In the lead-up, we're asking a member of each of the six teams running questions related to the municipality.  

This week’s question is as follows: A number of business owners have sought to create a vibrant “night time economy” in Kiama. How would your team help make this a reality?

See below for their responses. 

Neil Reilly, Community Voices ticket.

We would work with business to develop an assessment of the economic costs and benefits of the night time economy through the existing Economic Development group I currently chair.

This could be achieved from council’s existing area-specific data and modelling software for Economic Development and Planning, REMPLAN.

In developing dynamic dining, retail and entertainment precincts, we should also support community-based night time activities such as leisure and recreation, libraries, parks, sports and the arts.

We would ensure night activities in Kiama are safe, well-managed and inclusive. Our initiative of an astronomical observatory on Blowhole Point is evidence that we are already looking to improve the night time economy. 

Kathy Rice, Greens.

As the population of apartment dwellers in Kiama's central district grows, the potential clientele for Kiama's night time economy also increases. Initially it would seem sensible for businesses to be small with minimal overheads.

To assuage the resistance of existing business owners, a new precinct might be necessary. I would like to see more focus on economic, healthy and varied food offerings, perhaps utilising mobile food vans operating alongside pop-up musical, theatre or creative arts venues and stalls.

Alternatively, existing cafes might make arrangements to sublet the management of their premises after their normal business hours.

Gavin McClure, Experience Counts. 

We know that council must aid in the facilitation of areas where people want to congregate at night.

Before this will happen council needs to ensure the areas that are conducent to the night time economy are safe, aesthetically pleasing and inviting.

We believe that if we can achieve these three things we will be able to attract night time business operators that will in turn be rewarded by night time customers. Our team will make this happen.

Recent council approved commercial developments in and around the CBD hopefully will make rent more affordable which in turn may create opportunities for night time activities.

Mark Honey, Honey/Westhoff.

Developing the night time economy will require considerable input from a number of organisations: the business owners themselves, the Kiama Business Chamber, Kiama Tourism, the accommodation industry and Kiama council.

My team would do the following to encourage council to help the night time economy develop:

·Review the LEP to encourage accommodation;

·Liaise with Kiama Tourism, the business chamber and businesses to develop events for the shoulder and winter periods of the year, using our strategic and marketing manager;

·Work with businesses to encourage later opening times in the evenings throughout the year;

·Consider setting up a specific planning group to plan for a long-term night time economy, with membership to be made up from the above participants;

·Work with NSW Police and utilise our CCTV network to ensure the public  is safe when out at night.

Mark Way, Kiama Municipality’s Independents.

Kiama council currently sponsor entertainment to coincide with various celebrations like New Year’s Eve and ANZAC Day and other events mainly associated with day time activities.

Spending more ratepayers’ money on night time activities would have to be subject to community consultation forums that would include input from residents, Kiama businesses and the business chamber.

With “Fit for Future” and meeting financial targets to enable us to avoid amalgamation, we would think that in the current financial year 2016/17, this situation would prevent or limit any further council investment other than the “fairy lights” in Collins Street, already in the budget.

However, the recent sale of the Weston and Mitre-10 sites and the future development of these sites as a shopping precinct with another supermarket, a variety of shops, extra parking and connectivity between Akuna and Terralong streets will we feel be the catalyst to promote a vibrant night time economy in Kiama CBD.

Not all business owners in Kiama would like to see late night activities and a compromise with time limits would also be a matter for a community consultation process. Certainly during holiday periods vibrant night time activities would be successful.

Matt Brown, Community and Labor.

This is a very important issue, especially through the winter months. 

A priority for our team is to have Kiama as the ‘Regional Events Capital of NSW’. If we attract more events, we will bring more people to the area and see more jobs created due to increased business confidence and investment. 

We also support more ‘destination businesses’ such as restaurants with high-profile chefs and reputations as well as sought after specialty shops. We support the concept of a tourist bus that will link our towns in the Kiama area. Less red-tape would also help businesses concentrate on innovation rather than compliance.