Kiama’s growth slowed after ‘explosion’
September 24, 2008
Section: Opinion
Bruce Ryan (KI September 17) expressed a hope that newly elected councillors consider three matters with some urgency.
The first concerned Kiama’s apparent lack of contribution to the State’s housing expansion over the past 11 years.
This needs to be seen in a broader context. Firstly, up to 1991, growth in Kiama’s population had been almost double the State average of 9.6 per cent (based on IRIS research).
Although it has now dropped to about 2 per cent, about half the State average in 2004, it should be recognised that Kiama has been pulling its weight to absorb population growth.
More importantly, it needs to be seen in a regional context.
The Illawarra Regional Strategy 2006-2031 has recognised that the Kiama Municipality is not the place for further population expansion, certainly at the rate of other locations.
It recognises that Kiama has another more important role in the region than providing housing – that of food production. To quote from page 7 of the Strategy: “The natural environment in the south of the region in Kiama … supports agricultural industries.
These lands need to be protected from urban and rural residential uses to ensure that food-producing lands continue to be available close to large populations.”
Space doesn’t permit me to do full justice to the other two points raised by Mr Ryan’s letter, but suffice to say that the matter of attracting the right businesses to Kiama is certainly high on my agenda.
His point on the need for the publication of a new history of Kiama on its 150th anniversary in 2009 is also well taken.
– Ben van der Wijngaart
Councillor elect
