the number of five minute timeslots at public access increasing from 10 to 12

• reducing the time a councillor can speak to no more than three minutes at one time (down from five)

• Public Access is now called Public Forum

• meetings are to conclude by 8pm unless a resolution allows an extension.

After much discussion, an amendment not put to public exhibition was adopted that restricts nominated can didates from speaking at Public Forums.

In addition, it restricts an applicant from addressing Council on the same matter within a 12 month period, and does not permit discus sion on procurement, legal or staff related matters.

See the full code at www.kiama.nsw.gov.au

Exceptional at Law. Human at heart.

Every family is different as is every legal situation. Whether you are going through separation or a divorce, it can be quite complex and stressful, so it is important that you’re comfortable with your solicitor.

Based in Kiama, Ashleigh Serafini is a south coast local and is one of our exceptional family lawyers. She’s passionate about putting people first and making sure her clients understand each step of the process. If you need comprehensive legal advice and representation, Ashleigh will be at your side.

Council’s Director Environmental Services Jessica Rippon and Manager Strategic Planning Edward Paterson

Buy a tree, help a school

The opportunity to help Minnamurra Public School when getting your fresh-cut Christmas tree is on again.

Minnamurra P&C Presi dent, Jess Martin, says their Christmas tree fundraiser, now in its seventh year, rais es thousands of dollars for the school and its students each year.

“The money has helped

fund air conditioning for all classrooms and assisted with the purchase of new comput ers. This year, we are looking at improving the school play ground,” Ms Martin says.

P&C member Mick Kelton introduced the fundraiser to the school when there was no one else selling Christmas trees in the area.

“The School is doing it not

just for the school them selves but also as a commu nity service,” he says.

The trees are delivered to the school within hours of being cut.

6 and 7 foot trees available. To order, search for Minnamurra at eventbrite.com. au by 28 November. Pick up from the School on 3 December 8-11 am.

Bombo Staircase now expected by Christmas

In July we reported the long awaited cliff staircase at Bombo Headland was eight weeks away from completion, weather permitting, but it is now expected to be open in

Funding for events approved

Kiama Council has been successful in obtaining funding of $239,651 from the NSW Government's Re gional Reconnection Com munity Events Program.

The grant includes fund ing for annual events regu larly supported by Council, saving it $169,000.

The funding includes $53,000 for New Year's Eve celebrations; $18,000 each for a series of Street Soirees in Jamberoo, Kiama Downs and Kiama; $10,000 for the GLaM 1st birthday (see page 2) and the recent Kite Festival; and $33,000 for two food events.

All events must be com pleted by March 2023.

A site visit by The Bugle, prompted by concerned residents, shows the project doesn’t appear to be much progressed from then, with the concrete stairs now visible but scaffolding still in place.

Council says the Bombo Eco Walk project, funded by $500,000 from the State Government four years ago, has been delayed due to a hold-up in delivery/supply of the handrail for the staircase.

“Once the handrail is in

place, our contractors also need to complete work on the linking paths and do landscaping,” says a spokes person.

“Our revised timetable for this project’s completion is Christmas 2022.”

The staircase is expected to be a significant attraction on the Kiama Coast Walk, given the spectacular Bombo Headland scenery and geological interest, which already attracts visitors.

More awards for local businesses

Kiama businesses continue to be recognised, with three awards picked up at last week’s 2022 Local Business Awards Illawarra and South Coast, sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank.

Miss Arda was named Outstanding Restaurant, Ger ringong’s Hill to Air took out Outstanding Photography Business and Sam Scobie

Ray White Kiama won the Youth award.

“It was a pretty tough year, and to get recognition like this is pretty nice,” says Miss Arda’s Emily Lewisman.

“You need to have customers vote for you to make it to the finals, so that is pretty special to have had their support.”

As for the year ahead, Emily hopes to hold more brunches and events, intro duce a new menu and be open more for breakfasts

over the summer.

Trent Hilaire says his Gerringong based video production house, Hill to Air, is a great way for local businesses to tell their stories in an increasingly important format.

“Video viewing accounts for 80% of all internet traffic,” he says. “We are mostly helping South Coast businesses at the moment, but are looking to extend further afield. We have a very talented crew on board.”

He has been in the industry since 2017, and founded the company in late 2019. It is the second time it has been a finalist in the Photography award.

