The Bugle 3 December 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
First details of the
Inside this issue
Akuna St development
Debby Ryan filming in Kiama p3
On the eve of the DA for the Akuna St/Mitre 10 being lodged, The Bugle has spoken exclusively with the developer/builder of the site about the scope of the plans. In return for bringing a long awaited second supermarket (Aldi) to Kiama, as well as connectivity to Terralong St, Nick Daoud will be asking for the Joint Regional Planning Panel to approve 91 units, a much bigger number than expected. Mr Daoud says the site has been the most challenging of his 35 year career in development, given not only its topography but also the council stipulations that had to be met.
“We needed to study the job from all aspects, and believe that we are delivering something that does justice to Council’s aims without dominating the streetscape,” he says. His engineering background and experience on much bigger projects means he is confident that a workable solution has been found for all aspects of the site. “If you didn’t have our experience you couldn’t do this development,” he says. “Since the conception of the job we have been consulting with Council to solve everything from traffic management issues to noise abatement.”
Akuna St site (at a level below the current carpark because of the slope). The main entrance to the Aldi will be through an underground carpark accessed via Shoalhaven St. Above that will be a carpark for residents and an acoustically sealed delivery dock for the retail area, accessed from Akuna Street. The floors above that will Developer Nick Daoud at his Bathers’ site on Manning St house the two and three bedHis company is four months ning and Bong Bong Sts. room units, expected to sell away from finishing the The plans for the $35 mil- for $600,000 to $800,000. four tower 317 unit and lion new development show Mr Daoud is keen to stress commercial precinct at the the Mitre 10 site facing Ter- the bulk of the development old Dwyers site in Wollon- ralong St as two storeys of will not be visible from the gong, and has recently bro- retail space, with an arcade main street, as it will be hidken ground at its Bathers’ leading from street level den behind existing shops. site on the corner of Manaround to an Aldi on the While acknowledging some of the development exceeds the height limits, he says it is necessary to achieve the objectives of the site consolidation. “The trees on our side of Akuna St are taller than our proposal, so it won’t interrupt the view,” he says. The developer, who has been holidaying in Kiama for 30 years, is hopeful of the project being approved by the Regional Planning Panel by mid year. If this happens, an 18 month build will see the building completed by the end of 2018. Aldi will not open until the entire project is complete. Council’s sale of the properties is dependent on the DA being approved. See page 7 for another 60 unit DA for Kiama’s CBD.
Be our reporter at Jamberoo Action Park p6
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
Photo: Rebecca Roscini
These cherubs from the Anglican Church Playgroup are looking forward to their very first Carols in the Park. See pages 4 and 5 for details of this year’s gathering and other Christmas happenings.
Facelift for Southern Lookout p9
Coolangatta top of class again p8