Expressions of interest for the sale of Akuna/Shoalhaven Street land was discussed in confidential session at Tuesday evening’s council meeting. 

“We’re going back to talk to the agent about the development of the Akuna/Shoalhaven Street end, and looking at a short-term lease on the Mitre 10 site,” Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler said following the meeting.

“There’s no business identified, but we want to get a short-term one in there while we work out the long-term plan for the area.”

The Kiama Supply Company/Mitre 10 store was placed up for purchase by tender in October 2014.

Kiama council bought the property a month later and the Simmons family continued to operate the business.

However, on February 27 they closed the doors of their Terralong Street hardware store for the final time.

At an extraordinary council meeting on February 23, councillors resolved that council general manager Michael Forsyth continue to investigate options for the site.

Kiama council’s Akuna Street car park has long been identified as the council’s preferred location for a second supermarket in Kiama.

In recent years the council has spent almost $7 million buying up property surrounding the car park and the council has prepared concept plans for what a proposed development on the site could look like.

The concept plan for the development includes a 2000-square-metre supermarket, 14 speciality shops and 30 residential. 

Last December, ALDI Australia confirmed it will open a supermarket at Kiama, after signing a lease agreement with council. 

The company plans to set up shop on the corner of Akuna and Shoalhaven streets in 2018. 

The plans are subject to Joint Regional Planning Panel approval.