Sam Scobie, 20, is delight ed to have won the Youth Award for the enthusiasm he has brought to his role at Ray White Kiama, using his IT skills to improve efficiencies.

of

The Miss Arda team celebrating the award

Wombats get warm welcome Loves Bay terraces approved

WIRES Illawarra’s urgent need for land for a wombat rehabilitation facility in the area has been met warmly by Kiama Council.

WIRES volunteer, Gail Tarrant, requested access to Council land for a seven by seven metre compound, which will be used as a pre-re lease facility for wombats needing rehabilitation from bushfire and other trauma.

The compound will include a two by three metre shed for intensive care purposes and will need a security gate. This will be at no cost to Council, with WIRES re sponsible for its construction and maintenance.

With only one compound nearby, at Robertson, Gail says one is desperately need ed in the Illawarra region.

“Right here we’re in wombat central. The Kiama Municipality is where the wombats of the Illawarra predominately reside, in

Foxground, Kiama and in Jamberoo.

“When rescue wombats get up to 10kg, they need to go into this facility which essen tially wilds them up. Human interaction is limited then, they are weaned off their bottles, and they learn to dig and become wild wombats,” Gail says.

A suitable site for the com pound has been identified at Jerrara Dam, and Council has agreed to lease the site for a period of ten years, with a peppercorn rent of $10.

“It doesn’t flood at that par ticular site, there is a gate for access for us taking food in every day and monitoring the animals. It is off a quiet road, there are no public pathways going through the area and it is a known wombat habitat,” Gail says.

WIRES will put forward a DA for the project now it has owner's consent.

by Cassandra Zaucer

The November Meeting of Kiama Council has nar rowly approved a controversial row of four terraces on Elanora Road at Kiama Heights (Councillors Brown, Croxford, Reilly, Larkins and Steel for).

Other council lors were con cerned about the use of the terraces as holiday rather than residential accommodation, and the impact that would have on neighbours.

45 objections were made against the DA. At Public Access, Alan Woodward, a nearby resident, spoke about the serious concerns of neighbours about the devel opment being allowed in an R2 zone.

“It has been marketed to investors as a hotel style development," he said.

“I can’t see how you can have approval of a commer cial development in residen tial zoning.”

The architect and town planner for the development said the design was fully compliant, with all uses be ing allowed under the zoning. This was confirmed in the staff recommendation for

approval.

They said it was four beach houses in a terrace row, not a hotel, and that overall the impact of the four terraces was less than if both blocks had dual occupancies like that already approved for one of them.

At the Meeting, Jessica Rip pon, Director Environmental Services, pointed out that the decision had to be made on planning reasons, saying, “If we choose to reject out of emotion or ideology we put ourselves on a slippery slope and we will end up in the Land & Environment Court.”

Councillor Kathy Rice contested it wasn’t permissi ble in the R2 zone, as it did not meet the requirements of the zoning in the Local

Environment Plan (LEP), and sought a deferral to gain legal advice.

This was after Councillor Renkema-Lang tried to have the DA refused.

“There is evidence that this property exists in a managed investment portfolio and is anticipated to provide re turns to investors that relate to its entire use as short term holiday rental,” said Cllr Rice.

“This is not a case of property being managed by individual owners as Kiama’s LEP allows, but is fully commercially let. It is not providing for housing needs.”

CEO Jane Stroud said in response that it was submit ted as a residential develop ment and was assessed on

that basis, “We have to take a DA on its merits. There is an assumption that the informa tion given in the application is correct. Should the nature and use change, then compli ance will kick in.”

When the lack of a social impact study was raised by Councillor Jodie Keast, Ms Stroud said there was no requirement for such studies in the LEP, and that council lors would need to include it as a tool before staff could use it as part of their assess ments.

“It is a shame we don’t have it available [for use in assess ments],” she said.

4-6 Elanora Road are to be consolidated together, with four x four bedroom terraces built on the sloping site

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Some animals have two eyes spread wide on their heads, giving them a broad field of view which is considered useful for detecting other animals which are trying to attack them. Think of deer. Others have two eyes situated closer together, giving them the advantage of good stereoscopic or 3D vision. This makes them better hunters, think of eagles and cats.

Humans have a roughly 200 degree field of view, with quite good central acuity and 3D vision, so we are a mix. However, you don’t need two eyes for 3D vision, and I have heard anecdotally that one of Australia’s most successful cricket batsmen had compromised vision in one eye.

I think the main reason we have two eyes is so we have two chances. Over 7% of us have one eye which doesn’t see properly. If we only had one eye, that would be 1 in 14 of us who would be severely affected. Of these, 3% are from a condition called amblyopia or lazy eye, which I will talk about in more depth in the future. This can be corrected, but only if discovered early in childhood.

Jamberoo Mt Rd closed for summer

from page 1 through media releases and updates to its webpage; as well as targeted email updates, meetings and dis cussions with the residents closest to the closed section.

Mayor Neil Reilly says while he has met with a number of residents and requests have been acted on, he hasn’t been approached by businesses.

“As a former small business owner I have empathy and sympathy for their situation, but really there isn’t much Council can do. I don’t want to give people false hope.

“I see Council’s role in this as the first aid. We have to fix the road that is broken, but it needs a longer term solution and we have to work closely with the State for that.”

Council is awaiting a response to its request for Jamberoo Mountain Rd to be reclassified as a State Road.

The news of a more prolonged closure is a bitter disappointment for Mike Cains, owner of Pecora Dairy at Knights Hill on the LGA’s western boundary (and its cheese and wine bar offshoot in Robertson) and a board member of the Kiama & Dis trict Business Chamber. He also ran for the Liberal Party in the seat of Whitlam in the last Federal election.

“For the businesses of Kiama and Jamberoo it is an

absolute kick in the guts,” he says.

“It will displace millions of dollars of economic benefit from the region, as Jam beroo Mountain Road is vital because it connects the two economies of the Southern Highlands and Kiama.”

While acknowledging that the damage required a com plex engineering solution, Mr Cains is very critical of the time it has taken to get to this point.

“Sure engineering advice is hard to come by, but six months for such an import ant road to be fixed is in anybody’s language simply unacceptable,” he says.

Council says the delay is due to the complexity of the repairs required.

“My staff are doing every thing they can to get the tender out the door, and the road fixed,” says CEO Jane Stroud.

“They’ve worked hard to get some really limited ac cess, so we can let the folks who live on the road get to their homes, without literally needing to walk the road, in the cold, in the rain, to get groceries home, or kids to school.

“We all want the landslip fixed and the road restored. We simply have to go to ten der, the road is damaged in four places and the size of the work is significant.

Seawall construction to continue over summer

Despite activity returning to the site, Crown Lands have confirmed that the new seawall and path under construction at Kiama Harbour will now not be completed until March.

The project was originally due for completion in Sep tember, but was delayed in July/August while agreement was come to on additional work needed to secure the seawall to the bedrock on the harbour floor.

As yet we have had no re sponse to our query as to how much more than the original $2.1m is being spent on the State’s upgrade project.

“It’s going to take time. We are trying our best to get it done.”

Mr Cains the call for Jamberoo Mt Road to be declared a State Road, and recently spoke to the Parlia mentary Secretary for the Illawarra, Peter Poulos MLC, about the need for the Gov ernment to focus on the road connections between Kiama and the Southern Highlands.

The Member for Kiama,

Labor candidate for the seat of Kiama, Kaitlin McInerney, who was alerted to the delay by a community member, is concerned about the impact of the project over summer.

“There is a serious lack of information being shared by Crown Lands to the commu nity and businesses, given the scale of the works and its central location this close to Christmas,” she says.

Gareth Ward, is also lobbying for the road to get more attention.

“Back in 2009, State Labor handed this road over to Council without a cent of compensation and Council and ratepayers have had to carry it ever since,” he says.

“I have been in discussions with Sam Farraway, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, about taking this road back because it is a major a rtery between Kiama and the Highlands and it is a big ask for Council to maintain.”

Mr Ward has also put a Question on Notice asking the State Government to assist Jamberoo businesses, with an answer due on 24 November.

The chair of the Jamberoo Ratepayers and Residents Association, John Friedmann, says about the delay, “It is a very disheartening and inconvenient outcome for the whole community.

“In my view, it only strength ens the argument for it to be a State Road where action can take place immediately.”

www.keithlester.com.au

Council is keen to remind all residents and road users the road is unstable, severe ly damaged and not fit for general traffic. It is closed between Misty Lane and The Abbey.

“We have carried out some minor repairs to enable Council and Emergency vehi cles to pass through the site but these works are only of a standard suitable for very occasional, light vehicles,” says Mike Dowd, Director Engineering & Works.

“The temporary repairs and the condition of Jam beroo Mountain Road throughout the closed section are not suitable to enable the road to be safely opened for public use, even for a single lane.

The tender for the land slide repair work closes 1 December, with the work to be awarded at the December Council Meeting.

Renata Matyear

Help Frank sing the Blues in Memphis

Popular local Blues perform er Frank Sultana is looking for community support to help him get to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge.

A first place win, in his first ever attempt, at the Sydney Blues Society Challenge in July saw Frank get the right to compete against over 200 blues challengers from across the globe in the home of the Blues.

With the world’s largest gathering of Blues musicians just around the corner in January, Frank is now fund raising the money needed to book his flights.

“The competition was a way to get over to the States where I’m hoping to make some contacts so I can go back and do some proper touring next year,” Frank says.

“It is about getting over there to Memphis, experienc ing it and soaking it all up.”

The five day competition

will see musicians perform 30 minute sets, where they will be judged by Blues professionals on their vocals, audience engagement, guitar playing and more.

Frank, who has been per forming original blues songs since 2011, raised $1,000 at

Joe Mungovan: Live at Dovecote

Kiama’s Joe Mungovan has released a live recording of his debut album, a year after it was released.

The music of A Flower In The Weeds was recorded at Dovecote, the striking man sion on the headland north of Gerringong.

He hopes the recording will make more people aware of the South Coast and its talented arts commu nity. Gerringong certainly makes an impression in the background.

“My collaborators are all local to this area, showing

our region as being a formi dable force for talent. It was a project where the skills of artists from all different mediums (visual, styling, ar chitecture, journalism) came together and created a body of work that celebrates and contributes to our communi ty,” says Joe.

“Recording with my friends around me was such a magical experience for me as I usually record everything in my studio by myself.”

Watch it at www.joemungovan.com

the Burnetts on Barney Com munity in The Quarry event and has a GoFundMe page that has reached his initial goal of $5,000.

His next fundraising show is a performance at Kiama Bowling Club this month, with Blues band, Tomcat Playground and special guests, before heading down to Melbourne for more.

Frank will be raffling off items throughout the night including a signed guitar donated by Haworth Guitars.

Next year’s focus for Frank will be on larger shows and festivals, while he continues to release new music.

He currently has eight albums under his belt, includ ing three releases in the past two years.

“I’ve got a couple of records I’m recording at the moment which will be out early next year,” Frank says.

Donate at gofundme.com or see him live on 26 November at Kiama Bowling Club for his Road to Memphis Fundraiser. by Cassandra Zaucer

Kiama Show Society marking 175 years

Kiama’s oldest organi sation, the Kiama Show Society, will celebrate its 175th year of contin uous community service at next year’s Show.

With bushfires and rain and then COVID-19 forcing the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Shows, and the 2022 event to be held in a much reduced fashion, the Show Society is eager to welcome back bumper crowds in 2023.

To mark the anniver sary of the third longest lasting show society in Australia, next year’s Show will honour its rural traditions, as well as embracing attractions which are hallmarks of modern shows.

“Events planned for 2023, which have featured from the first and early Shows, include show jumping and cattle judging, as well as the perennially popular wood chop and Pavilion exhibits,’’ says Kiama Show Society President Neil McLaren.

“Wheat, barley potatoes, butter, field peas, bacon, salt pork, preserves, fruit mince and flowers were among the exhibits at the first Show in 1849. Today there are more than 1700 categories – covering produce, flowers, cookery, art and handicrafts.”

These Show staples will figure alongside other long standing family traditions such as the Pet Show, fire works and carnival rides, and new favourites including La Petit Grande and supercross motorbikes.

While plans are still being finalised, there are a number of ways the 175th Society anniversary (known as a

Dodransbicentennial) will be marked, including special Pavilion classes, a visit from a bullock team, an old machinery display, and a historic pictorial timeline.

As the oldest and biggest community event in the Municipality, Mr McLaren says organisers are keen to plan an event that is not only entertaining but a great op portunity for people to catch up with friends.

“From its earliest days, the Kiama Show was very much a part of the fabric of the town, not only in terms of showcasing agricultural pur suits but also as a real social occasion,’’ he says.

“The Show was a chance for busy rural families to catch up. People used to see each other in town, wish each other Merry Christ mas and say “see you at the Show”.

“Going to the Show is part of the story of many Kiama families and we’d love new people to create that tradi tion for their own families.’’

Mr McLaren says funding

and planning for the Show with volunteers is always challenging and he encourag es the community to consider volunteering their time, or taking up sponsorship opportunities and Kiama Show Society membership.

“For many, the Show is a labour of love but it takes money, time and a nod from the weather gods, to mount a successful Show. Any and all support is gratefully accept ed, especially by coming along and joining in on the fun,’’ he says.

Friday 27 January and Saturday 28 January

Visit the Kiama Show website for membership, volunteering and sponsorship details, and keep updated via Facebook and Instagram.

As a longstanding sponsor, The Bugle will be creating a mini-app for the Show accessible, from The Bugle App home page.

The Founder and President of the Kiama Table Tennis Club for 15 years, Tom Boyd OAM, passed away peaceful ly on November 4, aged 93 and surrounded by family and friends.

“Tom was a Table Tennis player extraordinaire – win ner of 50 Australian titles – and in 2021 he received an OAM plus an award for 50 years of voluntary service to table tennis by Table Tennis Australia,” says Club Secre tary Angelo Giovas.

“Tom always welcomed new people to the club and helped and encouraged them in learning the skills of table tennis, and to enjoy the game

and have fun.

“His legacy lives on through his wife Joy and the more than 50 regular players at Kiama who will miss his loving support and great sense of humour.”

Jenny Aduckiewicz, from the Table Tennis National Advisory Panel, says, “Tom was the epitome of ‘The Quiet Australian’. He was a great player but a humble and self-effacing man. He will be sorely missed, but his outstanding contribution to our sport remains.”

Tom is survived by his wife Joy Boyd OAM, sons Peter and Stephen and grandchil dren Daniel and Charlotte.

DA processing times

from page 3

“The State Government is creating standard conditions of consent from June 2023,” says Ms Rippon.

“Councils will have six months to implement these changes into our consents. In my view this is a welcome change and will assist in providing applicants with more consistent conditions, regardless of where they lodge their applications.”

As it is possible for coun cils to add their own bespoke conditions, staff are also in the process of assessing past conditions against the

standard conditions already released for dwellings and sheds, to see if there is any thing LGA specific that needs to also be included.

Other work is happening behind the scenes, with the help of grant funding, to automate Council’s systems in with the State Planning Portal, where all DAs must now be lodged.

As part of this process, con sents and plans will become publicly available on the DA Tracker, something that has been lobbying for over time.

“An industry forum will be held before the end of the

year to discuss these changes directly with customers and to hear from the industry about how we can work more closely together to improve both the experience and timeframes being achieved,” says Ms Rippon.

“We want to explain what is expected and work to improve the quality of applications received. It is also important to outline our role, which is assessment of what is provided to us. Having quality information and clear requirements from Council assists everyone in the process.”

intergenerational links

Inspired by the benefits of bringing older and young people together, highlighted in the ABC’s Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds, a group of Blue Haven Terralong residents have initiated a program with Kiama Public School.

“There are a lot of op portunities to get together, especially being across the road from each other,” says Trevor Dickson, who first approached the school.

According to the Australian Institute for Intergeneration al Practice, engaging the two generations provides older adults with a sense of purpose, improves social out comes, and delays cognitive and physical decline.

Providing young people the opportunity to connect with an older generation helps improve their attitude to older people in general, and improves their pro-social be haviours of sharing, helping and cooperating.

“Society tends to separate us out into old people and young people but research has shown the more you meet up, the better it is,” Trevor says.

“The kids have the energy and are enthusiastic, and we have the wisdom and the experience – it’s a good combination.”

For the first encounter, Year 6 garden ambassadors met with members of the Blue Haven Garden Club.

Acting Principal, Sarah Webb, who wants to promote more active integration into the community, says, “There were smiling faces and wav ing from residents in passing cars as the kids walked in.”

Students, Nellie and Tahlia, enjoyed learning about Blue Haven’s garden and plan to incorporate some of their techniques into their own plot. They also saw, from just one meeting, the benefits of intergenerational practice.

“It gives them (residents) a chance to pass down their knowledge so we can also pass it down to the other generations,” Nellie says.

Tahlia says, “Just seeing us in general probably makes them feel really happy that

the elderly that live here to mix with.”

Resident Robyn Varcoe says, “Kids are our future, and I don’t think we realise, until we have children and be with them, how important it is to engage with them.”

According to Miss Webb, this will be a long-term connection where they will build on the program and its success as they go through.

Coming up, the School’s chess club will play with Blue Haven’s scrabble club, and students have been invited to play indoor croquet.

There are also plans to have residents visit the school on a regular basis to listen to students read, and Miss Webb says their choir group will perform for them soon.

Barry Stevens shows some of the students around the residents' garden

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I learned lifelong lessons from the first book I read... and the last and the next one!

The first book I ever read was called 5 Pennies to Spend. I was five years old, so there was symmetry.

I think I loved the pictures as much as the story.

It had the lot: money man agement, maths, kindness and a surprise ending.

I know it contributed to my adult sense of social justice and responsibilities. No kidding, it did.

So, I read that Little Gold

en Book and good things happened to my brain, but the keyword is reading. I attended to the NSW Public Libraries Association conference “Switch 2022” in Albury last week, and was pleased to learn that they coaxed an additional, indexed and ongoing $41 million every year from our State Government.

I saw bestselling author and musician Holly Throsby at Kiama Library, in con versation with publisher Richard Walsh about her new novel, Clarke

I read a book about a bored little boy to the kids at Ss Peter & Paul primary school in Kiama and the children laughed and learned about how it’s always best to just be you.

I met with Sally Rippin, Australia’s highest-selling

female author, who has ventured into the previously unknown territory (for her) of adult non-fiction with her new book Wild Things, about how we learn to read and what can happen if we don’t.

In Council we have to do a great deal of reading. Our business papers (the council meeting agenda) are often more than a thousand pages long. And we only have days to take it all in.

Reading is so vital, and sometimes so rare that if you can read this, you can count yourself lucky.

Many people have either no or just basic reading skills.

Without the ability to read, some of life’s most essential necessities become far out of reach.

It becomes difficult to have a job, to access information, to engage in local democracy

and even community partici pation can prove challenging when your reading skills are low or limited.

So, when I talk about the first book I remember having read having a great impact, research backs me up.

It confirms that a child’s early years of brain devel opment shape the adults we become, the success we achieve and the contributions we make socially, economi cally and personally.

According to the World Lit eracy Foundation, if a child reads for just 20 minutes a day, they are exposed to 1,800,000 words per year.

Our Kiama Library service promotes literacy skills in early childhood and provides literacy resources and services to all. Our library staff are the best of the best.

And I’m pleased that our newest library space – Ger ringong Library and Museum (GLaM) – is celebrating its first anniversary on 3 Decem ber and everyone’s invited to the party (see the Council website for details).

On the other side of one of those five pennies are people living with dyslexia: a learn ing disability that can cause difficulties with reading and writing.

Dyslexia is not a reflection of intelligence and more common than you may think, it actually affects around 10 per cent of the Australian population.

Ask our excellent library staff and they’ll point you in the right direction for support with dyslexia if you need it.

Local Government is more than just roads, rates and rubbish. Kiama Council plays a vital and very broad role in the lives of each and every person in our community.

Our libraries and crew do a fabulous job that is well regarded throughout the state, I am incredibly proud of that team.

Don’t forget to visit your local library soon – after all, it’s the building with the most stories in town.

Ways to help others this Christmas

With the time for giving just around the corner, appeals have commenced around the Municipality to give you the opportunity to help people in need this Christmas.

Kiama Salvo’s Food Drive

Kiama Salvos Store has brought back their Christmas Food Drive.

They are asking for non-perishable food, new toys and toiletries to be do nated which will later be dis tributed to women’s shelters, the homeless and ordinary people who are struggling this Christmas.

“With times being tough, I think it is more important to have food and toys for the kids, something physical to use there and then,” says store manager of Kiama Salvos, Janine Heberling.

Woolworths is donating $500 worth of non-perish able food to the Food Drive and a pile of goods have already started to form under the stores Christmas tree.

“Like always, the commu nity have started to come to gether and is willing to help out in any way possible. We are super grateful as every bit counts,” Janine says.

For those that would like to give more this Christ mas, the store is also now

accepting donations for their Christmas Appeal that helps families who are facing homelessness.

Donate to the Christmas Appeal at the Terralong store or online at salvationarmy.org.au, or donate to the Food Drive at the store before 13 December.

Kiama Council's Giving Tree Appeal

The community is invited to donate gifts under Kiama Council’s Giving Trees across the Municipality to ensure local children, up to 14 years, will have something to un wrap on Christmas morning.

The Giving Trees are in the foyer of Council’s Administration Building, Kiama Library, Gerringong Library and Museum and The Pavilion, in partnership with Kiama Rotary. Unwrapped gifts can be placed under the trees until 8 December.

Jamberoo's contribution to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal

Jamberoo’s Rural Fire Ser vice and Elders Real Estate are once again asking the community to donate to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal that will help strug gling families this Christmas. For many years, the two have organised for non-per ishable food to be dropped

off to Jamberoo IGA and toys to Elders Real Estate during opening hours, so they can be distributed by The Salvation Army across the Illawarra.

“Last year we got an enormous amount of really good quality donations from

Jamberoo which was just wonderful,” says Karen Walk er of The Salvation Army. “We are seeing increased needs this year with cost of living pressures, so it is im portant that we allow people to donate so we can fully assist those that come to us.

"What we don’t want is for someone to feel alone at this time or feel that they can’t give their children a great Christmas.”

Jamberoo RFS will also again be doing a food drive collection on 11 December, where they go door-to-door

asking for donations between 10am and 1pm.

“We usually end up with a ton and a half of food which we take to the Salvation Army to distribute. Last year we also got anonymous donations of $500 through the IGA which we got a few trolleys worth of food from,” says Deputy Captain John Friedmann.

“What we try to do is make sure everyone is looked after, and it is the generosity of the Jamberoo community that enables this to happen.”

People can donate right up until Christmas, but John says they like to get as much as they can early on so families can have the goods before and on Christmas.

by Cassandra Zaucer

exciting hand-made ceramic creations produced in the Kiama Ceramic Art Studio by ceramics teacher, Fran Smith and her students. www.ceramic-art-studio.com info@ceramic-art-studio.com 0403 139 416

Manager Janine Heberling (right) with volunteers Alison Johnson, Pauline Templeton and Catherine Archer

Jamberoo's community effort last year. Photo Linda Faiers

At the Show Ball At Opera in the Valley

Jamberoo was certainly alive with music when the CWA held our major fundraiser Opera in the Valley last Saturday, after two years off for COVID.

Glenn Amer once again found wonderful performers who delighted the audience with their amazing voices.

The School of Arts was full of very happy patrons who thoroughly enjoyed the concert. A big thank you to our Mayor, Neil Reilly, who stepped in as MC at the last moment.

Every year that we hold Opera in the Valley comments such as “this was the best one ever”, “absolutely fantastic”, “we’ll be back next year” etc, are what we hear. Such great feedback.

Thank you so much to our members who work so hard getting the Opera organised and making the event run smoothly.

It’s wonderful to be able to present such a professional event in Jamberoo and can assure you next year will be just as good if not better, so save the first Saturday in November 2023. We’ll look forward to seeing you then.

Left: April Rodda, Cam McDonald and Nikki Perry Below left: Michelle Brennan, with Al and Leesa Swan Below: Sonia McMillan and Colleen Burge

by Cathy Delhaas

Performers Glenn Amer, Johanna Knoechel, Mary-Jean O’Doherty, Lorenzo Rositano and Daniel Macey

Bob and Christine Patrech with Cathy Delhaas

Ruth Shanks, Daniel Macey and Helen Pain

Lesley and Vic East

Sarah Collins and Johanna Knoechel

Future life partner of Prince Charming

European national team that beat the Wallabies by one point on 5th November

Mr Darcy’s future wife in Pride and Prejudice

Dishonestly persuade by a gift of money

Roger Rabbit’s partner

“Who framed Roger Rabbit?”

European national team that beat the Wallabies by one point on 13th November

Businesses where one can drink, eat, gamble on poker machines and sleep

Winner of Hong Kong Sevens in 2022, the first time since 1988

King Edward VIII abdicated to marry this divorced lady (last name)

Prince Harry married this young lady (first name)

Donald Duck steps out with this girl duck

Popeye was besotted by this young lady (first name)

Batman’s partner. Making up the Dynamic Duo.

Gamble on a horse

Gomez Addams of The Addams Family is in love with her

Description of snowman, Yeti, in the Himalayas

Princess who was married to Earl of Snowdon, Tony Armstrong Jones

Homer Simpson’s wife

Fred Flintstone’s wife

Australian Security & Intelligence Organisation

Micky Mouse’s partner

Barney Rubble’s wife

President JFK’s wife

Of, belonging to, or associated with you

Images created with a camera

Kermit’s inspiration (4,5)

National RL team that beat England by one point to advance to the final against Aust in RL World Cup

? & Clyde... USA bank robbers on the run

Name of Cricket game played over five days between nations

UK Rugby team beaten by Wallabies by one point on 29th October

Women’s one piece cossies

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The team at Wild About Health can help you manage your stress and feel happier There are wonderful herbs that will nourish the adrenals back to good health and increase the happy hormones like Rhodiola, Withania and Siberian Ginseng Combine these supportive adaptogenic herbs with good lifestyle habits of regular exercise, eating wholefoods and staying away from processed foods high in sugar and salt will certainly help plus getting a good night’s sleep is essential

Speak with a professional from Wild About Health today to find out the best protocol for you and your loved ones so you can relax and enjoy the festivities this coming Christmas period

Enroute to a tour of Uzbekistan, I spent a few days explor ing Azerbaijan’s capital Baku and some of the coun try’s attractions.

Following the col lapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan became an Inde pendent Republic and secular state in 1991.

Azerbaijan shares a border with Russia (north), Georgia (north west), Armenia and Turkey (west) and Iran (south). But its longest border (east) –713km – is the Caspian Sea.

What’s surpris ing is that Baku is located 28 metres below sea (ocean) level.

Known as the ‘Land of Fire’ (the word ‘azer’ means fire in Persian), the country has vast reserves of oil and subterranean natural gas.

In keeping with the ‘Fire’ theme, the city skyline is dominated by three ‘flame towers’ which are illuminated each evening. The towers include a hotel, office space and residential apartments.

Located about an hour’s drive from Baku is the Gobustan State Historical

and Cultural Reserve. It is a UNESCO world heritage site of 6,000 rock carvings some dating back 45,000 years.

Nearby are numerous mud ‘volcanoes’ created by the force of gas just under the surface. On the way up, the gas mixes with water to create a muddy slurry.

Closer to Baku is ‘Yanar Dagh’ the so called Fire Mountain.

It’s a ten metre wall of fire which has been burning non-

stop since the 1950s when a careless shepherd discarded a match.

In 2011 Azerbaijan won the Eurovision Song Contest and it was this success that gave their tourism a signifi cant boost.

The city has very wide streets – perfect for motor racing – which is the reason Baku has been on the Formu la One calendar since 2016.

Azerbaijan is a European country and Baku is a mod

ern, quite delightful city with creative architecture, upmarket retail outlets and lots of entertainment and leisure pursuits for all ages.

Crop & Swap: a growing idea

The initiative that started out as two backyard garden ers swapping cucumbers and pumpkins has turned into a Facebook group with 1,000 members and month ly meetings in Kiama and Gerringong.

Now seven years of success and growth, the Kiama and Gerringong Crop and Swap are thrilled their little group is going so strong.

“Over 20 people attend the meetings where they bring fresh vegetables and fruit from their gardens, preserves and baked goods, magazine and recipes, and engage with other like minded people,” says one of the founders, Angie Ritchie.

“It instils our love of gar dening, and we get to try new things that we may not have in our own garden. We also hear of new techniques of growing

work for them.”

With the idea of Crop and Swap growing with smaller off shoot groups forming across the region, Angie would like to continue her group the way it is.

“It’s important to meet with like minds and have such a beautiful sense of commu nity but also in the world as it is now environmentally, it is lovely to be able to live sustainably.

“If we’re all growing in our gardens and we can swap so we have a bit of variety in what we eat, it’s going to en courage people to grow more from their gardens.”

To find out more, join the Facebook page or attend their meetings on the 2nd Saturday of the month at Burnetts on

Founder Angie Ritchie, Janice Goodridge (Kiama ), and Leanne Preston (Gerringong)

Ross Harrison Werri Beach